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…
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…
Consider this worst-case scenario. You are a new parent of a very young child. You are doing your best, but you are on your own and (let’s all face it) there is a learning curve to all parenting. You try…
This morning during an otherwise routine divorce hearing in Providence County, so early in the day that the caffeine was still buzzing me, a strange and funny thing happened. My client, Plaintiff / wife (who, it must be said, was…
If you are the victim of domestic violence, or are reasonably in imminent fear that abuse or violence will be inflicted upon you or your children by a spouse, ex-spouse, partner, or anyone with whom you have a "significant romantic…
Parties to a Family Court case often have never hired an attorney before. They may never have stepped foot in court before. For this reason, during my initial consultation with Family Law litigants I find myself having to explain what…