In India, after a divorce or separation, one spouse pays the other alimony. When one of the parties is reliant on the other and the other is not providing for the dependent party, alimony may also be awarded. However, because the wife is typically the dependant party in social contexts, alimony is typically paid by the husband to the wife.

According to Section 125 of the Code of Civil Procedure, one party may bring a claim for maintenance from the other party, and the court will then award the wife the appropriate amount of maintenance after considering the husband's property, assets, and income. The maintenance payment is made on a monthly basis or other schedule that is deemed suitable. Depending on the specifics of the case, maintenance may be given.

The woman may receive a relief under the Domestic Violence Act of 2005 to continue living with her in-laws. The spouse also has the right to claim all gifts of this nature made to her during the marriage and may be compensated for any physical or psychological abuse received at the hands of the in-laws. The Court may also designate an officer to monitor the woman while she is in the in-laws' home.

The following lists the alimony laws of various religions-

• Hindu Personal Laws- The husband and wife may both request maintenance from the other under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, and the women have additional alternatives under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act of 1956 to request maintenance.
• Muslim's personal law- Muslim women are entitled to maintenance under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act of 1986 and the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act of 1939. Muslim women are only entitled to maintenance throughout the iddat period, per Islamic law. However, this has been extended by the application of Section 125 of the CrPC, and Muslim women may now get maintenance up until the point at which they remarry.
• Christian Personal Laws- Similar provisions to the Hindu Marriage Act are provided for in Section 36 of the Act. A petition must be served on the husband before the court can order the husband to pay the wife alimony while the case is pending, but the amount of the alimony cannot exceed one-fifth of the husband's average net income for the three years prior to the date of the order. Additionally, the alimony must continue even if the case ends in a divorce or other dissolution of the marriage.