Common Law Marriage
Rhode Island is one of the few states that will recognize common law marriages. (The majority of states no longer recognize it.) Generally, in order for a common law marriage to be formed, some requirements must be met, such as:…
Divorce in the Digital Age
These days, it is hard to find someone who doesn’t have a Facebook page or other social media account. Our culture has become inundated with updating our friends about our whereabouts, thoughts, and feelings, all as they happen. Oversharing has…
Focusing on the Children
Family law issues influence children tremendously, and recently, the legal system has begun to realize that. The best interests of the children now have a primary focus in family law proceedings. Many law schools have even chosen to offer classes…
Mediation & Domestic Violence
Mediation can be a useful tool in a divorce lawyer’s toolkit. However, when there is a current or past history of domestic violence, the use of mediation is extremely controversial. There are varying opinions on the subject. Some experts believe…
Co-parenting “Dates”
Some families feel that even after a divorce, separation, or breakup, co-parenting (even though the parents are no longer a couple) is extremely important. One way to do this is through “co-parenting dates” where the parents both spend time with…
The Perils of Child Relocation
Relocating to another geographical area always has the potential to be a stressful situation. When you share custody of or have a visitation schedule with a child, the situation becomes more difficult. If you want to relocate with the child,…
What is in your child’s best interests?
If you have a matter in Family Court dealing with children, a phrase you will hear constantly is “the best interest of the child.” Family courts were created in large part to help ensure that the end result of family…
Do I Need an Attorney?
For some people, court can be a little nerve-wracking, especially if this is their first experience with the court system. At times, courts can be intimidating and complicated. That’s why it makes sense to hire an attorney to represent you…
Silver Divorces
Recently, a growing trend has been divorces in couples who have been together for long periods of time (20+ years) and are older in age. The popular term for these types of divorces has become “Silver Divorces”. There are…
Choose Wisely
When searching for a family law attorney for a divorce, child custody dispute, child support matter, or domestic violence issue here's a tip you won't hear from many of us: shop around. Take your time (assuming you're temporarily safe from…