Fees and Payment FAQs
We understand that clarity about fees is important. Our mutual divorce service uses a transparent flat-fee pricing, so you know exactly what the cost will be upfront. Below we answer common questions about the fees:
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What is the total fee, and how is it paid?
The total fee for a mutual divorce case is ₹29,000 (all-inclusive). This is a fixed package fee that covers the entire process from start to finish. For convenience, the payment is split into four stages corresponding to steps in the procedure:-
₹1,000 at the time of the initial Divorce Application (this is when we start working on your case and draft the joint petition).
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₹4,000 when filing the Divorce Petition in court (the formal joint petition under Section 13B is filed with the family court) – this covers the preparation and filing of all paperwork for the first motion.
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₹14,000 at the First Motion hearing stage. This is paid when the court schedules the first motion hearing (where both spouses appear and the court records your statements).
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₹10,000 at the Second Motion (final hearing) stage, just before the final hearing is conducted and the divorce decree is granted.
In summary, ₹29,000 = ₹1,000 + ₹4,000 + ₹14,000 + ₹10,000 (paid in steps as your case progresses). We structured it this way so that you pay in parts, aligned with each phase of work and court hearing.
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Is the fee the same for NRI or overseas clients?
Yes, absolutely. The fee is the same ₹29,000 for everyone – there is no extra charge for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) or clients residing abroad. We handle many cases where one or both spouses live outside India, and our process is set up to accommodate that without additional fees. The paperwork and procedure might involve some extra steps (like notarization or video conferencing for statements), but we do not charge anything above ₹29,000 for those services. The fixed fee applies uniformly, whether you live in India or abroad. -
Who pays the fee – is it per person or for both together?
The ₹29,000 is the total fee for the case, not per person. It covers the entire divorce process for the couple. It’s up to the spouses how they want to handle the payment. You can split the cost between husband and wife in any proportion or have one person pay the whole amount – that’s a personal arrangement. From our perspective, we just need to receive the full fee by the end of the process, regardless of who contributed. Many couples choose to split it 50-50, but if one spouse is more financially comfortable, they might voluntarily pay the bulk or all of it. In short, payment can be made by either or both spouses, as long as the installments are paid when due. We will provide receipts for each installment paid. -
Is the fee negotiable?
No – the fee is fixed and non-negotiable. We’ve set ₹29,000 as a very competitive flat rate for comprehensive legal services in a mutual divorce. This fixed fee ensures transparency and fairness to all clients. It covers all our work: consultations, document preparation, filings, court appearances, and obtaining the final divorce decree. Since we believe in providing quality service, we do not bargain or change this fee on a case-by-case basis. Rest assured, there are no hidden charges beyond this amount. (Court fees and stamp duties, which are minimal in mutual consent cases, are included in this package). Having a non-negotiable flat fee also means both spouses and our team have a clear understanding from the start. -
What is the refund policy if the process is halted or delayed?
We strive to see every mutual divorce through to completion. However, we have a partial refund policy for certain stages to be fair to our clients in case of unexpected delays or changes:-
The initial ₹1,000 and ₹4,000 payments are non-refundable. This is because as soon as those are paid, we immediately use them to draft your petition and file the case, incurring costs and effort that cannot be undone.
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For the larger installments (₹14,000 for First Motion and ₹10,000 for Second Motion), we offer a partial refund in a specific situation: if no court hearing is scheduled within 30 days of you making the payment for that stage, we will refund ₹10,000 to you. In other words, if there’s a significant delay (over a month) after you’ve paid for a motion and the court hasn’t even fixed a hearing date, we don’t want you to be out-of-pocket for the full amount. We’ll return ₹10,000 as a goodwill partial refund to you. (This essentially covers scenarios where something outside your control – like court scheduling issues – causes a holdup. Once a hearing is scheduled and especially after it’s held, this refund doesn’t apply.)
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If you or your spouse withdraws consent and the mutual divorce cannot proceed (as noted above, one party backing out would stop the process), then the case effectively ends. In such a scenario, the work done up to that point is covered by the fees already paid (which are non-refundable), but any stage not reached (and not paid) simply won’t be charged further. For example, if consent is withdrawn after the first motion, you won’t pay the second motion fee at all. (If you both later reconcile or decide to re-file, it would be a new case with new fees.)
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What if a court hearing is cancelled or needs to be rescheduled?
Occasionally, a court date might get adjourned or cancelled (due to reasons like the judge being unavailable, strikes, or even one of the parties not being able to attend on that day). If a scheduled hearing does not take place and has to be rescheduled for a later date beyond the expected timeline, a fresh fee of ₹20,000 will be applicable for the rescheduled hearings. Essentially, this covers arranging and handling a new First Motion and Second Motion if the original hearings fell through. We understand this situation is not common, but we mention it upfront: if for example the second motion hearing gets cancelled and the mutual divorce process has to be restarted or significantly extended, the two final stages (which amount to ₹20k) would need to be paid again to cover the additional work and court appearances. We will, of course, discuss the situation with you if something like this occurs. Our goal is always to complete the process in one go, but we have this policy in place just in case a fresh proceeding becomes necessary due to a cancellation.
We hope this FAQ has answered your questions clearly. Mutual divorce can seem daunting, but with the right guidance it is usually a smooth and amicable procedure. Our aim is to make the legal process as stress-free as possible for you. If you have any further questions or need personalized advice, please feel free to reach out – we’re here to help you through every step of the way toward a new start. Good communication and clarity are key, and we strive to provide both, so you can trust the process and focus on the future.