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Can a Father-in-Law Claim Maintenance from Son-in-Law? What the Law Says
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News18•14-10-2026, 18:03
Can a Father-in-Law Claim Maintenance from Son-in-Law? What the Law Says
- •Under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007, senior citizens unable to maintain themselves can apply for maintenance from their children or legal heirs.
- •According to current rules, the primary responsibility for maintaining senior citizens lies strictly with children, daughters, and major grandchildren.
- •The 2019 amendment bill, which is yet to be passed, seeks to include daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, and stepchildren under the definition of responsible persons.
- •While current laws do not allow a father-in-law to claim maintenance from a son-in-law, the proposed 2019 amendments aim to grant this legal right.
Key Questions Answered
Under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, the maximum monthly maintenance allowance is Rs. 10,000.
Under current law, fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law cannot claim maintenance, but the 2019 amendment bill proposes to grant them this legal right.
The proposed 2019 amendment bill increases the imprisonment term for abandoning senior citizens from 3 to 6 months and raises the fine to Rs. 10,000.
