If you and your spouse are wondering whether it is genuinely possible to obtain a mutual consent divorce with no maintenance or alimony, and want to understand the total costs and requirements involved, understanding this comprehensive position is important.

Yes, it is genuinely possible to obtain a mutual consent divorce with no maintenance or alimony, since, as discussed extensively throughout this broader context, seeking maintenance is entirely a matter of choice for the parties involved, meaning if both you and your spouse genuinely agree that no maintenance or alimony will be paid by either party, your settlement agreement can specifically and clearly reflect this mutual understanding, and this term, once properly documented and incorporated into your petition, would be formally reflected in your final decree.

Regarding the specific requirements applicable to your mutual consent divorce, these remain governed by Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, requiring that you and your spouse have been living separately for a period of one year or more, have been unable to live together, and have mutually agreed that the marriage should be dissolved, entirely independent of whatever specific decision you reach regarding maintenance.

The general procedural requirements, as discussed extensively throughout this broader context, involve properly finalising your comprehensive settlement, which, in your specific case, would explicitly state that neither party seeks maintenance or alimony from the other, jointly filing your petition before the appropriate Family Court, proceeding through the first motion where you both confirm your genuine consent, completing the statutory cooling-off period, generally six months unless properly waived, and finally proceeding to the second motion where the court passes your final decree.

Regarding the total costs involved, it is worth understanding this genuinely encompasses several distinct components. The court fee itself is generally a modest, fixed amount prescribed under the relevant state's Court Fees Act, since matrimonial petitions are not valued as monetary claims, and this specific component typically remains quite minimal regardless of whether maintenance is being sought or waived.

The more significant cost component is your advocate's professional fee, and, as discussed extensively throughout this broader context regarding typical lawyer fees, since you are specifically foregoing maintenance negotiations, your settlement discussions may genuinely be simplified compared to a case involving complex maintenance negotiations, potentially resulting in a somewhat more modest overall professional fee given this reduced complexity, though this genuinely varies based on your specific city, the advocate's experience, and any other aspects of your settlement, such as property division or custody arrangements, that might still require detailed negotiation.

If your settlement is otherwise straightforward, with no children requiring custody arrangements and no significant property disputes beyond the maintenance waiver, it is worth understanding your overall process could genuinely be relatively efficient and comparatively affordable, given the reduced complexity this specific combination of circumstances represents.

If you have children, it is genuinely important to understand that waiving spousal maintenance for yourselves does not affect your children's own separate and independent right to child support, meaning this specific aspect would still need to be properly addressed within your settlement regardless of your mutual decision regarding spousal maintenance specifically.

If you wish to ensure this maintenance waiver is genuinely final and binding, it is worth ensuring your advocate uses clear, comprehensive language specifically confirming this represents a full and final waiver of any future maintenance claims, since, as discussed extensively throughout this broader context regarding whether additional maintenance can later be claimed, courts generally respect this kind of clear, voluntarily negotiated waiver, though genuinely exceptional and unforeseen changed circumstances could still potentially warrant reconsideration.

Given how genuinely important it is to properly document this specific maintenance waiver and understand your complete cost structure, it is essential to consult an experienced family law advocate. You can reach out via Aapka Legal Advice for guidance on properly structuring your mutual consent divorce with no maintenance or alimony, and for a transparent discussion of the total costs involved.

You can review Top Divorce Lawyers in India | Aapka Legal Advice for relevant experience.

Many people find real value in obtaining an independent, experienced perspective from the panel of retired judges available through certain legal consultation platforms.

If formal legal representation is required, engaging an experienced advocate will ensure this specific maintenance waiver is properly documented and your overall costs are transparently understood.

In summary, yes, it is genuinely possible to obtain a mutual consent divorce with no maintenance or alimony, provided both parties genuinely agree to this specific waiver and this is clearly documented within their settlement and petition, with the same fundamental requirements under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 applying regardless, and the total costs comprising a modest court fee alongside professional advocate fees, which may be somewhat more modest given the potentially simplified settlement negotiations this specific maintenance waiver represents.