Advocates specialise by subject and by forum, and the right choice depends on what happened, what you want and which court or authority will hear it. This page sets out the twelve areas people need most, the main laws and forums in each, the deadlines that catch people out and how to handle problems that cross areas. Use the form to send your problem to verified advocates in the right field; there is no charge to you.
Need help with your your kind of matter? Book a free call back from an enrolment-verified advocate.
Mutual and contested divorce under each personal law, waiting periods, alimony, custody and settlement terms.
Maintenance for spouses, children and parents, custody and visitation, guardianship, adoption and protection from domestic violence.
FIRs, police notices, investigation, charges, trial, quashing petitions and appeals under the BNS, BNSS and BSA.
Regular, anticipatory and default bail, which court to approach first, conditions and cancellation.
Title checks, sale and gift deeds, registration, partition, possession suits, tenancy and RERA complaints.
Money recovery, injunctions, declarations, contract disputes, summary suits and execution of decrees.
Complaints against sellers, builders, insurers, banks, hospitals and online platforms before consumer commissions.
Company and LLP formation, shareholder agreements, contracts, NCLT, insolvency, arbitration and compliance.
Termination, unpaid wages, gratuity, provident fund, workplace harassment and employer obligations under the labour codes.
Online fraud, account takeovers, impersonation, sextortion, online defamation and data misuse.
Income tax notices, reassessment, appeals to the CIT(A) and ITAT, GST show cause notices and appeals.
Drafting wills, probate, succession certificates, inheritance under each personal law and estate disputes.
For general guidance on hiring, see our how-to-hire guide and choosing an advocate.
| Your situation | Start with | May also need |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse wants to separate, or you do | Divorce | Family |
| Husband not paying for wife or children | Family | Divorce |
| Dowry or cruelty complaint filed against the family | Bail | Criminal, Divorce |
| Grandparents denied contact with a grandchild | Family | - |
| Police notice to appear, or arrest feared | Bail | Criminal |
| Police refusing to register your FIR | Criminal | - |
| Relative selling ancestral property without your consent | Property | Civil |
| Tenant not paying or not vacating | Property | Civil |
| Builder has not delivered the flat | Consumer | Property |
| Someone owes you money and stopped answering | Civil | Criminal if cheated |
| Cheque given to you was dishonoured | Civil (cheque bounce) | Criminal |
| Insurance claim rejected | Consumer | - |
| Business partner taking money out of the company | Corporate | Criminal |
| Starting a company or raising investment | Corporate | Tax |
| Fired without notice, salary or full and final not paid | Labour | Civil |
| Harassment by a colleague or manager | Labour | Criminal |
| Money lost to an online scam | Cyber | Criminal |
| Fake profile or private photos posted online | Cyber | Criminal |
| Income tax or GST notice | Tax | Corporate |
| Parent died; bank or society asking for papers | Wills | Property |
| Want to make a will or gift property to a child | Wills | Property |
Have a question about your own case? Talk to a lawyer who handles your kind of matter. Asking is free.
Real disputes rarely stay in one box. Some combinations come up so often that it helps to know in advance how they are usually handled.
In such cases, one lead advocate who coordinates the strategy prevents contradictions between forums.
Each full guide runs to several thousand words. These short notes give you the shape of each area: what the work really consists of, the first move that usually matters most, and the mistake people make most often.
Divorce work is less about the decree and more about everything that has to be settled on the way to it: where the children will live, what the wife or husband will receive, who keeps the house, what happens to jewellery and joint accounts, and whether pending criminal complaints will be withdrawn. When both spouses agree, a joint petition and two court appearances can finish it, and the court can shorten the waiting period in the right case. When one spouse contests, the petitioner must prove a ground such as cruelty or desertion, and the case can run for years. The first step that matters is deciding, honestly, whether a negotiated settlement is possible. The common mistake is moving out, stopping contact or making allegations in anger before taking advice, which can shape the whole case.
