R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-6 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-6
§ 15-7-6. Waiver of parents right to consent  Guardianship of agency.
Status: in_force

Any duly licensed child placement agency in this state, or governmental child placement agency, at the request of the natural parent or parents of a child under eighteen (18) years of age, may, not sooner than fifteen (15) days after the birth of the child, petition the family court for the termination of the rights of the natural parents of the child to consent to its adoption. After any notice to the natural parents that the court deems proper, a hearing shall be had prior to the hearing on the petition for adoption in the family court, and if the family court finds after examination of the parent or parents that the parent or parents freely join in the petition, and that the granting of the petition is for the best interests of the child, it shall decree that in the hearing on the adoption of the child the consent of the natural parents as provided above shall be unnecessary and that the agency shall be the sole party to give or withhold consent. The granting of the petition to give or withhold consent to the child placement agency shall also make the agency the guardian of the child for all purposes.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-13 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-13
§ 15-7-13. Consideration of religion of child or parents.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of placement of a child in adoptive homes under this chapter, a child shall be placed in an adoptive home of any religious faith or persuasion that may be designated by the natural parent(s) so far as practicable. In the event that the natural parent(s) waive the right to designate the religion of his or her child, the right shall become vested in the governmental child placement agency or the duly licensed child placing agency to be exercised in the best interests of the child.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-17-6 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-17 / Section 15-17-6
§ 15-17-6. Enforcement.
Status: in_force

(a) A premarital agreement is not enforceable if the party against whom enforcement is sought proves that:

(1) That party did not execute the agreement voluntarily; and

(2) The agreement was unconscionable when it was executed and, before execution of the agreement, that party:

(i) Was not provided a fair and reasonable disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party;

(ii) Did not voluntarily and expressly waive, in writing, any right to disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party beyond the disclosure provided; and

(iii) Did not have, or reasonably could not have had, an adequate knowledge of the property or financial obligations of the other party.

(b) The burden of proof as to each of the elements required in order to have a premarital agreement held to be unenforceable shall be on the party seeking to have the agreement declared unenforceable and must be proven by clear and convincing evidence.

(c) If a provision of a premarital agreement modifies or eliminates spousal support and that modification or elimination causes one party to the agreement to be eligible for support under a program of public assistance at the time of separation or marital dissolution, a court, notwithstanding the terms of the agreement, may require the other party to provide support to the extent necessary to avoid that eligibility.

(d) An issue of unconscionability of a premarital agreement shall be decided by the court as a matter of law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-3-12 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-3 / Section 15-3-12
§ 15-3-12. Endorsement and return of license.
Status: in_force

(a) Every minister, elder, justice, warden, or other person who joins any persons in marriage, shall:

(b) Endorse the License and Certificate of Marriage form, prescribed pursuant to § 15-2-7, presented to him or her by the persons, as provided in § 15-3-7, and certify that the persons have been joined in marriage by him or her in accordance with the laws of the state of Rhode Island; and

(c) Complete all the information on the License and Certificate of Marriage and file the form within seventy-two (72) hours following the date of the marriage with the clerk in the town or city from which the license was issued.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-16.2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-16.2
§ 15-5-16.2. Child support.
Status: repealed

(a) In a proceeding for divorce, divorce from bed and board, a miscellaneous petition without the filing of divorce proceedings, or child support, the court shall order either or both parents owing a duty of support to a child to pay an amount based upon a formula and guidelines adopted by an administrative order of the family court. If, after calculating support based upon court established formula and guidelines, the court, in its discretion, finds the order would be inequitable to the child or either parent, the court shall make findings of fact and shall order either or both parents owing a duty of support to pay an amount reasonable or necessary for the childs support after considering all relevant factors including, but not limited to:

(1) The financial resources of the child;

(2) The financial resources of the custodial parent;

(3) The standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not been dissolved;

(4) The physical and emotional condition of the child and his or her educational needs; and

(5) The financial resources and needs of the noncustodial parent, provided, that in establishing a child support order, incarceration may not be treated as voluntary unemployment.

(b) The court may, if in its discretion it deems it necessary or advisable, order child support and education costs for children attending high school at the time of their eighteenth (18th) birthday and for ninety (90) days after graduation, but in no case beyond their nineteenth (19th) birthday.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the court, in its discretion, may order child support, in the case of a child with a severe physical or mental impairment still living with or under the care of a parent, beyond the childs emancipation as defined above. The court shall consider the following factors when making its determination: (1) The nature and extent of the disability; (2) The cost of the extraordinary medical expenses; (3) The ability of the child to earn income; (4) The financial resources of the child; (5) The financial resources of the parents; (6) The inability of the primary caregiver of the child to sustain gainful employment on a full-time basis due to the care necessitated by the child. The onset of the disability must have occurred prior to the emancipation event. If a child support order for a child with a severe physical or mental impairment has been terminated, suspended, or expired, the court shall consider the factors in this paragraph and has the discretion to order child support for this child prospectively based upon established child support guidelines. The court may periodically review the case to determine if circumstances warrant the continuation of child support.

(c)(1) The court may, if in its discretion it deems it necessary or advisable, appoint an attorney or a guardian ad litem to represent the interest of a minor or dependent child with respect to his or her support, custody, and visitation.

(i) In determining whether an appointment should be made, the court shall consider the extent to which a guardian ad litem may assist in providing information concerning the best interest of the child; the age of the child; the wishes of the parents, as well as their financial resources; the nature of the proceeding including the level of contentiousness, allegations of child abuse, or domestic violence and the risk of harm to the child if a guardian is not appointed; or conflicts of interest between the child and parents or siblings;

(ii) The guardian ad litem shall be appointed from a list of persons properly credentialed pursuant to administrative orders of the chief judge of the family court;

(iii) The court shall enter an order of appointment stating the specific assignment, the optional and mandatory duties of the guardian ad litem, the guardians access to the child and confidential information regarding the child, and a provision for payment of the costs and fees of the guardian ad litem;

(iv) Communications made to a guardian, including those made by a child, are not privileged and may or may not be disclosed to the parties, the court, or to professionals providing services to the child or the family;

(v) The guardian ad litem shall meet with the child, conduct an investigation, and upon request of the court, shall prepare an oral or written report that contains the procedural background of the case, identification of all persons interviewed and other sources of information, a statement of the childs emotional, medical, educational, and social service needs, the childs wishes, and other factors relevant to the courts determination regarding the best interests of the child;

(vi) Any written report of the guardian ad litem shall be marked as a full exhibit in the proceedings, subject to cross-examination;

(vii) If the guardian ad litem requests confidential healthcare information and consent is withheld, he or she shall apply to the court for leave to obtain such information after compliance with §5-37.3-6.1;

(viii) The guardian ad litem shall be given notice of and should appear at all proceedings in family court that affect the interests of the child;

(ix) A person serving as a guardian ad litem under this section acts as the courts agent and is entitled to quasi-judicial immunity for acts performed within the scope of the duties of the guardian ad litem;

(x) The chief judge of the family court shall issue, through administrative orders, rules governing the appointment and performance of guardians ad litem in domestic proceedings.

(2) After a decree for support has been entered, the court may, from time to time upon the petition of either party, or by the state in accordance with subsection (c)(3) of this section, review and alter its decree relative to the amount of support and the payment of it, and may make any decree relative to it that it might have made in the original suit. The decree may be made retroactive in the courts discretion only to the date that notice of a petition to modify was given to the adverse party if the court finds that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred; provided, that the court shall set forth in its decision the specific findings of fact that show a substantial change in circumstances and upon which findings of facts the court has decided to make the decree retroactive. In modifying the order, incarceration may not be treated as voluntary unemployment that would prevent the motion from being heard or result in a denial of the motion. The child support order shall continue in full force and effect, by wage withholding, after the youngest child is emancipated, and shall be applied towards any arrearage due and owing, as indicated on the child-support computer system. Upon satisfaction of the arrears due and owing the child-support order shall be automatically suspended and wage withholding terminated without the necessity of returning to family court.

(3) When the department of human services, office of child support services, becomes aware of the fact, through an electronic data exchange of information with the department of corrections, or by any other means, that the noncustodial parent is or will be incarcerated for one hundred eighty (180) days or more, the department may automatically file a motion to modify or a motion for relief, to be heard before the court via a video conference hearing or other type of hearing. A specific request for the filing of this motion need not be made in writing or otherwise by the incarcerated, noncustodial parent, but the parent shall be notified of the hearing and provided a meaningful opportunity to respond. The court shall schedule a hearing to determine the noncustodial parents ability to pay, taking into consideration the assets and financial resources and any benefits the noncustodial parent may be receiving, the length of the sentence, and shall modify or suspend all child support orders, after setting forth in its decision specific findings of fact that show circumstances upon which the court has decided to modify or suspend all child support orders during the period of incarceration. Upon the obligors release, the department of human services, office of child support services, shall file a motion for support, and a hearing shall be scheduled to determine the obligors ability to begin paying child support pursuant to the child support guidelines in effect. Nothing herein prevents or otherwise prohibits the court from denying any such motion if an obligor is serving a sentence for criminal nonsupport in state or federal prison or is otherwise incarcerated after having been found to be in willful civil contempt for failure to pay child support.

(d)(1) In a proceeding to enforce a child support order, or a spousal support order for a custodial parent having custody of a minor child, the court or its magistrate may assign to the obligee such tangible personal property of the obligor that will be sufficient to satisfy the child or spousal support arrearage owed. The court or its magistrate, after a hearing, shall establish the amount of the child or spousal support arrearage, and the nature and value of the tangible personal property. To effect the assignment, the court or its magistrate may order the obligor to execute and deliver the documents of title that may be necessary to complete the transfer of title to the property, and may order the obligor to deliver possession of the property to the obligee. Whenever the obligor fails to comply with the order assigning the property, the order of assignment shall be regarded as a judgment vesting title to the property in the obligor as fully and completely as if the obligor had executed and delivered the documents of title.

(2) Any order for child support issued by the family court shall contain a provision requiring either or both parents owing a duty of support to a child to obtain health insurance coverage for the child when coverage is available to the parent or parents through their employment without cost or at a reasonable cost. Reasonable cost shall be defined in accordance with guidelines adopted by administrative order of the family court in conjunction with the child support guidelines.

(3) Any existing child support orders may be modified in accordance with this subsection unless the court makes specific written findings of fact that take into consideration the best interests of the child and conclude that a child support order or medical order would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case.

