In R.I., child support can be terminated when a child BOTH reaches eighteen (18) years of age AND graduates from high school. The obligation will not end until the latter of these two milestones is reached. For example, if the…
In R.I., child support is carefully modulated by the General Assembly to help with the minor child’s food, clothing, and shelter. Food. Clothing. Shelter. Therefore, if a non-custodial parent pays his (let’s say his for this hypothetical) child support consistently,…
A Guardian ad Litem is an attorney who represents the child, and only the child. She is not beholden to either party and is thus independent of the burden of having a paying client to impress. Mother’s attorney is expected…
A wonderful woman came into my office last week, a victim of abuse who had been cornered and stuck in her marriage for far too long. Her spouse was emotionally and psychologically abusive, was controlling every aspect of her life. …
A common question asked by clients seeking to end their marriage is something along the lines of: “What if I file for divorce and then we reconcile?” This phenomenon has been common enough that the law actually anticipates it as a very…
I try to build this blog upon common refrains spoken in my office, in the hope that if a disproportionate number of clients have the same questions and concerns, chances are a great number of people out there on the…
Hypotheticals. Beloved tool of Socrates. Scourge of any Family Court attorney. "What if my husband moves some new chick into the home? Huh? Didya think of that? That whore. What the hell am I gonna tell my eight-year-old?" {*n.b. these…
After a rather heated and pathetic exchange in open court in a recent divorce action involving such matters as temporary alimony, a rabid skunk, bankruptcy, lingerie and bank fraud the judge became (understandably) disgusted and walked off the bench leaving…
When you are deciding whether to seek alimony from your spouse in a divorce action consider three things: 1. What are my future needs? The judge will consider your current employment, if any, and your chances of meaningful, future employment. …
There are some things in life you can do on your own – and maybe even do well. I’m sure a great many of you do your own taxes. Some of you can manage your own minor car repairs. A…