Family law covers the ongoing obligations that survive or sit alongside a marriage: maintenance for a spouse, children or ageing parents, custody and visitation, guardianship of a child's property, adoption, and protection from violence at home. Many of these remedies are quick and inexpensive by design, such as interim maintenance or a protection order from a magistrate. The first step is usually to document income, expenses and incidents, because maintenance and protection turn on evidence. The common mistake is assuming that a family matter must wait for divorce; maintenance and protection can be sought without filing for divorce at all.
Criminal practice divides into two very different jobs. For a complainant, it means getting a report registered, pushing for a proper investigation and supporting the prosecution. For an accused person, it means protecting liberty through bail, testing the evidence and, where the case is baseless, seeking quashing from the High Court. Since July 2024 the BNS, BNSS and BSA govern offences committed after that date, with old cases continuing under the IPC and CrPC. The first step is getting a copy of the FIR or complaint. The common mistake is giving statements or signing papers at the police station without understanding them.
Bail is the most urgent work in any legal system, because each day in custody matters. The law distinguishes bailable offences, where release is a right, from non-bailable ones, where the court weighs the seriousness of the charge, the risk of flight and the chance of interference with witnesses. Anticipatory bail protects against arrest before it happens, and default bail becomes available if the police fail to file a chargesheet within the statutory period. The first step is knowing exactly which sections are invoked. The common mistake is approaching the wrong court first, or waiting to see whether arrest actually happens.
Property work runs from checking a title before purchase to fighting over possession decades later. Much of it is preventive: reading the chain of deeds, matching them with mutation and tax records, searching for encumbrances and confirming approvals. When disputes arise, they concern partition among heirs, possession, forged deeds, tenancy, builder delays and acquisition. State law matters more here than in most areas, since stamp duty, rent control, land records and revenue courts differ across states. The first step is collecting every document in the chain. The common mistake is paying an advance on the strength of photocopies alone.
Civil litigation is the catch-all for private disputes about money, contracts and rights: recovery of loans and dues, injunctions to stop a wrong, declarations of status or title, specific performance of agreements, and execution of decrees once won. Commercial disputes above the threshold go to commercial courts with tighter timelines and compulsory pre-suit mediation. The first step is a well-drafted legal notice, which often settles the matter or sets up the suit. The common mistake is letting the limitation period run out while negotiating informally.
Consumer law gives buyers of goods and services a cheaper, faster forum than a civil court, covering defective products, deficient services, unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements. Builders, insurers, banks, hospitals, airlines, coaching centres and e-commerce platforms account for most complaints. The commissions can order refunds, replacement, compensation and costs. The first step is a written complaint to the business, then to the national consumer helpline. The common mistake is not keeping bills, brochures and messages that prove what was promised.
Corporate work is mostly about preventing disputes: choosing the right business structure, drafting founders' and shareholders' agreements, contracts with customers and vendors, employment terms and compliance with company law. When things go wrong, it moves to oppression and mismanagement petitions, insolvency proceedings and arbitration. The first step for any new venture is a written agreement among the people running it. The common mistake is operating on trust and verbal understandings until the relationship breaks down.
Labour and employment law protects workers' wages, job security, social security and dignity at work, and sets out employers' duties. Since November 2025 the four labour codes govern most of this. Typical matters are wrongful termination, unpaid salary and full and final settlement, gratuity and provident fund, and sexual harassment complaints. The first step is collecting the appointment letter, salary slips and all communication about the dispute. The common mistake is signing a resignation or settlement under pressure without understanding what is being given up.
Cyber law deals with crimes and wrongs committed through computers and phones: online fraud and UPI scams, account takeovers, impersonation, sextortion, online harassment and defamation, and misuse of personal data. Speed decides outcomes. Reporting on 1930 within hours gives the best chance of freezing stolen money, and platforms act faster on early, well-documented complaints. The first step is to report and preserve evidence. The common mistake is deleting chats or paying blackmailers in the hope that the problem will go away.