(4) In addition, the national medical support notice shall be issued with respect to all orders issued, enforced, or modified on or after October 1, 2002, in accordance with chapter 29 of this title. The notice shall inform the employer of provisions in the child support order, for healthcare coverage for the child, and contain instructions on how to implement this coverage. In lieu of the court ordering the noncustodial parent to obtain or maintain healthcare coverage for the child, the court may order the noncustodial parent to contribute a weekly cash amount towards the medical premium for healthcare coverage paid by the state of Rhode Island and/or the custodial parent. The method to determine a reasonable weekly amount shall be addressed in the family court administrative order pertaining to the child support guidelines.

(e) In a proceeding to establish support, the court in its discretion may, after opportunity for a hearing, issue a temporary order for child support payable into the registry of the court and to be held pending entry of judgment. In the event of a final adjudication requiring no payment or payments in an amount less than those payments that have been made pursuant to a temporary order under this section, the defendant shall be entitled to a refund of all or a portion of the amounts paid.

(f) In any proceeding to establish support, or in any case in which an obligor owes past-due support, for a child or children receiving public assistance pursuant to chapter 5.1 of title 40 [repealed], the court or its magistrate, upon a finding that an able-bodied absent parent obligor is unemployed, underemployed, or lacks sufficient income or resources from which to make payment of support equal to the public assistance payment for the child or children, or is unable to pay the arrearages in accordance with a payment plan, may order that parent to perform unpaid community service for at least twenty (20) hours per week through community service placements arranged and supervised by the department of human services or to participate in any work activities that the court deems appropriate. The performance of community service shall not be a basis for retroactive suspension of arrears due and owing.

(g)(1) In any proceeding to establish support for a minor child whose adjudicated parent is a minor (minor-parent), the court or its magistrate may order a grandparent of the minor child to reimburse the department of human services in an amount not to exceed the total amount of cash assistance benefits paid to or for the minor child pursuant to chapter 5.1 of title 40 [repealed] until the minor-parent reaches the age of eighteen (18), less any payment made to the department by the minor parent.

(2) The obligation of reimbursement for the minor child shall be the joint and several responsibility of the minor parent and the grandparent(s) until the minor parent reaches the age of eighteen (18); provided, that each joint obligor shall have a right of contribution against each joint obligor, which right shall be enforceable by an action in the family court.

(h)(1) All support orders established or modified in the state on or after October 1, 1998, shall be recorded with the Rhode Island family court department of human services child-support-enforcement computer system, which maintains the official registry of support orders entered in accordance with applicable administrative orders issued by the Rhode Island family court. The support order shall be recorded whether or not services are being provided under the IV-D state plan.

(2) The obligee to a paternity or child support proceeding shall be required to file with the family court, upon the entry of the order, the appropriate form as provided by family court that includes the full name of the parties, residential and mailing address, telephone number, drivers license number, social security number, and the name, address, and telephone number of the employer. The form shall also include the full order amount and date and amount of arrearages if any, the name of the child(ren), their date of birth, address, social security number, and any other information as required by administrative order.

(3) After this, each party is required to file an amended form, whenever any of the information contained on the original form has been changed in any way, within ten (10) days of the change. The information shall be entered in the child-support-enforcement computer system within five (5) business days of receipt of the amended form.

(i) In any subsequent child-support-enforcement action between the parties, upon sufficient showing that diligent effort has been made to ascertain the location of such a party, the court may deem state due process requirements for notice and service of process to be met with respect to the party, upon service by first class mail or, where appropriate, by service as specified in the Rhode Island rules of procedure for domestic relations for the family court of Rhode Island, of written notice to the most recent residential or employer address of record.

[See §12-1-15 of the General Laws.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-20 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-20
§ 15-7-20. Jurisdiction of child pending appeal.
Status: in_force

During the pendency of an appeal the family court shall have jurisdiction with respect to the custody of the child and shall make any orders that may be for the best interest of the child. This jurisdiction shall continue after verdict or decision until the final determination of the appeal.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-16-14 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-16 / Section 15-16-14
§ 15-16-14. Voluntary income withholding.
Status: in_force

The obligor of a support order of another jurisdiction may obtain voluntary income withholding by filing with the department a request for withholding and a certified copy of the support order. The department shall issue an income withholding order under § 15-16-7.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-3-13 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-3 / Section 15-3-13
§ 15-3-13. Filing of return of marriage.
Status: in_force

The town or city clerk to whom the return of marriage provided for in § 15-3-12 is sent shall carefully file and preserve the return.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-16-3 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-16 / Section 15-16-3
§ 15-16-3. Remedies additional.
Status: in_force

The income withholding remedy provided in this chapter is in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other remedy available to enforce a support order issued in this state or in another jurisdiction. Relief under this chapter shall not be denied, delayed, or affected because of the availability of other remedies, nor shall relief under any other statute be delayed or denied because of the availability of this remedy.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-16 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-16
§ 15-5-16. Alimony and counsel fees  Custody of children.
Status: in_force

(a) In granting any petition for divorce, divorce from bed and board, or relief without the commencement of divorce proceedings, the family court may order either of the parties to pay alimony or counsel fees, or both, to the other.

(b)(1) In determining the amount of alimony or counsel fees, if any, to be paid, the court, after hearing the witnesses, if any, of each party, shall consider:

(i) The length of the marriage;

(ii) The conduct of the parties during the marriage;

(iii) The health, age, station, occupation, amount and source of income, vocational skills, and employability of the parties; and

(iv) The state and the liabilities and needs of each of the parties.

(2) In addition, the court shall consider:

(i) The extent to which either party is unable to support herself or himself adequately because that party is the primary physical custodian of a child whose age, condition, or circumstances make it appropriate that the parent not seek employment outside the home, or seek only part-time or flexible-hour employment outside the home;

(ii) The extent to which either party is unable to support herself or himself adequately with consideration given to:

(A) The extent to which a party was absent from employment while fulfilling homemaking responsibilities, and the extent to which any education, skills, or experience of that party have become outmoded and his or her earning capacity diminished;

(B) The time and expense required for the supported spouse to acquire the appropriate education or training to develop marketable skills and find appropriate employment;

(C) The probability, given a partys age and skills, of completing education or training and becoming self-supporting;

(D) The standard of living during the marriage;

(E) The opportunity of either party for future acquisition of capital assets and income;

(F) The ability to pay of the supporting spouse, taking into account the supporting spouses earning capacity, earned and unearned income, assets, debts, and standard of living;

(G) Any other factor which the court expressly finds to be just and proper.

(c)(1) For the purposes of this section, alimony is construed as payments for the support or maintenance of either the husband or the wife.

(2) Alimony is designed to provide support for a spouse for a reasonable length of time to enable the recipient to become financially independent and self-sufficient. However, the court may award alimony for an indefinite period of time when it is appropriate in the discretion of the court based upon the factors set forth in subdivision (b)(2)(ii)(B). After a decree for alimony has been entered, the court may from time to time upon the petition of either party review and alter its decree relative to the amount and payment of the alimony, and may make any decree relative to it which it might have made in the original suit. The decree may be made retroactive in the courts discretion to the date that the court finds that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred; provided, the court shall set forth in its decision the specific findings of fact which show a substantial change in circumstances and upon which findings of facts the court has decided to make the decree retroactive. Nothing provided in this section shall affect the power of the court as subsequently provided by law to alter, amend, or annul any order of alimony previously entered. Upon the remarriage of the spouse who is receiving alimony, the obligation to pay alimony shall automatically terminate at once.

(d)(1) In regulating the custody of the children, the court shall provide for the reasonable right of visitation by the natural parent not having custody of the children, except upon the showing of cause why the right should not be granted or as provided in subdivision 15-5-16(d)(4). The court shall mandate compliance with its order by both the custodial parent and the children. In the event of noncompliance, the noncustodial parent may file a motion for contempt in family court. Upon a finding by the court that its order for visitation has not been complied with, the court shall exercise its discretion in providing a remedy, and define the noncustodial parents visitation in detail. However, if a second finding of noncompliance by the court is made, the court shall consider this to be grounds for a change of custody to the noncustodial parent.

(2) In regulating the custody and determining the best interests of children, the fact that a parent is receiving public assistance shall not be a factor in awarding custody.

(3) A judicial determination that the child has been physically or sexually abused by the natural parent shall constitute sufficient cause to deny the right of visitation. However, when the court enters an order denying visitation under this section, it shall review the case at least annually to determine what, if any, action the parent has taken to rehabilitate himself or herself and whether the denial of visitation continues to be in the childs best interests.

(4) No person shall be granted custody of or visitation with a child if that person has been convicted under or pled nolo contendere to a violation of §§11-37-2, 11-37-4, or 11-37-8.1 or other comparable law of another jurisdiction, and the child was conceived as a result of that violation; unless after hearing the family court finds that the natural mother or legal guardian consents to visitation with the child, and the court determines that visitation is in the best interest of the child, then the court may order supervised visitation and counseling.

(5) The court may order a natural parent who has been denied the right of visitation due to physical or sexual abuse of his or her child to engage in counseling. The failure of the parent to engage in counseling, ordered by the court pursuant to this section, shall constitute sufficient cause to deny visitation.

(e) In all hearings regarding denial of visitation, the court shall make findings of fact.

(f) This chapter does not affect the right of the family court to award alimony or support pendente lite.

(g)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and §15-5-19, the court, when making decisions regarding child custody and visitation, shall consider evidence of past or present domestic violence. Where domestic violence is proven, any grant of visitation shall be arranged so as to best protect the child and the abused parent from further harm.

(2) In addition to other factors that a court must consider in a proceeding in which the court has made a finding of domestic or family violence, the court shall consider as primary the safety and well-being of the child and of the parent who is the victim of domestic or family violence. The court shall also consider the perpetrators history of causing physical harm, bodily injury or assault to another person.

(3) In a visitation or custody order, as a condition of the order, the court may:

(i) Order the perpetrator of domestic violence to attend and successfully complete, to the satisfaction of the court, a certified batterers intervention program;

(ii) Order the perpetrator to attend a substance abuse program whenever deemed appropriate;

(iii) Require that a bond be filed with the court in order to ensure the return and safety of the child;

(iv) Order that the address and telephone number of the child be kept confidential;

(v) Order an exchange of the child to occur in a protected setting, or supervised by another person or agency; provided that, if the court allows a family or household member to supervise visitation, the court shall establish conditions to be followed during visitation;

(vi) Order the perpetrator of domestic violence to abstain from possession or consumption of alcohol or controlled substances during the visitation; and

(vii) Impose any other condition that is deemed necessary to provide for the safety of the child, the victim of domestic violence, or other family or household member.

