Under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2018, the definition of “children” has been expanded to include daughter-in-law and son-in-law.

Children taking care of Parents

Last updated on Jun 1, 2022

Indian law requires all persons to maintain and support their parents – biological, step-parents as well as adoptive depending on the circumstances. The Maintenance and Welfare Of Parents And Senior Citizens Act, 2007 is a special law under which a senior citizen (above 60 years) can apply to a tribunal for maintenance from their adult children or legal heirs. You can apply for maintenance if you are unable to take care of yourself. 

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Related Resources

Claiming Maintenance from Tribunal for Senior Citizens

You can file an application in a Maintenance Tribunal under the Maintenance And Welfare Of Parents And Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

Maintenance under Hindu Law

Hindu, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh parents who are aged or infirmed can seek maintenance from their grown children under Hindu law.

Amount of Maintenance for Parents

There is no standard amount of money awarded as maintenance for parents. It is decided on a case-by-case basis.

Maintenance under the Code of Criminal Procedure

A person who refuses to maintain parents who are unable to maintain themselves can be ordered to give a monthly allowance for maintenance.

Maintenance after death

The duty to maintain one's parents exists even after death. The amount of maintenance will be calculated as per the rules of inheritance.

Punishment for Abandoning and Neglecting Senior Citizen

If you leave a senior citizen at some place with the intention of abandoning them and not taking care of them, you can be punished.