Tax disputes begin with a notice: a scrutiny assessment, a reassessment, a demand, or a GST show cause notice. The quality of the first reply often decides the case, because later appeals are fought on the record built at that stage. Appeals then move to the first appellate authority, the tribunal and the High Court. The Income-tax Act, 2025 applies from April 2026, while earlier years remain under the old Act. The first step is reading the notice carefully for the deadline and the exact allegation. The common mistake is ignoring a notice or replying late.
Estate work covers planning before death and sorting out property after it: drafting a valid will, choosing executors, gifts and family settlements, and, after a death, probate, succession certificates, mutation and division among heirs. Which succession law applies depends on the person's religion, and agricultural land sometimes follows state rules. The first step for anyone with property and dependants is a clear, properly witnessed will. The common mistake is assuming a nominee automatically becomes the owner.
These examples are invented, but each reflects the way real problems spread across more than one area of law.
A wife leaves the matrimonial home with her child and files for maintenance and protection under the domestic violence law. She also lodges a police complaint for cruelty. Her husband seeks anticipatory bail, files for divorce and asks for visitation. A family advocate leads the matrimonial cases, a criminal advocate handles bail, and a later settlement covering custody, a lump sum and withdrawal of cases ends all of them together.
A trader supplies goods worth several lakh rupees and receives post-dated cheques, which bounce. He sends a cheque bounce notice and files complaints, starts a civil suit for the balance not covered by cheques, and finds that the buyer has moved stock to a relative's firm. A commercial advocate coordinates the recovery suit, the cheque cases and an application to stop the transfer of assets.
A father dies without a will, leaving a house in the city and farmland in his village. One son occupies the house and refuses to share it. The daughters seek partition of the house through a civil suit, apply for mutation of the farmland in the revenue office, and claim the bank deposits through a succession certificate. Wills, property and revenue law all come into play.
An employee's company email is hacked and used to divert a client payment. The employer suspends him and threatens to recover the loss from his salary. He reports the hacking, preserves the logs, and challenges the suspension and any deduction from wages. A cyber advocate and an employment advocate work together.
Every advocate on Mara Vakil has had their Bar Council enrolment checked before being listed.
| Area | Main laws | Where cases are heard |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce | Hindu Marriage Act, 1955; Special Marriage Act, 1954; Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939; Indian Divorce Act, 1869; Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 | Family courts, or district courts where none exist |
| Family | Maintenance provisions of the BNSS; Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005; Guardians and Wards Act, 1890; Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956; senior citizens law of 2007 | Family courts, magistrates, maintenance tribunals |
| Criminal | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, all in force since 1 July 2024, plus special laws | Magistrates, sessions courts, special courts, High Courts |
| Bail | Bail chapter of the BNSS, with special conditions under laws such as the NDPS Act and UAPA | Magistrate or sessions court first, then the High Court |
| Property | Transfer of Property Act, 1882; Registration Act, 1908; state stamp and rent laws; RERA, 2016 | Civil courts, revenue courts, rent authorities, RERA |
| Civil | Code of Civil Procedure, 1908; Specific Relief Act, 1963; Contract Act, 1872; Limitation Act, 1963; Commercial Courts Act, 2015 | Civil courts and commercial courts |
| Consumer | Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and its rules | District, state and national consumer commissions |
| Corporate | Companies Act, 2013; LLP Act, 2008; Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016; Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 | NCLT, NCLAT, commercial courts, arbitral tribunals |
| Labour | Code on Wages, Industrial Relations Code, Code on Social Security and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, in force from 21 November 2025; POSH Act, 2013 | Labour authorities, industrial tribunals, internal and local committees, civil courts |
| Cyber | Information Technology Act, 2000; relevant BNS offences; Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 | Police and cyber cells, magistrates, adjudicating officers |
| Tax | Income-tax Act, 2025 (and the 1961 Act for earlier years); CGST and state GST Acts | Tax officers, CIT(A), ITAT, GST appellate authorities and tribunal, High Courts |
| Wills | Indian Succession Act, 1925; Hindu Succession Act, 1956; Muslim personal law | Civil courts and High Courts with original jurisdiction for probate and succession |
The Income-tax Act, 2025 took over from the 1961 Act on 1 April 2026, but notices and appeals about earlier years still turn on the old law, so check which one governs your year.