(4) Domestic violence means the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between spouses or people who have a child in common:

(i) Attempting to cause or causing physical harm;

(ii) Placing another in fear of imminent serious physical harm;

(iii) Causing another to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by force, threat of force, or duress.

(5) In every proceeding in which there is at issue the modification of an order for custody or visitation of a child, the finding that domestic or family violence has occurred since the last custody determination constitutes a prima facie finding of a change of circumstances.

(6) The fact that a parent is absent or relocates because of an act of domestic or family violence by the other parent shall not weigh against the relocating or absent parent in determining custody and visitation.

(7) A partys absence, relocation, or failure to comply with custody and visitation orders shall not, by itself, be sufficient to justify a modification of a custody or visitation order if the reason for the absence, relocation, or failure to comply is the partys activation to military service or deployment out of state.

(h) If there is no existing order establishing the terms of parental rights and responsibilities or parent-child contact and it appears that deployment or mobilization is imminent, upon motion by either parent, the court shall expedite a hearing to establish temporary parental rights and responsibilities and parent-child contact to ensure the deploying parent has access to the child, to ensure disclosure of information, to grant other rights and duties set forth herein, and to provide other appropriate relief. Any initial pleading filed to establish parental rights and responsibilities for or parent-child contact with a child of a deploying parent shall be so identified at the time of filing by stating in the text of the pleading the specific facts related to deployment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-22-4 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-22 / Section 15-22-4
§ 15-22-4. Personal data  Purposes for which disclosure permitted  Safeguards  Exceptions  Unauthorized inspection or disclosure  Penalties.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) Personal data collected and maintained by the agency created pursuant to title IV, part D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §651 et seq., (subsequently referred to as the IV-D agency) shall not be a public record and access to this data shall be available only to employees of the IV-D agency and/or its contractors, and only to the extent reasonably necessary for the performance of the employees or contractors duties. The IV-D agency may disclose personal data for purposes connected with establishing paternity, establishing, modifying or enforcing child support and medical obligations pursuant to this chapter and title IV, part D of the Social Security Act. The IV-D agency may disclose personal data:

(i) To any state or federal public assistance program or to the IV-D agency of another state for purposes connected with the administration of the program or of the child support enforcement program, as authorized by title IV, part D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §651 et seq., and by the secretary of the federal department of health and human services;

(ii) To persons authorized to receive information from the Federal Parent Locator Service established pursuant to title IV, part D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §651 et seq.;

(iii) To the director of the department of human services or his or her agent for purposes directly connected with detecting and preventing fraud in any assistance program administered by the department;

(iv) To the department of children, youth and families for purposes directly connected with an investigation or proceedings related to termination of parental rights, adoption, or foster care parental support actions;

(v) To a person authorized in writing by the parent or, in the case of the child, by the custodial parent or legal guardian of the child, to receive personal data;

(vi) For purposes directly connected to obtaining health care coverage for a child receiving services pursuant to title IV, part D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §651 et seq., to an employer or provider of health care coverage or to the obligor;

(vii) In the case of personal data about an individual parent, to that parent or, in the case of personal data about the child, to the custodial parent or legal guardian of the child; or

(viii) To any other individual, business or entity for the purposes of administering the child support enforcement program or otherwise provided by federal or state law.

(2) Before disclosing personal data pursuant to this section, the IV-D agency shall require the person or agency requesting the data to verify in writing, in a form provided by child support enforcement that the data is required for a purpose permitted by this section and that the data will be used solely for this purpose. The IV-D agency shall limit disclosure to the specific data required by the person or agency to carry out a purpose permitted by this chapter.

(b)(1) The IV-D agency shall safeguard personal data if the IV-D agency is provided with reasonable evidence of a history of domestic violence. A state agency, court, IV-D agency of another state, obligor, obligee, and any other persons or entities that the IV-D agency may specify may provide the IV-D agency with reasonable evidence of a history of domestic violence in any manner that the IV-D agency may require. The IV-D agency shall continue to safeguard personal data until the time that the individual contacts this agency in writing to advise that his or her personal data need not be safeguarded. For the purposes of this section, a history of domestic violence means that an individual has been subjected to:

(i) Physical acts that resulted in, or threatened to result in, physical injury to the individual;

(ii) Sexual abuse;

(iii) Sexual activity involving a dependent child;

(iv) Being forced as the caretaker relative of a dependent child to engage in nonconsensual sexual acts or activities;

(v) Threats of, or attempts at, physical or sexual abuse;

(vi) Mental abuse; or

(vii) Neglect or deprivation of medical care.

(2) If the IV-D agency is provided with reasonable evidence of a history of domestic violence, the IV-D agency, its employees, and its contractors shall indicate this fact to the federal registry and shall not disclose any personal data that could otherwise be disclosed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section about the location of a parent or child, including residential address, telephone number, and name, address and telephone number of employer, and shall not disclose the social security number of a parent or child. However, the IV-D agency may disclose such personal data to:

(i) The Federal Parent Locator Service;

(ii) A court or agency of a court that is authorized to receive information pursuant to court order from the Federal Parent Locator Service established pursuant to title IV, part D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §651 et seq.;

(iii) The department of human services;

(iv) The department of children, youth and families for purposes directly connected with an investigation of proceedings related to termination of parental rights, adoption or parental support action; or

(v) A person authorized to receive personal data by the parent or, in the case of the child, by the custodial parent or legal guardian of the child.

(3) The IV-D agency may disclose the social security number of a child receiving IV-D services for purposes directly connected to obtaining health care coverage for the child to an employer or provider of health care coverage.

(4) If the IV-D agency is provided with reasonable evidence of a history of domestic violence pursuant to this section, the IV-D agency shall notify the Federal Parent Locator Service established pursuant to title IV, part D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §651 et seq., that a risk of harm exists. A person or agency seeking disclosure of personal data which the IV-D agency is prohibited from disclosing because of reasonable evidence of a history of domestic violence, but which could otherwise be disclosed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, may file a petition with the family court pursuant to §15-22-5 to request disclosure of the personal data. Upon written request by a court or agent of a court authorized to receive information from the Federal Parent Locator Service, the IV-D agency shall release personal data, which may include location information and social security numbers, to the court or agent, as required by title IV, part D of the Social Security Act; provided, that if the IV-D agency has been provided with reasonable evidence of a history of domestic violence, the IV-D agency shall notify the court or agent that the IV-D agency has received this information and that, pursuant to section (b) of this section, before the IV-D agency may make any disclosure of personal data under this section, the court is required to determine whether the disclosure to any other person could be harmful to the parent or child and issue a court order to that effect.

(c)(1) The IV-D agency shall have in effect safeguards to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and completeness of, access to, and use of data, including personal data and data in the automated system which shall include:

(i) Written policies concerning access to data by IV-D agency personnel and its contractors, and sharing of data with other individuals, businesses, or entities, which permit access to and use of data only to the extent necessary to carry out the purposes of the child support enforcement program and which specify the data which may be used for particular program purpose, and the personnel permitted access to the data;

(ii) Systems controls to ensure strict adherence to the policies;

(iii) Routine monitoring of access to and use of the automated system, through methods such as audit trails, to guard against and promptly identify unauthorized access or use;

(iv) Procedures to ensure that all personnel, including employees of the IV-D agency and its contractors, who may have or had access to or who may be or were required to use confidential program data and personal data, are informed of applicable requirements and penalties, including those in this section, §6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. §6103, and are adequately trained in security procedures;

(v) Penalties, as provided in this section, for willful inspection or disclosure of, or unauthorized access to, personal data; and

(vi) Any other safeguards that the commissioner of revenue and the secretary of the federal department of health and human services may specify in regulations.

(2) The willful inspection or disclosure of personal data, except as authorized by subsection (b) of this section, by any employee of the IV-D agency, its contractors, or any person obtaining unauthorized access to the data, including data stored in a computer system or computer files, while the data is in the custody of the division of taxation, child support enforcement, or in the custody of any employee of the IV-D agency or its contractors, is prohibited. Personal data may be inspected and shared by and between employees of the IV-D agency in the performance of their official duties as provided in this chapter. Authorized employees of the division of taxation, child support enforcement, may disclose personal data to any employee of a contractor of the IV-D agency to the extent necessary for performance of the contracted duties of the employee. Any violation of this section by an employee of the IV-D agency, its contractors or an officer, director or employee of its contractors, a person obtaining unauthorized access to personal data, or any other individual shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both, with respect to each person concerning whom information has been disclosed or inspected. The determination by child support enforcement that an employee of the IV-D agency, or the determination of another agency head that an employee of any other agency, has made a disclosure or willful inspection of personal data that was not authorized by this section and not protected by the good faith provision of subsection (d) of this section shall be grounds for dismissal of that employee. A violation, as determined by child support enforcement, of this section by an officer, director, or employee of any contractor of the state, or any officer, director or employee of the state, shall also be cause for terminating any current contract between that contractor and the state and for prohibiting that contractor from entering into any future contract with the state.

(d) Any unauthorized disclosure or unauthorized inspection made in a good faith effort to comply with this section shall not be considered a violation of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-21-2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-21 / Section 15-21-2
§ 15-21-2. Creation of lien.
Status: in_force

(a) A child support obligation or reimbursement order which is enforceable by the department of administration, division of taxation, child support enforcement, in accordance with Title IV Part D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §651 et seq., and which is unpaid in whole or in part shall, as of the date on which it was due, be a lien in favor of the obligee or assignee in an amount sufficient to satisfy unpaid child support, whether the amount due is a fixed sum or is accruing periodically. Once a child support lien arises, the lien shall incorporate any unpaid child support which may accrue in the future and shall not terminate except as provided in §15-21-4(g). The lien shall encumber all tangible and intangible property, whether real or personal, and rights to property, whether legal or equitable, belonging to the obligor including, but not limited to, the obligors interest in any jointly held property. An interest in personal property acquired by the obligor after the child support lien arises shall be subject to the lien. Without limiting the forgoing, property as used in this chapter shall also include insurance and workers compensation payments.

(b) In any case where a lien arises in jointly held property, a non-obligor joint party whose interest appears of record or is otherwise known to the department shall receive notice of intent to lien and may request an administrative hearing with the department to contest the scope of the property interests of the lien or may seek judicial review by motion to the family court. Service of the notice shall be made by first class mail.

