Wife left her lucrative job to bring up husband's children from his previous marriage. Children got well settled. Now husband openly involves in concealed and old illicit relations leaving wife at nowhere. What should now wife do at old age. What are her rights in his property for her economic security.
Wife has right to claim maintenance and place of residence from the husband during his lifetime. The right or share in the property or estate of husband exists for the wife only after his death if he dies intestate namely without making a Will for the same otherwise if he make a Will or any such testamentary document in favor of someone else than his wife and children, then the wife will not get anything in his property or estate.
This General law of inheritance but will depend on the religion of the parties too which has not been disclosed here.
If law of land is not helping her to claim right or share in the property during the lifetime of the husband, than approach the legislature not lawyers forum for the amendment in the law, lawyers and judges are not the people to change law but to interpret the law.
Sir, in that case for claiming maintenance and place, is it mandatory to file petition for divorce or not. What she should do. Her husband is owner of 4 or 5 crores. How much claim should she made.