Missing a deadline can end a strong case before it starts. These are some of the limits people most often run into. Exceptions and extensions exist, so treat them as warnings rather than exact advice.
| Matter | Time limit |
|---|---|
| Cheque bounce | Legal notice within 30 days of learning of the dishonour; the drawer gets 15 days to pay; the complaint must be filed within one month after that period ends |
| Consumer complaint | Two years, counted from the day the problem arose; a late complaint is accepted only if the delay is explained |
| Suit to recover money | Generally three years from when the money fell due |
| Suit for possession based on title | Twelve years, counted from the time the other person's possession became adverse |
| Mutual consent divorce (Hindu law) | Spouses need a year or more of living apart before a joint petition can be filed |
| Default bail | Available if the chargesheet is not filed within 60 or 90 days, depending on the offence |
| POSH complaint | Within three months of the incident, extendable by a further three months |
| Income tax appeal | 30 days to the CIT(A) from the order; 60 days to the ITAT from the appellate order |
| GST first appeal | Three months from the date of the order |
| Appeal from NCLT to NCLAT | 30 days, extendable by up to 15 days for sufficient cause |
| Online fraud | No legal deadline to report, but reporting on 1930 within hours gives the best chance of freezing the money |
Not sure what applies to you? Describe your situation and a verified advocate can call you back.
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People often start with the area of law; it can help to start with the result you need instead. Each remedy below belongs mainly to one or two areas.
| Result you want | Usual remedy | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom for someone in custody | Regular or default bail | Bail |
| Protection from an expected arrest | Anticipatory bail | Bail |
| A false criminal case ended | Quashing petition or discharge | Criminal |
| Monthly support for a spouse, child or parent | Maintenance order | Family |
| Safety at home | Protection and residence orders | Family |
| Ending a marriage | Divorce decree | Divorce |
| Money owed to you | Recovery suit, summary suit or cheque bounce complaint | Civil |
| Stopping someone from building, selling or entering | Injunction | Civil, property |
| Your share of family property | Partition suit or revenue division | Property |
| Refund or compensation from a business | Consumer complaint | Consumer |
| Delayed flat, with interest | RERA complaint or consumer complaint | Property, consumer |
| Unpaid wages or gratuity | Claim before labour authorities | Labour |
| Stolen money traced | Cyber complaint and bank dispute | Cyber |
| Wrong tax demand cancelled | Reply, appeal or writ | Tax |
| Bank deposits of a deceased parent | Succession certificate | Wills |
A legal notice is often the first sign that a dispute is turning legal, and it usually reveals which area you are dealing with. Look for the law it cites: section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act means a cheque case is coming; the Consumer Protection Act points to a consumer complaint; a reference to the Transfer of Property Act or a rent law signals a property or tenancy dispute; the labour codes or an employment contract point to an employment claim. Note the deadline it gives, the amount or action demanded and the sender's advocate. Then reply through an advocate in that area, deny anything untrue, and keep proof of delivery. A careful reply can end the dispute, and a careless one can be quoted against you later.
Clients never pay Mara Vakil. Posting your matter and the call back are free.
Beyond the general codes, Parliament has passed many special laws with their own procedures, courts and deadlines. If your problem falls under one of them, look for an advocate who knows that statute well.