[See §12-1-15 of the General Laws.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-29-9 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-29 / Section 15-29-9
§ 15-29-9. Plan administrator  Unlawful refusal to enroll.
Status: in_force

(a) Enrollment of a child may not be denied for any of the following reasons:

(1) The child(ren) was born out of wedlock;

(2) The child is not claimed as a dependant on the participants federal income tax return;

(3) The child does not reside with the participant or in the plans service area; or

(4) The child is receiving benefits or is eligible to receive benefits under a states medical plan.

(b) If the health care coverage plan requires that the participant must be currently enrolled, the plan administrator must enroll both the participant and the child(ren).

(c) All enrollments are to be made without regard to open season restrictions.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-17-7 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-17 / Section 15-17-7
§ 15-17-7. Enforcement  Void marriage.
Status: in_force

If a marriage is determined to be void, an agreement that would otherwise have been a premarital agreement is enforceable only to the extent necessary to avoid an inequitable result.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-20-1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-20 / Section 15-20-1
§ 15-20-1. Notification to and by employer.
Status: in_force

(a) With respect to any support order maintained and enforced under the Rhode Island Family Court/Department of Administration, division of taxation, Child Support Enforcement System (CSE System), the clerk of the family court and/or the department of administration, division of taxation shall notify the current employer of the obligor parent of the existence of such order. The director of the department shall, by regulation, prescribe the timing and the form of the notice and the information to be provided in the notice, and the form, timing, and content of all other notices required under this chapter.

(b) Within ten (10) days of the termination of an obligor parent employee, the employer shall notify the department of administration, division of taxation, child support enforcement, of the termination of the employee, and the date of the termination.

[See §12-1-15 of the General Laws.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-15-5 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-15 / Section 15-15-5
§ 15-15-5. Duties of police officers.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever any police officer has reason to believe that a family member or parent has been abused, that officer shall use all reasonable means to prevent further abuse, including:

(1) Remaining on the scene as long as there is a danger to the physical safety of the person or until the person is able to leave the dwelling unit;

(2) Assisting the person in obtaining medical treatment necessitated by an assault, including obtaining transportation to an emergency medical treatment facility;

(3) Giving the person immediate and adequate notice of his or her rights under this chapter;

(4) Arresting the abusive person pursuant to the arrest provisions in § 12-29-3; and

(5) Reporting any physical injury to a minor child or a threat to physically injure a minor child within twenty-four (24) hours of his or her investigation to CANTS (Child abuse and neglect tracking system).

(b) Notice by the police officer to the victim shall be by handing the victim a copy of the following statement written in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Vietnamese, and French, and by reading the statement to the person when possible:

If your attacker is your spouse, former spouse, or person to whom you are related by blood or marriage, or if you are not married to your attacker but have a child in common, or if you and/or your attacker is a minor who have been in a substantive dating or engagement relationship within the past one year, you have the right to go to the family court and request:

(1) An order restraining your attacker from abusing you, your minor child, or a plaintiff parents minor child(ren) to which the defendant is not a blood relative or relative by marriage;

(2) An order awarding you exclusive use of your marital domicile;

(3) An order awarding you custody of your minor child.

If you are not married or related to your attacker, but have resided with him or her within the past three (3) years, or you are in or have been in a substantive dating or engagement relationship with your attacker within the past one year, you have the right to go to the district court and request:

(1) An order restraining your attacker from abusing you;

(2) An order directing your attacker to leave your household, unless he or she has the sole legal interest in the household.

If you are in need of medical treatment, you have the right to have the officer present obtain transportation to an emergency medical treatment facility.

If you believe that police protection is needed for your physical safety, you have the right to have the officer present remain at the scene until you and your children can leave or until your safety is otherwise ensured.

You have the right to file a criminal complaint with the responding officer or your local police department if the officer has not arrested the perpetrator.

(c) A police officer shall ensure enforcement of the terms of a protective order issued pursuant to this chapter including, but not limited to, accompanying a family member or parent to his or her dwelling or residence in order to secure possession of the dwelling or residence.

(d) When service of the temporary order issued pursuant to § 15-15-4 has not been made and/or after a permanent order is entered, a police officer shall give notice of the order to the defendant by handing him or her a certified copy of the order. The officer shall indicate that he or she has given notice by writing on plaintiff s copy of the order and the police departments copy of the order, the date and time of giving notice and the officers name and badge number. The officer shall indicate on the offense report that actual notice was given.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-2-8 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-2 / Section 15-2-8
§ 15-2-8. Period of validity of license  Return if unused.
Status: in_force

The license required by § 15-2-1 shall be valid for three (3) months after the date of issue, and if unused at the expiration of the three (3) months, the party or parties having possession of the license shall immediately return it to the town or city clerk from whom it was obtained.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-16.2.4 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-16.2.4
§ 15-5-16.2.4. Retroactive modification of child support.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 15-5-16.2, the court, in its discretion, may modify a child support order retroactively only to the date that notice of a petition to modify was given to the adverse party if it finds that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred. The court shall set forth in its decision the specific findings of fact which show a substantial change in circumstances and upon which findings of fact the court has decided to make its order of modification retroactive. The court, in its discretion, may for good cause shown suspend payment of child support arrearages until there is a finding by the court of financial ability to make payment on arrearages; provided, that incarceration for nonpayment of child support shall not constitute good cause to suspend payment of child support or child support arrearages.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-10-3 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-10 / Section 15-10-3
§ 15-10-3. Director of human services as complainant.
Status: in_force

The director of human services or any person designated and appointed to do so by the director may be the party complainant to any complaint and warrant brought to invoke the penalties provided for in this chapter, and the director or his or her designee and appointee shall be exempt from giving surety for costs in any such action.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-17 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-17
§ 15-7-17. Rights of natural parents terminated  Inheritance by child from natural parents.
Status: in_force

The parents of the child shall be deprived, by the decree, of all legal rights respecting the child, and the child shall be freed from all obligations of maintenance and obedience respecting his or her natural parents except that the granting of the petition for adoption will not deprive an adopted child of the right to inherit from and through his or her natural parents in the same manner as all other natural children; provided, that the right to inherit from and through natural parents of an adopted child born out of wedlock shall be as provided in § 33-1-8; and provided, further, that the decree of adoption shall in no way affect all legal rights of a natural parent respecting the child and all obligations of the child of maintenance and obedience respecting a natural parent if the natural parent is legally married to the adopting parent at the time of the decree of adoption. Notwithstanding the rights of an adopted child to inherit from or through his or her natural parents as provided in this section, or as provided in § 33-1-8, any administrator, executor or trustee who without knowledge of said adopted child, otherwise carries out the administrators, executors, or trustees lawful responsibility shall not be liable to the adopted child for any damages resulting therefrom.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-24-7 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-24 / Section 15-24-7
§ 15-24-7. Failure to comply.
Status: in_force

Any employer who fails to report as required under this section may be liable for a civil penalty of twenty dollars ($20.00) for each violation, to be assessed by the department, and shall be required to provide the information. If it is demonstrated that the employer conspired with the employee to avoid reporting, a five hundred dollar ($500) a civil penalty may be assessed by the department. Liability shall be joint and several.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-1-8 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-1 / Section 15-1-8
§ 15-1-8. Recognition of relationships entered into in another state or jurisdiction.
Status: in_force

If two (2) persons are within the jurisdiction of Rhode Island and have a legal union other than a marriage that provides substantially the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as a marriage and the union was validly entered into in another state or jurisdiction and the union is not prohibited by this chapter then they shall be afforded the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as a valid marriage in this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-4-4 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-4 / Section 15-4-4
§ 15-4-4. Conveyance of property to or from husband or other persons.
Status: in_force

A married woman may sell and convey directly to, or may take directly from, her husband or any other person any estate or interest in any real or personal property in the same manner and with the same effect as if she were single and unmarried. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to support any transfer made between husband and wife in fraud of creditors.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-20 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-20
§ 15-5-20. Service on or notice to defendant.
Status: in_force

No person shall be entitled to a divorce from the bond of marriage unless the defendant, in accordance with rules adopted by the court, has been personally served with process if within the state, or with personal notice duly authenticated if out of the state, or unless the defendant has entered an appearance in the cause; or unless it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the petitioner does not know the address nor the residence of the defendant and has not been able to ascertain either after reasonable and due inquiry and search for six (6) months, in which case the court, or in vacation a judge of the court, may authorize notice by publication of the pendency of the petition for divorce to be given in a manner provided by law; provided, that in cases where indigence has been established, the court may, as an alternative to publication and upon motion and in appropriate circumstance, authorize an alternate means of service of process in the manner provided by Rule 4 of the Family Court Rules of Procedure for Domestic Relations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-16-15 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-16 / Section 15-16-15
§ 15-16-15. Initiation of income withholding with other jurisdictions.
Status: in_force

(a) With respect to a state that has not adopted the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA), on behalf of any client for whom the department is already providing services, or on application of a resident of this state who is an obligee or obligor of a support order issued by this state, or of an agency to whom the obligee has assigned support rights, the department shall promptly request the agency of another jurisdiction in which the obligor of a support order derives income to enter the order for the purpose of obtaining income withholding against that income.

(b) The department shall compile and promptly transmit to the agency of the other jurisdiction all documentation required to enter a support order for this purpose.

(c) The department also shall immediately transmit to the agency of the other jurisdiction a certified copy of any subsequent modifications of the support order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-25-1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-25 / Section 15-25-1
§ 15-25-1. State information agency  Reports to consumer reporting agency.
Status: in_force

(a) The department of administration, division of taxation, child support enforcement agency, designated as the state agency for purposes of providing consumer reporting agencies with information regarding the amount of overdue support owed by an obligor, is authorized to promulgate rules, regulations, and guidelines for the release of that information in accordance with this section. For purposes of this section, overdue support means a delinquency pursuant to an obligation determined under a court order, or an order of an administrative process established under the law of any state, for:

(1) support and maintenance of a minor child, which is owed to or on behalf of the child; or

(2) support and maintenance of the obligors spouse or former spouse with whom the child is living.

(b) For purposes of this section, consumer reporting agency means any person which, for monetary fees, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages in whole or in part in the practice of assembling or evaluating consumer credit information or other information on consumers for the purpose of furnishing consumer reports to third parties, and which uses any means or facility of interstate commerce for the purpose of preparing or furnishing consumer reports.

