Documents, costs & where to go

    Legal Services Guide

    Understand common legal services and documentation procedures in India. Know what documents you need, how much it costs, and where to go before you start.

    Notary Services

    Document authentication and notarization of affidavits, agreements, declarations, and other legal documents. A notary public verifies the identity of signatories and attests that documents are genuine.

    What You Need
    • Original documents to be notarized
    • Valid ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport)
    • Passport-size photographs (if required)
    Cost: Rs 50-500 per document
    Where: Notary Public offices near courts, District Court premises, or authorized notary advocates

    Affidavit Drafting

    Sworn statements for court proceedings, property matters, name change declarations, date of birth corrections, address proof, and various government procedures. Affidavits must be on stamp paper and notarized.

    What You Need
    • Details of the declaration/statement
    • Valid ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN)
    • Stamp paper (Rs 10-100 as per requirement)
    • Two passport-size photographs
    Cost: Rs 100-500
    Where: Advocate offices near courts, notary public, legal documentation centers, or online legal service platforms

    Power of Attorney

    General Power of Attorney (GPA) and Special Power of Attorney (SPA) for property transactions, legal representation, financial matters, and business dealings. Allows one person to act on behalf of another in legal or financial matters.

    What You Need
    • ID proof of both parties (principal and agent)
    • Address proof of both parties
    • Details of authority being granted
    • Stamp paper (value varies by state)
    • Two witnesses with ID proof
    Cost: Rs 500-2000 + stamp duty (varies by state)
    Where: Sub-Registrar office for registration, advocate offices for drafting, or online legal platforms

    Stamp Paper & Registration

    Stamp paper procurement and document registration for agreements, property sale deeds, lease agreements, gift deeds, partnership deeds, and other legal instruments. Registration provides legal validity and public record.

    What You Need
    • Draft agreement or deed
    • ID proofs of all parties (Aadhaar, PAN)
    • Passport-size photographs
    • Property documents (for property transactions)
    • Two witnesses with ID proof
    Cost: Varies by state (2-8% of property/transaction value as stamp duty + registration fees)
    Where: Sub-Registrar office (for registration), stamp vendors near courts, or online e-stamping portals (SHCIL)

    Legal Notice Drafting

    Formal legal notices for disputes, money recovery, breach of contract, property disputes, employment issues, defamation, and consumer complaints. A legal notice is often the first step before filing a court case.

    What You Need
    • Complete details of the grievance or dispute
    • Supporting documents and evidence
    • Opponent party's full name and address
    • Any previous correspondence or agreements
    Cost: Rs 1000-5000 (advocate drafting fees) + postal charges for sending via registered post/courier
    Where: Advocate offices, legal aid centers, online legal platforms, or District Legal Services Authority for free legal aid

    Court Fee & Filing

    Filing suits, appeals, applications, writ petitions, and other court documents. Includes payment of court fees, filing of vakalatnama (advocate authorization), and submission of required documents to court registry.

    What You Need
    • Petition, plaint, or application (typed and formatted)
    • Supporting documents and evidence
    • Vakalatnama (if filing through advocate)
    • Court fee stamps or challan
    • Index and spare copies
    Cost: Varies by court and claim value (Rs 100 to several lakhs). Court fee calculators available on eCourts website
    Where: Court filing counters, e-filing portal (efiling.ecourts.gov.in), or through your advocate

    RTI Application

    Right to Information requests to central and state government departments, public authorities, and government-funded organizations. Citizens can seek information about government decisions, expenditures, and public works.

    What You Need
    • Specific questions you want answered (be precise)
    • Name and designation of the Public Information Officer (PIO)
    • Postal order or court fee stamp of Rs 10
    • BPL card (if applicable, for fee exemption)
    Cost: Rs 10 per application (Rs 2 per additional page of information). Free for BPL families
    Where: By post to the concerned department PIO, online at rtionline.gov.in (for central government), or state RTI portals

    FIR Filing

    First Information Report at the police station for cognizable offences such as theft, assault, cheating, domestic violence, and other criminal matters. FIR is the first step in the criminal justice process and triggers police investigation.

    What You Need
    • Details of the incident (date, time, place)
    • Identity of accused (if known)
    • Valid ID proof of complainant
    • Any evidence (photographs, medical reports, witnesses)
    Cost: Free (police cannot refuse to register an FIR for cognizable offences)
    Where: Nearest police station (based on jurisdiction of incident), online FIR portals (available in many states), or through the Superintendent of Police if the station refuses

    Consumer Complaint

    Filing complaints in consumer forums (now Consumer Commissions) against defective products, deficient services, unfair trade practices, and overcharging. Three-tier system: District, State, and National Commission based on claim value.

    What You Need
    • Bills, receipts, and invoices
    • Written complaint with details
    • Copies of correspondence with the seller/service provider
    • Evidence of defect or deficiency
    • Any photographs or expert opinions
    Cost: Rs 0-5000 depending on claim value. Free for claims up to Rs 5 lakh. Up to Rs 5000 for claims between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 1 crore
    Where: District Consumer Commission (claims up to Rs 1 crore), State Commission (Rs 1-10 crore), National Commission (above Rs 10 crore), or online at edaakhil.nic.in

    Marriage Registration

    Registration of marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 or under personal laws (Hindu Marriage Act, Indian Christian Marriage Act, etc.). Marriage registration provides legal proof of marriage needed for passport, visa, and property matters.

    What You Need
    • Age proof of both parties (birth certificate, school certificate)
    • Address proof of both parties
    • Passport-size photographs (joint and individual)
    • Marriage invitation card or ceremony photographs
    • Affidavit of marriage
    • Two witnesses with ID proof
    Cost: Rs 100-1000 (varies by state). Special Marriage Act requires 30-day notice period
    Where: Marriage Registrar office or Sub-Registrar office of the district, online portals available in many states for appointment booking