| Special law | What it covers | Usual advocate |
|---|---|---|
| Negotiable Instruments Act, section 138 | Dishonoured cheques | Civil or criminal advocate in magistrates' courts |
| Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 | Sexual offences against children, tried in special courts | Criminal |
| NDPS Act, 1985 | Drug offences, with strict bail conditions | Criminal and bail |
| SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 | Offences against members of Scheduled Castes and Tribes, with special courts | Criminal |
| Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 | Giving, taking or demanding dowry | Criminal and family |
| Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 | Accident compensation through claims tribunals | Civil or accident claims |
| SARFAESI Act, 2002 | Bank recovery by taking possession of secured property | Banking, before the Debts Recovery Tribunal |
| Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 | Private resolution of commercial disputes and challenges to awards | Corporate or commercial |
| Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 | Home buyers' rights against promoters | Property or consumer |
| Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 | Maintenance and protection of elderly people | Family |
| POSH Act, 2013 | Sexual harassment at the workplace | Labour and employment |
| Right to Information Act, 2005 | Access to government information and appeals | Often handled without a lawyer; administrative law advocates for complex appeals |
The twelve guides cover the problems people bring most often, but advocates on Mara Vakil also take up many other kinds of work. If yours is one of these, choose the nearest option in the form and describe the matter fully.
Compensation for injury or death on the roads before the claims tribunal, including claims against insurers.
Loan disputes, SARFAESI notices, one-time settlements and cases before debts recovery tribunals.
Transfers, promotions, disciplinary action and pensions of government employees before tribunals and High Courts.
Commercial disputes decided by arbitrators, and court challenges to arbitral awards.
Trademarks, copyright and passing off, including disputes over brand names and online copying.
Rejected or delayed claims in health, motor, life and property insurance.
Claims against hospitals and doctors, usually before consumer commissions.
Admissions, fee refunds, examination results and disciplinary action by institutions.
Property management, powers of attorney, inheritance and matrimonial cases with a foreign element.
Pollution, construction in protected zones and other cases before the National Green Tribunal.
| Stage | Common needs | Areas to know |
|---|---|---|
| Students | Fee refunds, hostel disputes, exam grievances, online scams, internships | Consumer, cyber |
| Starting work | Offer letters, unpaid salary, notice periods, workplace harassment, first rent agreement | Labour, property |
| Marriage | Marriage registration, name change, joint property, and sometimes separation | Family, divorce, property |
| Buying a home | Title checks, loans, registration, builder delays, society disputes | Property, consumer |
| Running a business | Contracts, recovery, GST and income tax, partnerships, trademarks | Corporate, civil, tax |
| Raising children | Custody, guardianship, school disputes, children's safety online | Family, cyber |
| Later life | Wills, gifts to children, maintenance, pensions, protection from abuse | Wills, family |
| After a death in the family | Succession, mutation, bank claims, partition among heirs | Wills, property |
Your mobile number goes only to the advocate who accepts your request, not to everyone.
Not every legal problem needs an advocate from the start. Several forums are designed so that ordinary people can use them on their own, and starting there can save money and time. An advocate is still worth consulting if the other side is represented or the stakes are high.
| Route | What it is good for |
|---|---|
| National Consumer Helpline (1915) | Getting a company to respond to a complaint before going to the commission |
| Consumer commission, filed yourself on e-Jagriti | Smaller consumer claims where the facts are clear and documented |
| RTI application | Getting information or documents from a government office |
| Maintenance tribunal for senior citizens | Maintenance from children or heirs, with a simple procedure |
| Protection officer under the domestic violence law | Help in filing for protection, residence and monetary relief |
| Bank grievance cell and RBI ombudsman | Unauthorised debits, wrong charges and poor banking service |
| Insurance ombudsman | Disputed or delayed insurance claims within its limits |
| Lok Adalat | Settling cheque, bank, accident, electricity and family matters by agreement |
| District Legal Services Authority | Free advice and a free lawyer if you are eligible |
If you start alone and the matter turns contested or technical, bring in an advocate before the next important date rather than after it.