(c) The department of administration shall provide to consumer reporting agencies information regarding the amount, if any, of overdue support owed by an obligor. The department shall not be required to provide information regarding overdue support in an individual case if the department determines that release of information is inappropriate.

(d) The department may charge consumer reporting agencies and credit bureaus a fee not to exceed the actual cost of providing the information.

(e) The department shall provide written notice to the absent parent ten (10) days prior to the proposed release of information to consumer reporting agencies. The notice shall state that the absent parent may contest the accuracy of information prior to release and shall state the procedures to contest the accuracy of the information.

(f) The department shall periodically inform the consumer reporting agencies if the overdue support has been paid in full or of the amended amount of overdue support.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-29-8 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-29 / Section 15-29-8
§ 15-29-8. Plan administrator obligations regarding enrollment.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) The medical notice shall be forwarded by the employer to the plan administrator. The plan administrator is obligated to provide health care coverage of the child(ren) under the group health plan described in the medical notice within forty (40) business days of the date of the notice, or sooner if reasonable.

(2) The plan administrator must complete the plan administrator response and send it to the issuing agency.

(3) If there is health care coverage available for the child(ren), the plan administrator shall notify the non-custodial parent of the coverage available and the effective date of the coverage and complete any forms documents or information necessary to effectuate and submit claims for the coverage.

(4) If there is more than one option available for health care coverage, the plan administrator must provide a detailed summary plan description that describes all available coverages, including a default option coverage plan. The issuing child support agency must, in conjunction with the custodial parent, select one of the available options within twenty (20) days or the child(ren) will be enrolled in a default plan.

(5) If there has been no response from the issuing agency as to which option is selected, the plan administrator shall enroll the child(ren) in the default option coverage plan.

(b) The plan administrator shall notify the issuing agency if there is a waiting period for the participant. Upon expiration of the required waiting period for enrollment, the plan administrator shall enroll the child(ren) in the health coverage plan.

(c) If the plan administrator determines the medical notice does not constitute a qualified medical child support order, the reasons must be specified in the response.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-21-10 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-21 / Section 15-21-10
§ 15-21-10. Judicial review.
Status: in_force

Any person aggrieved by a determination of the department pursuant to this chapter may seek judicial review within thirty (30) days of the departments decision on exemptions or within thirty (30) days of the departments final determination by filing a motion with the court. Commencement of the review shall not, unless specifically ordered, stay enforcement of the child support collection procedures described in §15-21-1.

[See §12-1-15 of the General Laws.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-26-2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-26 / Section 15-26-2
§ 15-26-2. Operation.
Status: in_force

(a) The centralized state collection and disbursement unit shall be operated directly by the department of administration, division of taxation or its designee and in coordination with the automated system.

(b) The centralized state collection and disbursement unit shall use the automated procedures, electronic processes, including the electronic funds transfer (EFT) provisions as authorized by the tax administrator under § 44-1-31, and computer driven technology to the maximum extent feasible, efficient and economical for the collection and disbursement of support payments, including procedures for receipt from parents, employers, and other states, and for disbursement to custodial parents and other obligees, the state agency, and the agencies of other states:

(1) For accurate identification of payments;

(2) To ensure prompt disbursement of the custodial parents share of any payment; and

(3) To furnish to any parent, upon request, timely information on the current status of support payments.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-19-2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-19 / Section 15-19-2
§ 15-19-2. Order for deposit of assets to secure future support payments.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, in any proceeding where the court has ordered either or both parents to pay any amount of the support of a minor child, upon an order to show cause or notice of motion, application, and declaration signed under penalty of perjury by the person to whom support has been ordered to have been paid stating that the parent or parents so ordered is in arrears in payment in a sum equal to the amount of sixty (60) days of payments, the court shall issue to the parent or parents ordered to pay support, following notice and opportunity for a hearing, an order requiring that the parent or parents deposit assets to secure future support payments with the family court clerk or any other trustee designated by the court. Upon request of any party the court may also issue an ex parte restraining order as specified in subsection (d) of this section. Upon deposit of any asset which is not readily convertible into money, the court may, not less than twenty (20) days after serving the obligor parent or parents with written notice and a hearing, order the sale of that asset or assets and the deposit of the proceeds with the person designated under this subsection. For purposes of the provisions of title 34, the date of the issuance of the order to deposit assets shall be construed as the date notice of levy on an interest in real property was served on the judgment debtor. When the asset ordered to be deposited is real property, the order shall be certified as judgment in accordance with the provisions of titles 8, 9, 10, and 34. A deposit of real property is made effective by recordation of a mortgage deed running to the family court clerk with the city or town recorder of deeds. The deposited real property and the rights, benefits, and liabilities attached to that property shall continue in the possession of the legal owner.

(2) Upon an obligor parents failure, within the time specified by the court, to make reasonable efforts to cure the default in child support payments or to comply with a court approved payment plan, if payments continue in the arrears, the family court clerk or trustee designated by the court shall, not less than twenty-five (25) days after providing the obligor parent or parents with a written notice served personally or with return receipt requested, unless a motion or order to show cause has been filed to stop the use or sale, use the money or sell or otherwise process the deposited assets for an amount sufficient to pay the arrearage and the amount ordered by the court for the support, maintenance, and education of the minor child currently due.

(3) Assets which have been deposited pursuant to an order issued in accordance with subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be construed as being assets subject to levy pursuant to the provisions of title 34. The sale of assets shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of title 34.

(4) The family court clerk or trustee designated by the court may deduct from the deposited money the sum of one dollar ($1.00) for each payment made pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection.

(5) An obligor parent alleged to be in arrears under this chapter may employ any of the following grounds as a defense to the motion filed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, or as a basis for filing a motion to stop a sale or use of assets under subdivision (2) of this subsection:

(i) Child support payments are not in arrears;

(ii) There has been a change in the custody of the children;

(iii) Illness or disability;

(iv) Unemployment;

(v) Serious adverse impact on the immediate family of the obligor parent residing with the obligor parent that outweighs the impact of denial of the motion or stopping the sale on obligee;

(vi) Serious impairment of the ability of the obligor parent to generate income; or

(vii) Other emergency conditions.

(6) An obligor parent must rebut the presumptions that nonpayment of child support was willful, without good faith, and that the obligor had the ability to pay the support.

(7) An obligor parent may file a motion to stop the use of the money or the sale of the asset pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection within fifteen (15) days after service of notice on him or her pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection. The clerk of the court shall set the motion for a hearing not less than twenty (20) days after service on the person or county officer to whom support has been ordered to have been paid.

(b) The court shall issue an order pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) upon a determination that one or more of the following conditions exists:

(1) The obligor parent is not receiving salary or wages subject to an assignment pursuant to §15-5-16.2; and there is reason to believe that he or she has earned income from some source of employment;

(2) An assignment of a portion of salary or wages pursuant to §15-5-16.2 would not be sufficient to meet the amount of the support obligation, for reasons other than a change of circumstances which would qualify for a reduction in the amount of child support ordered;

(3) The job history of the obligor parent shows that an assignment of a portion of salary or wages pursuant to §15-5-16.2 would be difficult to enforce or would not be a practical means for securing the payment of the support obligation, due to circumstances including, but not limited to, multiple concurrent or consecutive employers.

(c) The designation of assets subject to an order pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) shall be based upon concern for maximizing the liquidity and ready conversion into cash of the deposited asset. In all instances, the assets shall include a sum of money up to or equal in value to one year of support payments or six thousand dollars ($6,000), whichever is less, or any other assets, personal or real, designated by the court which equal in value up to one year of payments for support of the minor child, or any other amount in the discretion of the family court. In lieu of depositing cash or other assets as provided above, the obligor parent may, if approved by the court, provide a performance bond secured by any real property or other assets of the parent and equal in value to one year of payments.

(d) During the pendency of any proceeding pursuant to this chapter, and upon the application of either party in the manner provided by the provisions of title 34, the court may, without a hearing, issue ex parte orders restraining any person from transferring, encumbering, hypothecating, concealing, or in any way disposing of any property, real or personal, whether community, quasi-community, or separate, except in the usual course of business or for the necessities of life, and if the order is directed against a party, requiring him or her to notify the other party of any proposed extraordinary expenditures and to account to the court for all such extraordinary expenditures. The matter shall be made returnable not later than twenty (20) days, or if good cause appears to the court twenty-five (25) days, from the date of the order, at which time the ex parte order shall expire. Any order issued pursuant to this chapter shall state on its face the date of expiration of the order, which shall expire in one year or upon deposit of assets or money pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a), whichever occurs first. The court, at the hearing, shall determine for which property the obligor parent shall be required to report extraordinary expenditures and shall specify what is deemed an extraordinary expenditure for purposes of this subsection.

(e) The family court clerk or trustee designated by the court pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, who is responsible for any money or property and for any disbursements under this chapter, shall not be held liable for any action undertaken in good faith and in conformance with this chapter.

(f)(1) The family court clerk or trustee designated by the court shall return all assets subject to court order under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) to the obligor parent or parents when both of the following occur:

(i) One year has elapsed since the court issued the order described under subdivision (1) of subsection (a); and

(ii) The obligor parent or parents have made all support payments on time during that one year period.

(2) When the above criteria have been satisfied and when the deposited asset was real property, the family court clerk or trustee designated by the court shall prepare a release, and shall request the clerk of the court where the order to deposit assets was rendered to certify the release and record it in the office of the recorder of deeds in the city or town where the property is located.

(g) The family court clerk or trustee shall, if requested by the obligor parent, prepare a statement setting forth disbursements and receipts made under this chapter.

(h) If the family court clerk, trustee, or person designated under subsection (a) of this section incurs fees or costs under this chapter which are not compensated by the deduction under subdivision (3) of subsection (a), including, but not limited to, fees or costs incurred in any sale of assets pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and in the preparation of a statement pursuant to subsection (g) of this section, the court shall hear not less than twenty (20) days after service upon the obligor parent of the notice of motion or order to show cause by the family court clerk, trustee, or person designated under subsection (a) of this section incurring the fees or costs, and order the obligor parent or parents to pay reasonable fees and costs. Fees and costs ordered to be paid by the court under this subsection shall be in addition to any deposit made under subsection (a) of this section, but shall not exceed five percent (5%) of one years child support obligation or the total amount ordered deposited under subdivision (1) of subsection (a), whichever is less.

