{"id":1048,"date":"2025-06-19T11:40:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T06:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/blog\/?p=1048"},"modified":"2026-11-01T19:19:04","modified_gmt":"2026-11-01T13:49:04","slug":"mutual-consent-divorce-process-6-month-waiver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/blog\/mutual-consent-divorce-process-6-month-waiver\/","title":{"rendered":"Mutual Consent Divorce in India: Process, Timeline and Waiving the 6-Month Wait"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group tldr-box has-background\" style=\"border-left-color:#b8860b;border-left-width:4px;background-color:#fdf8ec;padding-top:16px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:16px;padding-left:20px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Quick answer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Under <strong>Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955<\/strong>, spouses who have <strong>lived separately for at least one year<\/strong> and agree to divorce can file a joint petition.<\/li>\n\n<li>There are two motions. The second motion is normally filed after <strong>6 months<\/strong> and within 18 months of the first.<\/li>\n\n<li>In <strong>Amardeep Singh v. Harveen Kaur (2017)<\/strong>, the Supreme Court held the 6-month period is <strong>not mandatory<\/strong>. The Family Court can waive it if the conditions are met.<\/li>\n\n<li>Settle everything in writing first: alimony, stridhan, custody, and withdrawal of pending cases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mutual consent divorce is the fastest and least stressful way to end a marriage in India. When both spouses agree on the terms, it can often be completed in a few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who can file for mutual consent divorce?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under Section 13B, both spouses must show that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They have been <strong>living separately for one year or more<\/strong> before filing. Living under the same roof without living as husband and wife can also count.<\/li>\n\n<li>They <strong>have not been able to live together<\/strong><\/li>\n\n<li>They have <strong>mutually agreed<\/strong> that the marriage should be dissolved<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, Section 28 is the equivalent provision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the step-by-step process?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Settlement:<\/strong> Agree on alimony, stridhan and gifts, child custody and visitation, and withdrawal of pending cases (maintenance, domestic violence, Section 85 BNS, etc.)<\/li>\n\n<li><strong>First motion:<\/strong> A joint petition is filed in the Family Court, and both parties&#8217; statements are recorded<\/li>\n\n<li><strong>Cooling period:<\/strong> Six months from the first motion, unless waived<\/li>\n\n<li><strong>Second motion:<\/strong> Both parties confirm consent. The court passes the divorce decree<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can the 6-month waiting period be waived?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. In <strong>Amardeep Singh v. Harveen Kaur, (2017) 8 SCC 746<\/strong>, the Supreme Court held that the period is directory, not mandatory. The court may waive it where:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The statutory period of 6 months plus the 1 year of separation has already passed before the first motion<\/li>\n\n<li>All efforts at mediation and reconciliation have failed<\/li>\n\n<li>The parties have genuinely settled all their differences, including alimony and custody<\/li>\n\n<li>Waiting would only prolong their agony<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An application for waiver can be filed a week after the first motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if one spouse withdraws consent?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consent must continue until the decree. Either spouse can withdraw before the second motion. That is why a clear written settlement, with timelines for payments, is important. In <strong>Shilpa Sailesh v. Varun Sreenivasan (2023)<\/strong>, the Supreme Court also confirmed that it can itself dissolve a marriage that has irretrievably broken down, using Article 142.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which documents are needed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Marriage certificate or wedding photographs and invitation<\/li>\n\n<li>Address and ID proof of both spouses<\/li>\n\n<li>Proof of separate residence for one year, where available<\/li>\n\n<li>Income and asset details, and the signed settlement terms<\/li>\n\n<li>Details of children and any pending cases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you appear by video conference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many Family Courts, including those in Delhi NCR, allow a spouse living abroad to appear by video conference with permission. This is useful for <a href=\"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/nri-legal-services-lawyer.php\">NRI clients<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Need help?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See our <a href=\"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/mutual-consent-divorce-lawyer-noida.php\">mutual consent divorce lawyer in Noida<\/a> page for fees, timelines and the documents we prepare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does a mutual consent divorce take?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Normally about six to eighteen months. If the court waives the six-month cooling-off period, it can be much quicker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can the 6-month waiting period be waived?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. In Amardeep Singh v. Harveen Kaur (2017), the Supreme Court held that the Family Court can waive it where settlement is complete and there is no chance of reconciliation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do we need to live separately before filing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, the spouses must have lived separately for at least one year before filing the joint petition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can one spouse withdraw consent?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, consent can be withdrawn before the decree is passed, so it is important to settle all terms, including alimony and custody, in writing first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 \u2014 Section 13B; Special Marriage Act, 1954 \u2014 Section 28<\/li>\n\n<li>Amardeep Singh v. Harveen Kaur, (2017) 8 SCC 746<\/li>\n\n<li>Shilpa Sailesh v. Varun Sreenivasan, 2023 SCC OnLine SC 544 (Constitution Bench)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This article is general legal information, not legal advice for your specific case. Law and procedure change; please consult an advocate before acting.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading related-guides\">Related guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list related-guides-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/blog\/contested-divorce-grounds-hindu-marriage-act\/\">Contested Divorce in India: Grounds Under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/blog\/permanent-alimony-factors-india\/\">Permanent Alimony in India: How Courts Decide the Amount<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/blog\/child-custody-welfare-of-child-india\/\">Child Custody in India: How Courts Apply the \u201cWelfare of the Child\u201d Test<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How long does a mutual consent divorce take?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Normally about six to eighteen months. 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