A first consultation goes further when you ask the question that matters most for your kind of case.
| Area | Ask this |
|---|---|
| Divorce | What would a fair settlement look like here, and how long would a contested case take by comparison? |
| Family | Can I get interim maintenance or protection quickly while the main case runs? |
| Criminal | Which sections apply, and what do they require the prosecution to prove? |
| Bail | Which court should we approach first, and what conditions are likely? |
| Property | Is the title clean, and what exactly is missing from the paperwork? |
| Civil | Is my claim within limitation, and is the other side worth suing, given what can be recovered? |
| Consumer | Which commission has jurisdiction, and what compensation is realistic? |
| Corporate | What should our agreement say about exit, deadlock and decision-making? |
| Labour | What am I owed by law and by contract, and should I sign anything yet? |
| Cyber | What evidence should I preserve, and how do we get the money frozen? |
| Tax | What is the deadline, and what documents will support the reply? |
| Wills | Who inherits if I do nothing, and does my will change that the way I want? |
Cases are won and lost on evidence gathered long before anyone reaches court. Whatever your area, a few habits help.
Deadlines matter in your kind of matter. Book a free call back today rather than waiting.
Some legal problems are emergencies; others are serious but can wait a few days for proper advice. Knowing which is which helps you decide whether to act today.
| Act today | Act this week | Act this month |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest or police custody of a family member | A police notice to appear | Planning a will or gift |
| Money just lost in an online fraud | A legal notice received with a short deadline | Starting a business partnership |
| Violence at home | A tax or GST notice | Reviewing a rent agreement before renewal |
| Someone forcibly taking possession of your home | A cheque returned unpaid by the bank | Checking title before a planned purchase |
| A court hearing tomorrow with no lawyer | Termination or suspension from a job | Collecting papers for a long-pending claim |
When in doubt, treat it as urgent. Many legal rights are lost not because the case was weak but because the first step came too late.
We do not publish fee figures, because they vary widely and Bar Council rules restrict advertising. What we can explain is what makes a matter more or less expensive.
Ask for a stage-wise estimate in writing, and see the legal fees guide for common fee structures.
Want a second opinion? Talk to another enrolment-verified advocate, free.
Not necessarily. Consumers can file and argue their own complaints, though an advocate helps in larger or technical claims.
Yes. Maintenance can be claimed independently of divorce.
A property or civil lawyer, or a revenue lawyer if the land is agricultural and the state's revenue courts decide such disputes.
Both. A civil suit can cancel the deed, and a criminal complaint addresses the forgery.
Start with the bank and the RBI ombudsman; a cyber or consumer lawyer can take it further.
Yes. Employment lawyers advise on contract terms, including restrictions after leaving a job.
Usually a consumer lawyer, since most claims against private hospitals go to consumer commissions.
Often yes, especially in district courts, though some prefer separate specialists for the criminal side.
Challenges are usually raised when probate or succession is sought; delay can weaken the challenge, so act early.
A cyber lawyer, who can advise on takedown, civil damages and criminal complaint.
Most legal disputes in India end in some kind of settlement rather than a final judgment. Knowing the settlement routes in your area helps you judge an offer and decide when to keep fighting.
| Area | Typical settlement route |
|---|---|
| Divorce and family | Court-annexed mediation leading to mutual consent divorce, with custody, maintenance and property terms recorded |
| Criminal | Compounding of offences the law allows to be compounded; for others, quashing by the High Court on a genuine settlement in suitable cases |
| Cheque bounce | Payment with the court's permission to compound, often at a Lok Adalat |
| Property and civil | Family settlement deeds, mediation, or a compromise decree recorded by the court |
| Consumer | Settlement with the business before or during proceedings, sometimes through mediation offered by the commission |
| Corporate | Negotiated exit of a shareholder, buy-out, or arbitration |
| Labour | Conciliation before the labour authorities, or a full and final settlement agreement |
| Tax | Statutory settlement or dispute resolution schemes when the government announces them |
| Banking | One-time settlement with the lender, sometimes at a Lok Adalat |
Before you sign any settlement, make sure it covers every pending case between the parties, says who will withdraw what and by when, and is recorded in a form that can be enforced.
The Bar Council of India's rules of professional conduct apply to every advocate, from a junior in a district court to a senior counsel in the Supreme Court. They give clients a baseline of protection.
Fees are agreed directly between you and the advocate. Booking the call back costs nothing.
