Legal Guides — In-Depth, India-First, Lawyer-Grade
Step-by-step procedural guides, statutory references, drafting templates and recent case law across RERA, real estate, family, criminal, civil, corporate, labour, tax, IP and consumer practice. Written for Indian advocates and the citizens they advise.
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RERA
11 guidesSection 18 RERA: Refund + Interest for Delayed Possession — Complete Guide
Allottee remedies under Section 18 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 2016 when a builder fails to deliver possession on time — refund procedure, interest calculation, model complaint format, and state-by-state interest rates.
- Maharashtra
MahaRERA Complaint Filing — Step-by-Step Guide for Allottees and Advocates (2026)
Complete guide to filing a complaint before the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA): the online portal walk-through, fees, documents required, hearing procedure, recent interest rate orders, and pitfalls that get cases dismissed in the first hearing.
RERA Form A — Project Registration Walkthrough for Promoters (All States)
How to register a real estate project under RERA — Form A walkthrough, documents required, state-by-state filing fees, common rejections, and what changes mid-registration trigger Section 7 cancellation.
- Uttar Pradesh
UP RERA Complaint Filing — Step-by-Step Procedure for Allottees and Advocates
Complete guide to filing a complaint before the Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UP RERA) — Form M procedure, fees, the online portal at up-rera.in, hearing schedule across Lucknow / Gautam Buddh Nagar / Greater Noida benches, and the documents that determine first-hearing outcomes.
- Karnataka
Karnataka RERA Complaint Procedure — Bengaluru-First Guide for Allottees and Advocates
Complete guide to filing a complaint before the Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA Karnataka / K-RERA) — Form M procedure, the rera.karnataka.gov.in portal walkthrough, fee schedule, hearing pattern at the M.S. Building bench, and the case-law trends specific to Bengaluru's JDA-heavy project structures.
REAT Appeal Procedure — Section 44 Appeals to the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (All States, 2026)
Complete guide to appealing a State RERA Authority order to the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal under Section 44 of the RERA Act 2016 — 60-day deadline, the 30% pre-deposit for promoter appeals, fee schedule across major states, common grounds, and the further appeal route to the High Court under Section 58.
- Telangana
Telangana RERA Complaint Procedure — TS RERA Guide for Hyderabad and Beyond (2026)
Step-by-step guide to filing a complaint before the Telangana State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TS RERA) — the rera.telangana.gov.in portal, complaint form, fee schedule, hearing pattern in Hyderabad, and the specific issues that recur in HMDA-area projects.
- Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu RERA Complaint Procedure — TNRERA Guide for Chennai and Tamil Nadu Allottees
Practical guide to filing a complaint before the Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TNRERA) — the rera.tn.gov.in portal walkthrough, fee schedule, hearing pattern, and the issues specific to Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai project disputes.
RERA Section 59 — Penalty for Non-Registration of Real Estate Projects (Complete Guide)
Practitioner's guide to Section 59 of the RERA Act 2016 — penalty up to 10% of estimated project cost for non-registration, when and how to invoke it, suo motu proceedings, and the recent state-authority enforcement trends including digital-advertising surveillance.
- Haryana
Haryana RERA (HRERA) Complaint Procedure 2026: Gurugram & Panchkula Benches — Step-by-Step
Complete walkthrough of filing a complaint before HRERA Gurugram (for South Haryana) or Panchkula (for North Haryana) — jurisdiction map, hrera.in portal flow, fees, hearing practice, REAT appeal route.
- Delhi
Delhi RERA (DRERA) Complaint Procedure 2026: rera.delhi.gov.in Walkthrough
Step-by-step guide to filing a Section 31 complaint before the Delhi Real Estate Regulatory Authority — DRERA jurisdiction (NCT only, not Noida/Gurugram), portal flow, ₹1,000 fee, hearings at Vikas Bhavan-II, interest rate, and REAT Delhi appeal.
Real Estate & Property
4 guidesSale Deed Drafting in India — Complete Guide with Clauses, Stamp Duty and Registration
Practitioner's guide to drafting a sale deed for immovable property in India — the indispensable clauses, stamp duty tables by state, the registration procedure under the Registration Act 1908, post-execution compliances and the title-defect risks an advocate must flag.
Title Due Diligence Checklist for Immovable Property in India — Advocate's Guide
Comprehensive title due diligence checklist for purchase of immovable property in India — the 30-year title chain, encumbrance certificate, mutation records, litigation searches, RERA compliance verification, society/association NOCs, and the red flags that should make you walk away.
Encumbrance Certificate (EC) — Complete Guide to Obtaining and Reading One Across Indian States
Practitioner's guide to encumbrance certificates in India — what an EC is, the period to apply for (15 / 30 / 50 years), how to obtain online in Karnataka (Kaveri), Maharashtra (eSearch), Tamil Nadu (TNRD), Telangana (MeeBhoomi), Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, what an EC shows vs hides, and how to read one for a title-search.
