I have entered into a child custody case. Or at least, it is a child custody case at heart. Unfortunately for the parties, the judge, and most importantly me, it has begun as a restraining order. The custody merits will…
Family law attorneys are professional bad guys (and gals). What with the black cowboy hat and patchy sideburns we gum a broken cigar between our lips and let our three-day-stubble do the talking. If you meet your family law attorney…
Today's parents already wear many hats: nurse, teacher, spiritual guide, saucier, confidante, cheerleader, janitor, exorcist, on and on. Modern parents navigating a bitter divorce find themselves in an impossible situation. Bestselling books and Ph.D. theses have been written about the…
Months into a contested custody case I have (I represent the mother), opposing party (father) racked up his second DUI by wrapping his car around a utility pole. Mercifully, the child was not in the car at the time. But…
I wanted to take a brief but important moment to discuss issues with party names that the R.I. family Court has been seeing of late. First, as to a child: In R.I. it is helpful to note at the outset…
How to Get Divorced in Rhode Island (Without a Lawyer Screaming at You) Thinking about divorce but want to avoid a courtroom showdown or a huge legal bill? Good news: if your divorce is uncontested, you may not need a…
The only truly beautiful, breathtaking part of a Family Law case is the very end. "A good case is a closed case," is the mantra in the courthouse hallways and closets where divorce attorneys hide and nap. And that is really…
The RI Family Court used to have a judge (now retired) who would quickly lose his temper with parties or lawyers in a divorce action who were fighting needlessly when no minor children were involved. “You two can’t divide the…
The attorney-client relationship in the RI family court is … strange. You need the exact right kind of lawyer for you. Every attorney is a unique dandelion, but here are a few common types to look out for. Choose which…
In "honor" of this gimmicky holiday Valentine's Day I have a gimmick of my own. I am giving away one free divorce to any nice / normal person who asks. I will handle the case myself. No catches no tricks.…