Most practice areas are governed by central laws that apply everywhere, but in some areas the state you are in makes a real difference.
The lawyers by city page compares these differences across ten cities.
Some offences can be compounded by agreement; for others, the High Court may quash proceedings after a genuine settlement in suitable cases.
Generally yes, unless urgent interim relief is sought.
Yes, to the State Bar Council where the advocate is enrolled.
The divorce law is national, but the court with jurisdiction and some procedures depend on where the parties live or married.
No. States fix minimum wages for different kinds of work under the wage code, subject to a national floor.
Note the deadline, identify the law it cites, and have an advocate in that area draft a reply before the deadline passes.
Yes. A matrimonial dispute with a criminal complaint, or a fraud that is both a crime and a money claim, sometimes calls for a specialist on each side, coordinated by one lead advocate.
Start from the result you want, such as release from custody, money back or a share in property, and the remedies table on this page points to the usual route.
Yes, if properly drafted and, where needed, recorded by the court or registered. A settlement recorded in a decree or Lok Adalat award can be enforced like a judgment.
Yes. Collect your file and a list of upcoming dates from your current advocate and give the new advocate time to prepare before the next hearing.
An enrolment number tells you an advocate may practise; it does not tell you whether they regularly do your kind of work. These are the signs of relevant experience to ask about.
| Area | Look for an advocate who |
|---|---|
| Divorce and family | Appears regularly in the family court where your case will be heard and has handled mediated settlements |
| Criminal and bail | Spends most days in the magistrates' and sessions courts and can move quickly to the High Court if needed |
| Property | Knows your state's land records and registration practice, and the local revenue or rent forum |
| Civil | Drafts pleadings carefully and handles execution, not only the suit itself |
| Consumer | Appears before consumer commissions and knows e-Jagriti filing |
| Corporate | Drafts agreements for businesses of your size and has NCLT or arbitration experience |
| Labour | Acts for employees or employers in your sector and knows the labour codes |
| Cyber | Works with cyber cells and understands digital evidence |
| Tax | Handles replies and appeals before the tax authorities and tribunal regularly |
| Wills | Drafts wills often and has handled probate or succession proceedings |
Every case turns on its own facts. A verified advocate can tell you what applies to yours.
Our editorial team prepares each practice area guide by working through the text of the relevant Acts and rules and through Supreme Court and High Court judgments, writing in plain English for readers without legal training. We focus on what people actually need to decide: which forum, which deadline, which documents and what a realistic outcome looks like. Guides are reviewed when the law changes, for example when the new criminal codes, the labour codes or the new Income-tax Act came into force, and each shows the date of its last review. No advocate pays to be mentioned, and no guide recommends a particular lawyer by name. Where a point of law is unsettled or differs between High Courts, we say so rather than picking a side, because the right course then depends on where your case will be heard. If you find something out of date, write to help@maravakil.in, and read our editorial policy for more.
The national guides explain the law that applies everywhere. The city guides add what changes locally: which court complex hears the case, the state rules on rent, land and stamp duty, and local offices you will deal with.
For a full comparison of courts and rules between cities, see lawyers by city.
Ready to take the next step? Book a free call back in under two minutes.
In district courts across India, many advocates handle a broad mix of civil, criminal and family work, and for routine matters that breadth is often an advantage. Specialisation matters more as the forum becomes narrower or the stakes rise.
| Area | Useful papers |
|---|---|
| Divorce and family | Marriage certificate or proof, photographs, income proof of both spouses, children's records, messages and any police complaints |
| Criminal and bail | FIR, notices, arrest memo, medical reports, prior orders, identity and address proof |
| Property | Title deeds, mutation records, tax receipts, approved plan, agreements, encumbrance search |
| Civil | Contracts, invoices, ledgers, correspondence, legal notices and replies |
| Consumer | Bills, warranty cards, brochures, complaints to the seller and their replies |
| Corporate | Incorporation papers, shareholder agreements, board resolutions, financial statements |
| Labour | Appointment letter, salary slips, termination letter, attendance and PF records, complaints |
| Cyber | Screenshots, transaction IDs, bank statements, complaint numbers from 1930 or the cybercrime portal |
| Tax | Notices, returns, computation, assessment orders, books of account |
| Wills | The will, death certificate, list of heirs, property and account details |
Prefer to speak to a lawyer first? Talk to a verified advocate who handles your kind of matter.
