NRI maintenance cases arise in two common situations — either the wife and children are in India and the husband is abroad refusing to pay maintenance, or an NRI is being asked to pay maintenance in Indian proceedings. Both situations have specific legal challenges. When the husband is abroad, the court can still pass maintenance orders in India and these can be enforced through international legal channels. When an NRI is contesting maintenance in India, the overseas income and assets are taken into account by the court.