---
title: "Family Court, Chennai — what it hears · Vakyl Rahman"
description: "The Family Court hears divorce, maintenance, custody and other matrimonial matters, under section 7 of the Family Courts Act 1984. Chennai has dedicated Family Courts, so these matters do not go to a general civil court."
url: https://vakyl.in/courts/family-court-chennai/
---

# Family Court, Chennai — which family matters it hears

In short

The Family Court hears **divorce, maintenance, custody and other matrimonial matters**, under section 7 of the Family Courts Act 1984. Chennai has dedicated Family Courts, so these matters do not go to a general civil court. A petition may be filed where the marriage was solemnised, where the parties last lived together, or where the respondent lives — and a wife may also file where she now lives.

## What does the Family Court, Chennai hear?

Divorce, maintenance, custody and other matrimonial matters.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Divorce and judicial separation | Where the marriage was solemnised, where the parties last resided together, or where the respondent resides — and a wife may also file where she currently resides. |
| Mutual-consent divorce | Where the marriage was solemnised, where the parties last resided together, or where either resides. Both parties appear in person for the first and second motion unless exempted. |
| Custody | Where the minor ordinarily resides — the child’s residence, not the parent’s. Usually inside a pending matrimonial petition; otherwise a standalone application under the Guardians and Wards Act. |
| Maintenance in a matrimonial case | Sections 24 and 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act are decided by the court hearing the matrimonial case — for Chennai, the Family Court. |

## Does your matter belong here?

It probably does if:

- You are seeking a divorce, contested or by mutual consent, or judicial separation.
- You are seeking custody of, or access to, a child who ordinarily lives in Chennai.
- You are claiming maintenance within a divorce or other matrimonial case.

### What looks as if it belongs here and does not?

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Maintenance under section 144 BNSS | The Magistrate — and it may be filed where you live |
| A Domestic Violence application | The Magistrate |
| A Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act claim | A civil suit |
| A child removed to another state | [Sometimes a habeas corpus petition before the High Court](https://vakyl.in/courts/madras-high-court/) |
| Two proceedings between the same parties in different cities | A transfer petition to consolidate them, decided by the Supreme Court |

## Where is the Family Court, Chennai?

The official contact page for the Chennai courts gives the Family Court no postal address, so none is given here.

Official website: [chennai.dcourts.gov.in (Chennai City Courts)](https://chennai.dcourts.gov.in/)

The official list of Chennai courts names a Principal Family Court and seven Additional Family Courts.

## Which guides apply here?

[**Contested divorce in Chennai**Contested divorce · 11 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/contested-divorce/) [**Mutual divorce: the six-month question, answered**Mutual divorce · 8 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/mutual-divorce/) [**Judicial separation — living apart without ending the marriage**Judicial separation · 8 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/judicial-separation/) [**Child custody and visitation**Custody & visitation · 10 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/child-custody/) [**Maintenance in Tamil Nadu**Maintenance proceedings · 11 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/maintenance/)

## Which other courts sit in Chennai?

[Madras High Court](https://vakyl.in/courts/madras-high-court/)[City Civil Court, Chennai](https://vakyl.in/courts/city-civil-court-chennai/)[Court of Small Causes, Chennai](https://vakyl.in/courts/court-of-small-causes-chennai/)[Rent Authority and Rent Court](https://vakyl.in/courts/rent-authority-and-rent-court/) [All Chennai courts](https://vakyl.in/courts/)

## Where do these facts come from?

- [Chennai City Courts (eCourts) — official website](https://chennai.dcourts.gov.in/)
- [Chennai City Courts (eCourts) — Contact Us](https://chennai.dcourts.gov.in/contact-us/)
- [Family Courts Act, 1984 — s.7](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1926/1/198466.pdf)
- [Guardians and Wards Act, 1890](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/2318/1/189008.pdf)

Jurisdiction as stated in the guides linked above. Website checked against the official sources on 8 November 2026. General information, not advice on your facts.

If you are unsure whether your matter belongs in this court, a paid consultation can tell you before anything is filed.

₹500 for 30 minutes · in person, phone or video · Tamil or English

[Book a Consultation](https://vakyl.in/book-consultation/)