Fees vary with the forum, the work involved and the advocate's experience. Drafting a will or a notice is often charged as a fixed fee. Trial work in criminal, civil and family courts may be charged per appearance or per stage. Corporate and tax work may be billed by the task or the hour. High Court and tribunal matters usually cost more, especially with senior counsel. Court fee, stamp duty and filing costs are separate. Ask for a written estimate stage by stage, pay in a traceable way and keep receipts. An advocate may not tie the fee to the outcome or charge a slice of what you recover. Read our legal fees guide.
Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm. When you choose a practice area and describe your matter, it is shown to advocates whose enrolment we have checked and who handle that type of work, starting near you. Your number is hidden until one of them accepts, and only that advocate calls you. If your matter fits more than one area, describe it in full and the advocate can suggest who else should be involved.
Every enrolled advocate may appear in any court, but forums such as tribunals and High Court writ benches reward regular practice there.
Criminal cases punish offences; recovering money usually needs a civil suit, a cheque bounce case or a settlement.
They also cover services such as insurance, banking, housing, education and medical care.
Prompt reporting on 1930 often leads to funds being frozen before they are withdrawn.
A written will signed by the maker and attested by two witnesses is valid without either.
Have your documents ready? Book a free call back and share the details with the advocate.
It is the field of law an advocate mostly works in, such as divorce, criminal defence, property or tax.
Divorce, family, criminal, bail, property, civil, consumer, corporate, labour, cyber, tax and wills, with city guides for each in ten cities.
Choose "Not sure" in the form and describe what happened. The advocate who accepts can tell you.
Many advocates do both. Divorce work centres on ending the marriage; family work also covers maintenance, custody, adoption and domestic violence.
If arrest is feared or has happened, start with bail. The same advocate often continues with the trial.
A consumer or property lawyer, depending on whether you go to the consumer commission or RERA.
Usually an advocate who does civil and criminal work in the magistrates' courts, since a cheque bounce complaint is a criminal case about a money debt.
A labour or employment lawyer, who may start with a legal notice and then approach the labour authorities or a civil court.
A cyber lawyer, working with the police cyber cell and your bank.
A tax lawyer or a chartered accountant; appeals before tribunals and High Courts need an advocate.
A will and estate lawyer, though any advocate familiar with succession law can do it.
Often yes, especially in district courts. For specialised forums, a lead advocate may bring in a colleague.
Often, particularly for tribunal and High Court work, but they may also be quicker and more precise.
Yes. The BNS, BNSS and BSA have applied since 1 July 2024.
Yes, from 21 November 2025.
Two years from when the problem arose, with delay excused only for good reason.
Thirty days from receiving information of the dishonour from the bank.
No. Advocates are barred from advertising themselves, so the platform carries no rankings, stars or reviews.
We check the enrolment details each advocate submits against State Bar Council records before listing them.
Yes. Posting and the call back cost nothing in every practice area. Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm.
Courts, local laws and practice differ from city to city. Read the guide for another city:
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Guide: How to find a lawyer in India · Post your case online
Describe your matter in a few lines with your city, what happened, any notice or hearing date and what you want. Enrolment-verified advocates who handle such cases can see it, and the one who accepts will call you. It is free for clients.
Describe your matter, freeThis page gives general information about Indian law as of 15 October 2026. It is not legal advice and is not an advertisement or solicitation by any advocate, as restricted by Rule 36 of the Bar Council of India Rules. Laws and court practice change, and the right answer depends on your facts; confirm the position for your case with an advocate before acting. Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm. Read our disclaimer.
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