(i) The purpose of this chapter is to provide an extraordinary remedy for cases of bad faith failure to pay child support obligations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-13-3.2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-13 / Section 15-13-3.2
§ 15-13-3.2. Transfer of assets.
Status: in_force

No person shall proceed to foreclose, sell, or otherwise transfer any property against which an execution granted and reordered pursuant to § 15-13-3.1 may run without first obtaining the approval of the family court. After this, any person to whom an execution has been granted may pursue any remedy available to the holder of an execution by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-16-2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-16 / Section 15-16-2
§ 15-16-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For purposes of this chapter, except as may otherwise be required by the context:

(1) Agency means either the court or agency of any other jurisdiction with income withholding functions similar to those of the department of administration, division of taxation, child support enforcement defined in this chapter, including the issuance and enforcement of support orders.

(2) Child means any child, whether above or below the age of majority, with respect to whom a support order exists.

(3) CSE system means the Rhode Island family court/department of administration, division of taxation, child support computer enforcement system, which system maintains the official record of support orders and arrearages of all support orders entered upon it in accordance with applicable administrative orders issued by the Rhode Island family court.

(4) Court means the Rhode Island family court and, when the context requires, means either the court or agency of any other jurisdiction with functions similar to those defined in this chapter, including the issuance and enforcement of support orders.

(5) Department means the division of taxation, within the department of administration.

(6) Income shall include amounts paid or payable by a payor who is subject to the jurisdiction of this state to an obligor as:

(i) Compensation paid or payable for personal services, whether denominated as wages, salary, commission, bonus, or otherwise, whether taxable or not taxable, and specifically including periodic payments pursuant to pension or retirement programs or insurance policies of any type; or

(ii) Benefit payments or other similar compensation paid or payable to the obligor by or through a department, agency, or political subdivision of the state or federal government or by an insurance company, including unemployment compensation benefits, workers compensation benefits, and temporary disability benefits, except where garnishment or attachment of benefit payments is prohibited by federal law.

(7) Income withholding order means an order to withhold income of an obligor to pay support, arrearages, and fees, if any, authorized under this chapter, whether the order is issued by the department and filed with the clerk of the family court, or whether the order is issued by the family court as provided for in this chapter or whether the order is issued by a court or agency of another jurisdiction.

(8) Jurisdiction means any state or political subdivision, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(9) Magistrate  means a magistrate of the family court pursuant to § 8-10-3.1.

(10) Obligee means any person or entity entitled to receive support under an order of support and includes an agency of another jurisdiction to which a person has assigned his or her right to support.

(11) Obligor means any person required to make payments under the terms of a support order for a child, spouse, or former spouse.

(12) State plan means the Rhode Island state plan for child and spousal support established in accordance with title IV, part D, § 454 of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 654, which plan includes, but is not limited to, the establishment and enforcement of support orders on behalf of a person, whether residing in this state or another jurisdiction, who is:

(i) Receiving public assistance pursuant to part A of title IV of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.;

(ii) Receiving foster care maintenance payments pursuant to part E of title IV of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 670 et seq.; or

(iii) Not receiving aid to families with dependent children nor foster care maintenance payments but who files an application for support enforcement services with the department of administration, division of taxation, child support enforcement, or any authorized title IV, part D agency of another jurisdiction.

(13) Support order means a judgment, decree or order, whether temporary, final, or subject to modification, issued by the family court, by the division of taxation within the department of administration under § 15-16-7 or by a court or agency of another jurisdiction, for the benefit of a child, a spouse, or a former spouse, which provides for monetary support, health care, arrearages, or reimbursement, and may include related costs and fees, interest, income withholding, attorneys fees, and other relief.

(14) Tribunal means a court, administrative agency, or quasi-judicial entity authorized to establish, enforce, or modify support orders or to determine parentage.

(15) Withholding agent means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association, trust, federal or state agency, department, or political subdivision, paying or obligated to pay income, as defined in this chapter, to an obligor.

(16) Remittee, as used in this section, means the division of taxation, child support enforcement or its designee, authorized to receive wage withholding, including an agency designated by another state to receive income withholding pursuant to chapter 23.1 of title 15. Remittee does not include an individual obligee/custodial parent.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-21-3 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-21 / Section 15-21-3
§ 15-21-3. Notice.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) Notice. When the department of administration, division of taxation, child support enforcement, determines that child support is unpaid, it shall send written notice of intent to lien to the obligor by first class mail at his or her most recent address of record.

(2) The notice of intent shall specify the amount unpaid as of the date of the notice or other date certain and the obligors right to request a hearing by filing a written request with the department within thirty (30) days of the date of the notice. The notice shall identify the property, real or personal, which is subject to the lien. In addition, the notice shall:

(i) State that the obligor has the right to a hearing on the issue of whether, and how much, child support is unpaid, and that the obligor may request a hearing within thirty (30) days of the date of the notice. The notice shall explain the procedure for requesting a hearing. If the obligor requests a hearing, the administrator or his or her designee shall conduct the hearing expeditiously and the department shall not conduct further lien enforcement action until the director or his or her designee makes a final determination that the obligor is in arrears in the payment of a child support obligation.

(ii) State that certain property and funds, whether in cash or in bank accounts, may be from a lien exempt by law. The notice shall include a list of appropriate exemptions.

(iii) Inform the obligor of the right to claim that part or all of the funds subject to the lien that may be exempt by law and provide the obligor with the opportunity to have an immediate hearing on the exemption issue. The notice shall explain the procedure for requesting an exemption hearing, and provide the obligor thirty (30) days from the date of the notice of intent to lien in which to do so. Hearing procedures must include a method for requesting a hearing in person, by mail or by telephone.

(b) Exemption hearings. The department shall schedule and conduct the exemption hearing promptly. The department shall issue a written decision making specific findings of an obligors exemption claim(s), and, if it finds part or all of the funds held by the financial institution or other similar organization to be exempt, shall promptly notify that institution or organization of its determination.

(c) Effect of notice. The notice of intent to lien directed to any financial institution, or other similar institution or organization, shall operate as a hold on any and all accounts specified in the notice. Neither the obligor or non obligor joint owner shall be permitted to withdraw from those accounts until the earlier of:

(1) The date of the decision in obligors favor with regard to exemptions; or

(2) Until the administrative hearing and/or judicial process as described in this chapter, is completed and a determination is made.

(d) Recording of notice. If the property subject to the lien is real property or personal property, the title to which is maintained as a public record, the department may record a copy of the notice of intent to lien in the recorder of deeds, division of motor vehicles, or other place where the title to the property is recorded. Any person taking title to the property subsequent to the recording does so subject to the interest of the department, as it may be determined. The notice of intent shall be recorded no more than ten (10) days prior to the mailing of the notice to the obligor under subsection (a) of this section.

[See §12-1-15 of the General Laws.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-24.5 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-24.5
§ 15-5-24.5. Court ordered visitation rights to certain persons convicted of first degree murder  Prohibited.
Status: in_force

No court shall make an order providing visitation rights to a parent who has been convicted of murder in the first degree of the other parent of the child who is the subject of the order, unless that court first conducts a hearing in order to determine whether the child is of an appropriate age, maturity, intelligence and voluntarily consents to the visitation. No person shall cause, facilitate, or assist a child to visit a parent who has been convicted of murder in the first degree of the other parent of the child without the consent of the childs custodian or legal guardian except as authorized by a court order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-16.6 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-16.6
§ 15-5-16.6. Security, bond, or guarantee to secure payment of overdue support.
Status: in_force

(a) In a proceeding to enforce overdue support, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, the court or its magistrate, after a hearing and a finding of overdue support, may require an obligor parent to give security, post a bond, or give some other guarantee to secure payment of overdue support; the security, bond, or guarantee is to be in any amount, for any term, and upon any conditions that the court or magistrate shall deem necessary or advisable. The court may order that the security, bond, or other guarantee be deposited into the registry of the family court. The obligor parent shall be served with the notice of any proceeding under this section and the notice shall state the procedures to contest the action.

(b) For purposes of this section, overdue support means a delinquency pursuant to an obligation determined under a court order, or an order of an administrative process established under the law of any state, for:

(1) Support and maintenance of a minor child, which is owed to or on behalf of the child; or

(2) Support and maintenance of the obligor parents spouse or former spouse with whom the child is living.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-21-4 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-21 / Section 15-21-4
§ 15-21-4. Notice of lien.
Status: in_force

(a) To perfect a lien with respect to real property, the department shall file a notice of lien with the recorder of deeds for the city or town in which the property is located. The recorder of deeds shall index the notice of intent under the name of the obligor in the grantors index. The filing of a notice of intent of the lien or of a waiver or release of the lien shall be received and registered or recorded without payment of a fee.

(b) To perfect a child support lien with respect to personal property, the department shall file a notice of lien with the secretary of states office, the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, or any other office or agency within the state responsible for the filing or recording of liens. The filing of a notice of intent of the lien or of a waiver or release of the lien shall be received and registered or recorded without payment of a fee.

(c) If any obligor against whom a notice of intent to create a child support enforcement lien has been filed according to this section:

(1) Fails to request a hearing within the time frame provided;

(2) Fails to appear; or

(3) Neglects or refuses to pay the sum due after the expiration of thirty (30) days after a hearing is conducted by the department pursuant to §15-21-3, at which the determination is made the obligor parent is in arrears.

(d) The notice of intent as filed shall be deemed and operate as a lien which is perfected by the department by the filing of a notice of lien. The notice of lien shall specify the property to be attached and the amount of the arrearage due and shall be filed in the office or city or town where the notice of intent was originally filed.

(e) The lien shall have priority over all subsequent liens or other encumbrances, subject to the provisions of §6A-9-322 and with the exception of any lien for taxes. A child support lien that has been perfected shall encumber after acquired personal property or proceeds.

(f) If the collection of any unpaid child support will be jeopardized by delay or exigent circumstances, as defined by rules promulgated by the director, the department may apply to the family court for an order to restrain the obligor parent from encumbering, moving, selling, or in any way transferring any real or personal property which may be subject to the provisions of this section.

(g) The lien shall expire upon either termination of a current child support obligation and payment in full of unpaid child support or release of the lien by the department. In any event, a lien under this chapter shall not expire until satisfied and discharged. Expiration of the lien shall not terminate the underlying order or judgment of child support. The department may issue a full or partial waiver or partial release or full discharge of any lien imposed under this section and shall file the waiver, release, or discharge without fee in the city or town or office where the original lien was filed within ten (10) days of the obligors compliance with this section. The waiver or release or partial release or full discharge shall be conclusive evidence that the lien upon the property covered by the waiver or release is extinguished.