NRI Property Rights in India — Purchase, Sale, Inheritance, Repatriation and FEMA Compliance (2026)
Complete guide to property matters for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and OCI cardholders — what property can be purchased / inherited / sold, RBI / FEMA rules, repatriation limits, TDS at 1% / 20% / 30%, capital gains tax, and the recent changes in FEMA 2024-25.
Family Law
6 guidesMutual Consent Divorce in India — Section 13B HMA Procedure, Timeline, and State Variations (2026)
Step-by-step guide to mutual consent divorce under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 — the two-petition procedure, the six-month cooling-off period (and when it can be waived), maintenance, alimony, child custody, and state-by-state Family Court fees.
Section 125 CrPC Maintenance — Procedure, Quantification and Recent Supreme Court Standards (2026)
Complete guide to maintenance under Section 125 CrPC (now Section 144 BNSS) — who can claim, the procedure before the Magistrate, the Rajnesh v Neha guidelines for quantification, interim maintenance, recovery, and how Section 125 interacts with Section 24 HMA and the Domestic Violence Act.
Child Custody in India — Hindu Minority & Guardianship Act, Guardians & Wards Act, Best Interest Test (2026)
Complete guide to child custody disputes in India — the substantive law under the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act 1956 and the Guardians and Wards Act 1890, the 'best interest of the child' test, custody categories (legal, physical, joint, visitation), inter-state and international custody, and the new Supreme Court standards.
Will Drafting and Probate in India — Indian Succession Act, Hindu Succession Act, Testator Capacity (2026)
Practitioner's complete guide to drafting a will in India and obtaining probate — the Indian Succession Act 1925 framework, testator capacity tests, attestation requirements under Section 63, when probate is mandatory (especially in Bombay/Calcutta/Madras presidency areas), Letters of Administration, and the litigation flashpoints around contested wills.
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 — Complete Guide to Procedure, Reliefs and Recent Standards
Practitioner's guide to the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 (PWDVA) — the broad definition of domestic violence, who can file (including live-in partners), the Magistrate's procedure under Section 12, the five categories of relief, residence orders, monetary relief, and the inter-statute interactions with 498A and 125 CrPC.
Succession Certificate in India — Procedure, Limitations and When Probate is Needed Instead
Practitioner's guide to obtaining a succession certificate under Sections 370-390 of the Indian Succession Act 1925 — eligibility, the District Court procedure, court fee structure, the difference from probate and Letters of Administration, and the limitations on the certificate's coverage.
Criminal Law
5 guidesSection 138 NI Act — Complete Cheque Bounce Procedure, Notice, Limitation and Defences (2026)
Complete guide to Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 — the statutory notice procedure, 30-day and 15-day timelines, complaint format before the Magistrate, common defences, and the new Section 138A summary procedure under the 2018 amendment.
Section 498A IPC — Defending the Husband: Anticipatory Bail, Quashing and Recent SC Directives (2026)
Practitioner's guide to defending a Section 498A IPC complaint — anticipatory bail under Section 438 CrPC, quashing under Section 482 CrPC, Family Welfare Committee referrals after Rajesh Sharma, the 2014 Supreme Court directives in Arnesh Kumar, and the practical sequence husbands and their counsel must follow in the first 72 hours of complaint registration.
Anticipatory Bail under Section 438 CrPC / Section 482 BNSS — Drafting and Practice (2026)
Practitioner's guide to anticipatory bail under Section 438 CrPC (now Section 482 BNSS) — when it can be sought, the Sushila Aggarwal framework, drafting a strong petition, conditions imposed by courts, dismissal-recovery via High Court, and the offences where anticipatory bail is statutorily barred.
IPC Section 420 / BNS Section 318 — Cheating & Dishonestly Inducing Delivery of Property
Comprehensive guide to cheating offences under old IPC Section 420 and new BNS Section 318 — ingredients, FIR registration, anticipatory bail, quashing, civil-criminal interplay, and key Supreme Court precedents.
Criminal Breach of Trust — IPC §406 / BNS §316 — Ingredients, Defences and Quashing
Complete guide to criminal breach of trust under IPC §405-409 and BNS §316 — entrustment requirement, civil/criminal distinction, aggravated CBT by employees, agents, bankers and public servants, and quashing strategy.
Civil & Contract
4 guidesLimitation Period for Money Recovery in India — The Schedule, the Tricks and the Renewal of Limitation
Complete guide to limitation periods for money recovery in India under the Limitation Act 1963 — the three-year baseline, contract-based claims, cheque dishonour, promissory notes, mortgages and personal loans, when limitation can be renewed by part-payment or acknowledgement, and the consequence of suit-time bar.
