Rhode Island Family Law Blog

Rhode Island law makes property division manageable

On behalf of Rioles Law Offices posted in property division on Thursday, September 6, 2018.

Divorce is never easy; no one ever thinks it will happen to his or her marriage, and the emotional toll can be severe even if spouses are not bitterly divided. Although the top concern for married parents should be the welfare and well-being of their children, the dispensation of property is often the most contested part of a divorce.

Rhode Island law helps to simplify the process of marital property division so there is a minimum of complications that may cause confusion or dispute. The specifics of these laws determine, for one thing, what property is considered "marital property" and not the personal property of individuals.

Virtual visitation can benefit all parties involved

By Rioles Law Offices of Rioles Law Offices posted in blog on Wednesday, August 15, 2018.

Co-parenting is one of the biggest challenges you can face. As you attempt to raise your child in the best way you know how, you need to take into consideration the other parent.

It doesn't matter if you have physical custody of your child or visitation rights, you need to remember one thing: Every decision should be based on the best interests of your child.

Dividing college savings accounts in divorce

By Rioles Law Offices of Rioles Law Offices posted in property division on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

You and your spouse have been saving for your children's college education since they were in diapers. You've managed to put away a little something on a regular basis, and the college savings accounts are reaching a respectable level. Then your marriage ended. What happens to the college savings?

With some careful planning and good legal and financial guidance, you can preserve that college savings and keep it growing. Like your other shared assets, however, you have to find a way to divide the college savings accounts.

How can the Uniform Parentage Act help same-sex couples?

By Rioles Law Offices of Rioles Law Offices posted in child custody & support on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

August 1 marked the five-year anniversary of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Rhode Island. However, gay rights advocates say that the state still needs to provide more protections for gay parents and their children, whether adopted or conceived via the ever-increasing strides in reproductive technology.

Currently, Rhode Island has no laws on the books addressing how parentage is legally determined for the nonbirth or nonbiological parent when a couple has a child through assisted reproduction. The law currently in force was enacted almost 40 years ago, before such technology or same-sex marriage existed.

Making the most of limited time with your kids

On behalf of Rioles Law Offices posted in child custody & support on Monday, July 30, 2018.

When you're sharing custody of your kids after divorce, you probably don't get to spend as much time with them as you'd like. That may be true whether you have 50/50 custody or only visitation.

That means you want to make the most of the time you have with them without completely running them ragged and stressing them out by overscheduling activities.

Answer these difficult questions before filing for divorce

On behalf of Rioles Law Offices on Monday, July 30, 2018.

If divorce is on your mind, you owe it to yourself to do whatever it takes to make your life better.Some people come to find that asking for a divorce in the near future is the best thing they can do.

Others realize they're not quite ready to push forward, but would rather attempt to work through things one last time.

Dealing with a co-parent you suspect is abusing drugs or alcohol

On behalf of Rioles Law Offices posted in child custody & support on Wednesday, July 25, 2018.

You and your former spouse have joint custody of your children. He or she has always been a good parent, so you had no reason to challenge your co-parent's request for shared custody in the divorce.

Lately, however, you have reason to believe that your ex has an alcohol or drug problem that could be putting your children in danger. Maybe your kids innocently mentioned something. Perhaps you noticed that he or she was "off" the last time you exchanged the kids. Maybe mutual friends mentioned that your former spouse had been drinking a lot lately or you found out that he or she got a DUI.

The importance of post-divorce financial planning

On behalf of Rioles Law Offices posted in high asset divorce on Friday, July 20, 2018.

Working out your divorce agreement so that you get the assets you want to take from the marriage is essential to securing your financial future. So is working for the spousal and child support you need to take care of your children and yourself comfortably.

However, establishing a sound post-divorce financial plan is also crucial. Don't wait until the final divorce documents are signed to start working on this plan.

A parenting agreement will help you after divorce

On behalf of Rioles Law Offices on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

Even after your divorce is finalized, there's a chance you will still have contact with your ex-spouse. This is absolutely the case in the event that you have a child together.

Since co-parenting can be full of many challenges, it's imperative to create a parenting agreement that suits both individuals. Most divorcing couples are able to create a parenting agreement through mediation, as opposed to litigation. When working through this process, there are many details to consider.

Don't forget about your reward programs as you divorce

On behalf of Rioles Law Offices posted in high asset divorce on Thursday, July 12, 2018.

Amid the negotiations with your spouse over child custody, alimony and property division, it's easy to overlook some valuable assets. Among these are airline frequent flyer miles and reward points.

If you and your spouse have spent your marriage flying around the country and, perhaps, overseas on business, you've likely accumulated many thousands of miles — possibly even millions — of unused frequent flyer miles. You may have accumulated additional miles just by using airline credit cards.

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