[See §12-1-15 of the General Laws.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-15-3 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-15 / Section 15-15-3
§ 15-15-3. Protective orders  Penalty  Jurisdiction.
Status: repealed

(a) A person, or a parent, custodian, or legal guardian on behalf of a minor child or the director of the department of children, youth and families (DCYF) or its designee for a child in the custody of DCYF, pursuant to §§ 40-11-7 and 40-11-7.1, suffering from domestic abuse or sexual exploitation as defined in § 15-15-1, may file a complaint in the family court requesting any order that will protect and support her or him from abuse or sexual exploitation, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Ordering that the defendant be restrained and enjoined from contacting, assaulting, molesting, sexually exploiting, or interfering with the plaintiff at home, on the street, or elsewhere, whether the defendant is an adult or a minor;

(2) Ordering the defendant to vacate the household immediately, and further providing in the order for the safety and welfare of all household animals and pets;

(3) Awarding the plaintiff custody of the minor children of the parties, if any;

(4) Ordering the defendant to surrender physical possession of all firearms in his or her possession, care, custody, or control and shall further order a person restrained not to purchase or receive, or attempt to purchase or receive, any firearms while the protective order is in effect. The defendant shall surrender said firearms within twenty-four (24) hours of notice of the protective order to the Rhode Island state police or local police department or to a federally licensed firearms dealer.

(i) A person ordered to surrender possession of any firearm(s) pursuant to this section shall, within seventy-two (72) hours after being served with the order, either:

(A) File with the court a receipt showing the firearm(s) was physically surrendered to the Rhode Island state police or local police department, or to a federally licensed firearms dealer; or

(B) Attest to the court that, at the time of the order, the person had no firearms in his or her immediate physical possession or control, or subject to their immediate physical possession or control, and that the person, at the time of the attestation, has no firearms in their immediate physical possession or control, or subject to their immediate physical possession or control.

(ii) If a person restrained under this section transfers a firearm(s) to a federally licensed firearms dealer pursuant to this section, the person restrained under this section may instruct the federally licensed firearms dealer to sell the firearm(s) or to transfer ownership, in accordance with state and federal law, to a qualified named individual who is not a member of the persons dwelling house, who is not related to the person by blood, marriage, or relationship as defined by § 15-15-1(7), and who is not prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law. The owner of any firearm(s) sold shall receive any financial value received from its sale, less the cost associated with taking possession of, storing, and transferring of the firearm(s).

(iii) Every individual to whom ownership of a firearm(s) is transferred pursuant to this subsection shall be prohibited from transferring or returning any firearm(s) to the person restrained under this section while the protective order remains in effect and shall be informed of this prohibition, Any knowing violation of this subsection is a felony that shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than five (5) years, or both.

(iv) An individual to whom ownership of a firearm(s) is transferred pursuant to this subsection shall return a firearm(s) to the person formerly restrained under this section only if the person formerly restrained under this section provides documentation issued by a court indicating that the restraining order issued pursuant to this section that prohibited the person from purchasing, carrying, transporting, or possessing firearms has expired and has not been extended;

(5) After notice to the respondent and a hearing, ordering either party to make payments for the support of a minor child or children of the parties as required by law for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days, unless the child support order is for a child or children receiving public assistance pursuant to chapter 5.1 of title 40 [repealed]. In these cases, legal counsel for the division of taxation, child support enforcement, shall be notified as a party in interest to appear for the purpose of establishing a child support order under a new or existing docket number previously assigned to the parties and not under the protective docket number. The child support order shall remain in effect until the court modifies or suspends the order.

(b) After notice to the respondent and a hearing, which shall be held within fifteen (15) days of surrendering said firearms, the court, in addition to any other restrictions, may, for any protective order issued after or renewed on or after July 1, 2017, continue the order of surrender, and shall further order a person restrained under this section not to purchase or receive, or attempt to purchase or receive, any firearms while the protective order is in effect.

(c) The family court shall provide a notice on all forms requesting a protective order that a person restrained under this section shall be ordered pursuant to § 11-47-5 to surrender possession of any firearms while the protective order is in effect. The form shall further provide that any person who has surrendered his or her firearms shall be afforded a hearing within fifteen (15) days of surrendering his or her firearms.

(d) Any firearm surrendered in accordance with this section to the Rhode Island state police or local police department shall be returned to the person formerly restrained under this section upon the persons request when:

(1) The person formerly restrained under this section produces documentation issued by a court indicating that the restraining order issued pursuant to this section that prohibited the person from purchasing, carrying, transporting, or possessing firearms has expired and has not been extended; and

(2) The law enforcement agency in possession of the firearms determined that the person formerly restrained under this section is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law.

(3) The person required to surrender their firearms pursuant to this section shall not be responsible for any costs of storage of any firearms surrendered pursuant to this section.

(e) The Rhode Island state police are authorized to develop rules and procedures pertaining to the storage and return of firearms surrendered to the Rhode Island state police or local police departments pursuant to this section. The Rhode Island state police may consult with the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association in developing rules and procedures.

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit, expand, or in any way modify orders issued under § 12-29-7 or § 15-5-19.

(g) Nothing in this section shall limit a defendants right under existing law to petition the court at a later date for modification of the order.

(h) The court shall immediately notify the person suffering from domestic abuse whose complaint gave rise to the protective order, and the law enforcement agency where the person restrained under this section resides, of the hearing.

(i) The person suffering from domestic abuse, local law enforcement, and the person restrained under this section shall all have an opportunity to be present and to testify when the court considers the petition.

(j) At the hearing, the person restrained under this section shall have the burden of showing, by clear and convincing evidence, that, if his or her firearm rights were restored, he or she would not pose a danger to the person suffering from domestic abuse or to any other person.

(1) In determining whether to restore a persons firearm rights, the court shall examine all relevant evidence, including, but not limited to: the complaint seeking a protective order; the criminal record of the person restrained under this section; the mental health history of the person restrained under this section; any evidence that the person restrained under this section has, since being served with the order, engaged in violent or threatening behavior against the person suffering from domestic abuse or any other person.

(2) If the court determines, after a review of all relevant evidence and after all parties have had an opportunity to be heard, that the person restrained under this section would not pose a danger to the person suffering from domestic abuse or to any other person if their firearm rights were restored, then the court may grant the petition and modify the protective order and lift the firearm prohibition.

(3) If the court lifts a persons firearms prohibition pursuant to this subsection, the court shall issue the person written notice that the person is no longer prohibited under this section from purchasing or possessing firearms while the protective order is in effect.

(k) The prohibition against possessing a firearm(s) due solely to the existence of a domestic violence restraining order issued under this section shall not apply with respect to sworn peace officers as defined in § 12-7-21 and active members of military service, including members of the reserve components thereof, who are required by law or departmental policy to carry departmental firearms while on duty or any person who is required by their employment to carry a firearm in the performance of their duties. Any individual exempted pursuant to this exception may possess a firearm only during the course of their employment. Any firearm required for employment must be stored at the place of employment when not being possessed for employment use; all other firearm(s) must be surrendered in accordance with this section.

(l) Upon motion by the plaintiff, the plaintiffs address shall be released only at the discretion of the family court judge.

(m)(1) Any violation of the protective orders in subsection (a) of this section shall subject the defendant to being found in contempt of court.

(2) The contempt order shall not be exclusive and shall not preclude any other available civil or criminal remedies. Any relief granted by the court shall be for a fixed period of time not to exceed three (3) years, at the expiration of which time the court may extend any order, upon motion of the plaintiff, for any additional time, that it deems necessary to protect the plaintiff from abuse. The court may modify its order at any time upon motion of either party.

(n)(1) Any violation of a protective order under this chapter of which the defendant has actual notice shall be a misdemeanor that shall be punished by a fine of no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Beginning July 1, 2025, said violation shall be prosecuted by an attorney appointed by the prosecuting authority who shall self-certify that they have successfully completed a specialized domestic violence prosecution training course and updated training every four (4) years thereafter, aligned with national best practices and eligible for continuing legal education credit(s) as approved by the Rhode Island Bar Association.

(2) The penalties for violation of this section shall also include the penalties as provided by § 12-29-5.

(o) Beginning July 1, 2025, said violation shall, at the initial appearance, be presented by a member of a law enforcement agency and/or prosecuted by an attorney appointed by the prosecuting authority all of whom shall self-certify that they have successfully completed a specialized domestic violence prosecution training course and updated training every four (4) years thereafter, aligned with national best practices and eligible for continuing legal education credit(s) as approved by the Rhode Island Bar Association.

(p) Actual notice means that the defendant has received a copy of the order by service or by being handed a copy of the order by a police officer pursuant to § 15-15-5(d).

(q)(1) The district court shall have criminal jurisdiction over all adult violations of this chapter.

(2) The family court shall have jurisdiction over all juvenile violations of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-22 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-22
§ 15-7-22. Penalty for violations or false statements.
Status: in_force

Every person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, or who intentionally makes any false statements with reference to the matters contained in this chapter, shall, in addition to any specific penalties provided in this chapter, upon conviction of the first offense, be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year and/or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), and of a second or subsequent offense, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding two (2) years and/or be fined an amount not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-26-3 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-26 / Section 15-26-3
§ 15-26-3. Timing of disbursement.
Status: in_force

(a) The department of administration, division of taxation, child support enforcement or its designee shall distribute all amounts payable within two (2) business days after receipt from the employer or other source of periodic income if sufficient information identifying the payee is provided. Business day is defined as a day on which state offices are open for regular business.