SARFAESI Act 2002 — Borrower's Remedies, Section 17 DRT Appeal, and the Recent SC Line on Possession Notices
Practitioner's complete guide to the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act 2002 (SARFAESI) — the bank's enforcement steps, the borrower's Section 17 appeal to DRT, the 60-day cure period under Section 13(2), the Section 13(4) symbolic and physical possession, and the recent Supreme Court directions on procedural fairness.
Summary Suit under Order 37 CPC — Fast-Track Civil Recovery for Cheques, Promissory Notes and Contracts
Practitioner's guide to summary suits under Order 37 of the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 — eligible suits, the procedure that bypasses the regular trial, the defendant's leave-to-defend application, when summary suit fails over a regular suit, and the recent Supreme Court line on conditional leave.
Indian Arbitration — Section 9 vs Section 17 Interim Relief, Court Jurisdiction and the 2019 Amendment
Practitioner's guide to interim relief in Indian arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 — when to use Section 9 (Court) vs Section 17 (Tribunal), the 2019 amendment shifting power to the Tribunal, the Bombay HC and SC jurisprudence on enforceability of Section 17 orders, and tactical considerations.
Corporate, IBC & NCLT
3 guidesIBC Section 9 — Operational Creditor's CIRP Application Before NCLT (Complete Guide)
Complete guide to filing a Section 9 application under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 — the operational debt threshold (₹1 crore post-2020), the Section 8 demand notice, the 10-day cure period, NCLT jurisdiction, documents required, the recent Supreme Court line in Mobilox Innovations and Vidarbha Industries, and the alternative remedies if Section 9 is dismissed.
IBC Section 7 — Financial Creditor's Application before NCLT (2026 Practice Guide)
Step-by-step guide for financial creditors initiating CIRP under Section 7 of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code 2016 — debt & default proof, Form 1, thresholds, hearing strategy and *Vidarbha Industries / Innoventive / Dilip B. Jiwrajka* mapping.
NCLT Oppression & Mismanagement Petition — Sections 241-242 Companies Act 2013
Practitioner's guide to filing a Section 241/242 petition before the NCLT — eligibility threshold, ingredients of oppression and mismanagement, Form NCLT-1, reliefs, and the *Tata Sons v Cyrus Mistry* framework.
Labour & Employment
2 guidesPOSH Act 2013 — Workplace Sexual Harassment Compliance, Internal Committee and Complaint Procedure
Complete guide to the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 — Internal Committee constitution, employer compliance, complaint procedure, inquiry process, timelines, penalties for non-compliance, and the Supreme Court's 2023 directives in Aureliano Fernandes.
Wrongful Termination & Industrial Disputes Act 1947 — Reference, Reinstatement and Back-wages
Workman's complete remedies for illegal termination under the Industrial Disputes Act 1947 — Section 25F/25G/25H notice, Section 10 reference, Section 11A discretion, back-wages and the *Deepali Gundu Surwase* test.
Tax & Tribunals
2 guidesGST Notice under Section 73 / Section 74 — Reply Procedure, Time-Limits and Appeals to GSTAT
Practitioner's complete guide to GST notices under Sections 73 and 74 of the CGST Act 2017 — the difference between bona fide (Section 73) and suspected fraud (Section 74), the 3-year vs 5-year limitation, reply procedure, personal hearing, the assessment order, and appeals to GSTAT (Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal).
Income Tax §148 Reassessment Notice — Reply Strategy & Bombay HC / Ashish Agarwal Framework
Practitioner's guide to replying to a Section 148 reassessment notice under the Income Tax Act 1961 — the new §148A regime, *Ashish Agarwal* (2022) reset, jurisdictional preconditions, time limits, and litigation strategy.
Intellectual Property
3 guidesTrademark Registration in India — Class, Examination, Opposition and Renewal (Complete Guide)
Complete guide to trademark registration in India under the Trade Marks Act 1999 — class selection (NICE classification), the TM Form-1 procedure, examination, opposition under Section 21, recent Supreme Court line on well-known marks, renewal and assignment.
Copyright Registration in India 2026 — Form XIV, Fees, Timelines & Enforcement
Step-by-step copyright registration guide under the Copyright Act 1957 — works covered, Form XIV procedure, fees, 30-day objection window, registration certificate, and how to enforce copyright in court.
Design Registration in India 2026 — Designs Act 2000, Form-1, Locarno Classes & Enforcement
Complete guide to industrial design registration under the Designs Act 2000 — what is registrable, Locarno classification, Form-1 procedure, fees, 10+5-year term, infringement remedies, and the design-vs-trademark-vs-copyright overlap.
Consumer & Other
1 guideDisclaimer
These guides are educational and do not constitute legal advice. Laws change, courts interpret, and every matter has its own facts. Consult a licensed advocate for your specific case before acting on anything you read here.