(b) The department of administration, division of taxation, child support enforcement or its designee may delay the distribution of collections toward disputed arrearages until the resolution of those disputed arrearages in a timely hearing before the Rhode Island family court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-4-6 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-4 / Section 15-4-6
§ 15-4-6. Release of interest.
Status: in_force

A married woman, including a minor, may bar her right of life estate created by chapter 25 of title 33 in any estate of her husband by joining with him in the deed conveying the estate, and releasing her claim to life estate created by chapter 25 of title 33, or by releasing her right of life estate by her separate deed acknowledged in the same manner as provided in § 15-4-5.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-10 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-10
§ 15-5-10. Disposal of certain real estate after filing of complaint.
Status: in_force

At any time after the filing of a complaint for divorce from bed, board, and future cohabitation, and until a decree of reconciliation has been entered, the court, upon the petition of either party seized in his or her own right of real estate in Rhode Island, after notice to the opposing party, after a hearing on the petition, may, if the court finds that justice and the best interests of the party require, enter a decree permitting the party to sell, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of the real estate free of the rights of life estates created by chapter 25 of title 33 of the opposing party. The decree shall contain a description of the real estate sufficient to identify it either by reference to a recorded plat or otherwise, and a certified copy of the decree shall be recorded in the records of land evidence of the city or town in which the real estate is located.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-11 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-11
§ 15-5-11. Verification of complaint.
Status: in_force

Every complaint shall be verified by the plaintiff, if of sound mind and of legal age to consent to marriage; otherwise, upon application to the court and after notice to the party in whose name the complaint is filed, the court may allow the complaint to be verified by a resident guardian or next friend.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-4 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-4
§ 15-7-4. Petition to adopt  Court having jurisdiction.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person residing in Rhode Island may petition the family court for leave to adopt as his or her child any person younger than him or herself and under eighteen (18) years of age, and, if desired, for a change of the childs name, but the prayer of the petition by a person having a husband or wife shall not be granted unless the husband or wife joins in the petition; provided, that upon good cause shown and a showing that the granting of the petition for adoption would be in the best interests of the minor child, the prayer of the petition may be granted although the spouse of the petitioner is not a party to the petition.

(b) The family court shall retain jurisdiction over any petition properly filed under subsection (a) when and if the petitioners become nonresidents after the petition is filed, but during the pendency of the action.

(c) Any person not a resident of Rhode Island may petition the family court for leave to adopt as his or her child any person younger than him or herself and under eighteen (18) years of age, and, if desired, for a change of the childs name, if the child is at the time of the filing of the petition in the care and custody of a governmental child placing agency, or licensed Rhode Island child placing agency, but the prayer of the petition by a person having a husband or wife shall not be granted unless the husband or wife joins in the petition.

(d) Petitions for adoptions of persons eighteen (18) years or older shall be heard by the probate court of the city or town in which the petitioners live.

(e) The department shall grant an opportunity for a fair hearing, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(12) and chapter 35 of title 42 to an individual residing outside of Rhode Island who alleges that the department denied or delayed placement of a child for adoption.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-9-1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-9 / Section 15-9-1
§ 15-9-1. Duty of parent to pay support and maintenance to the agency or person having custody of the child.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever the department of children, youth and families shall pay for the support and maintenance of any child pursuant to §§ 42-72-13 and 42-72-14, or whenever another department, agency, society, institution, or person having the charge, care, or custody of a child shall pay for the support and maintenance of the child, the court shall order either or both parents owing a duty of support to a child to pay an amount based upon a formula and guidelines adopted by an administrative order of the family court. If, after calculating support based upon court established formula and guidelines, the court, in its discretion, finds the proposed order would be inequitable to the child or either parent, the court shall make findings of fact and shall order either or both parents owing a duty of support to pay an amount reasonable or necessary for the childs support after considering all relevant factors, including, but not limited to:

(1) The financial resources of the child;

(2) The financial resources of the custodial parent;

(3) The standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not been dissolved;

(4) The physical and emotional condition of the child and his or her educational needs; and

(5) The financial resources and needs of the non-custodial parent.

(b) If it deems necessary or advisable, the court may order child support and education costs for children attending high school at the time of their eighteenth (18th) birthday and for ninety (90) days after graduation, but in no case beyond their nineteenth (19th) birthday. In addition, the court may order the support of a child with a severe physical or mental impairment to continue until the twenty-first (21st) birthday of the child.

(c) After a decree for support has been entered and upon the petition of either party, the court may review and alter its decree relative to the amount and payment of support. If the court finds that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred, the decree may be made retroactive to the date that notice of a petition to modify was given to the adverse party. In such a case the court shall set forth in its decision the specific findings of fact which show a substantial change in circumstances and why the decree should be made retroactive.

(d) Any order for child support issued by the family court shall contain a provision requiring either or both parents owing a duty of support to a child to obtain health insurance coverage for the child when such coverage is available to the parent or parents through their employment without cost or at a reasonable cost. Reasonable cost shall be defined in accordance with guidelines adopted by administrative order of the family court in conjunction with the child support guidelines.

(e) Any existing child support orders may be modified in accordance with this section unless the court makes specific written findings of fact that take into consideration the best interests of the child and conclude that a child support order or medical order would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case.

(f) In addition, the national medical support notice shall be issued with respect to all orders issued, enforced, or modified on or after October 1, 2002, in accordance with chapter 29 of this title. The notice shall inform the employer of provisions in the child support order for health care coverage for the child and of the method to implement this coverage. In lieu of the court ordering the non-custodial parent to obtain or maintain health care coverage for the child, the court may order the non-custodial parent to contribute a weekly cash amount towards the medical premium for health care coverage paid by the state of Rhode Island and/or the custodial parent. The method to determine a reasonable weekly amount shall be addressed in a family court administrative order pertaining to the child support guidelines.

(g) All support orders established or modified in the state on or after October 1, 1998, shall be recorded with the Rhode Island family court/department of administration, division of taxation child support computer enforcement system. The system maintains the official registry of support orders entered in accordance with applicable administrative orders issued by the Rhode Island family court.

(h) In any subsequent child support enforcement action between the parties, upon sufficient showing that a diligent effort has been made to ascertain the location of such a party, the court may allow for notice and service of process to be made by first class mail or by service of written notice to the most recent residential or employer address of record, as specified in the Rhode Island rules of procedure for domestic relations for the Family Court of Rhode Island.

(i) The department of children, youth, and families shall not seek child support for services to the child which are special education services as defined under state and federal law and pursuant to the regulations of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education governing the special education of students with disabilities, section two, I., 1.0-4.11 and 34 C.F.R. Part 300.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-29-1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-29 / Section 15-29-1
§ 15-29-1. Purpose.
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to set forth procedures to enforce health care coverage provisions obtained pursuant to § 15-5-16.2(d)(2) through the use of the National Medical Support Notice, subsequently referred to as the medical notice. However, the medical notice is not to be issued when the court orders an individual to contribute a weekly cash amount towards the health care coverage provided by the custodial parent or the state of Rhode Island.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-4-15 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-4 / Section 15-4-15
§ 15-4-15. Effect of coverture on adverse possession cases.
Status: in_force

In all causes of action or cases of adverse possession, no exception to the running of the statute of limitations shall be made in favor of a married woman because of her coverture.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-1-5 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-1 / Section 15-1-5
§ 15-1-5. Bigamous marriages void  Marriage of persons who are mentally incompetent.
Status: in_force

A person is prohibited from marrying if such person is:

(1) A party to another marriage; or

(2) A party to a relationship that provides substantially the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as a marriage whether entered into in this state or another state or jurisdiction and such marriage or relationship has not been finally dissolved, unless the parties to the intended marriage will be the same as the parties to such other marriage or relationship. Any marriage entered in violation of this prohibition and any marriage where either of the parties is mentally incompetent at the time of the marriage, shall be absolutely void, and no life estate created by chapter 25 of title 33 shall be assigned to any surviving spouse in consequence of the marriage.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-21-8 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-21 / Section 15-21-8
§ 15-21-8. Civil actions not precluded.
Status: in_force

(a) In any case where there has been a refusal or neglect to pay any child support or to discharge any liability in respect to child support, whether or not a levy has been made, the department, in addition to other modes of relief, may file an action in the family court.

(b) The filing of a civil action shall not preclude the department from enforcing the child support order through the use of any administrative means permitted by federal or state law.

[See §12-1-15 of the General Laws.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-16-10 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-16 / Section 15-16-10
§ 15-16-10. Duties and liabilities of withholding agent.
Status: in_force

(a) An income withholding agent shall remit to the clerk of the family court, or any other remittee as directed in the income withholding order, all amounts withheld from the income of an obligor within seven (7) days of the date the income was paid or payable to the obligor, and the income withholding agent shall specify the date and amount of each withholding included in the remittance, the social security number of the obligor, the child support account number, the employees name, and any other information as required if electronic transfer is utilized. The withholding agent may combine withheld amounts from two (2) or more obligors into a single payment, provided that the withholding agent separately identifies the individual obligors and the amount attributable to each obligor.

(b) An income withholding agent may deduct a fee of two dollars ($2.00) from the obligors remaining income for each payment made pursuant to an income withholding order under this chapter.

(c) The income withholding agent must notify the department, in writing, of the termination of the obligors employment within ten (10) days of the termination. Notice shall include the last known address of the obligor and the name and address of the obligors new employer, if known.

(d) Any withholding agent failing to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter may be punished by the family court or its magistrate for civil contempt. The court or its magistrate shall first afford the withholding agent a reasonable opportunity to purge itself of the contempt.

(e) Any withholding agent who fails or refuses to deliver income pursuant to an income withholding order issued under this chapter, when the withholding agent has had in its possession the income, shall be personally liable for the amount of the income which the withholding agent failed or refused to deliver, together with costs, interest, and reasonable attorneys fees.

(f) Any withholding agent who dismisses, demotes, disciplines, refuses to hire, or in any way penalizes an obligor on account of any income withholding order issued under this chapter shall be liable to the obligor for all damages, together with costs, interest thereon, and reasonable attorneys fees resulting from the action, and shall be subject to a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100). The withholding agent shall be required to make full restitution to the aggrieved obligor, including reinstatements and back pay.

(g) A withholding agent may be enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction from continuing any action in violation of this chapter.

(h) Compliance by a withholding agent with an income withholding order issued under this chapter operates as a discharge of the withholding agents liability to the obligor as to that portion of the obligors income affected.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-1
§ 15-5-1. Marriages void or voidable  Civil death or presumption of death.
Status: in_force

Divorces from the bond of marriage shall be decreed in case of any marriage originally void or voidable by law, and in case either party is for crime deemed to be or treated as if civilly dead, or, from absence or other circumstances, may be presumed to be actually dead.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-3-11 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-3 / Section 15-3-11
§ 15-3-11. Knowingly performing bigamous marriage.
Status: in_force

Every person authorized by law to join persons in marriage, who joins in marriage any woman or man that he or she knows to have a husband or wife living, shall be imprisoned not exceeding six (6) months or fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-24.3 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-24.3
§ 15-5-24.3. Visitation rights  Grandparents and siblings.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) The family court, upon miscellaneous petition of a grandparent for visitation rights with the petitioners grandchild, and upon notice to both parents of the child, and after a hearing on the petition, may grant reasonable rights of visitation of the grandchild to the petitioner.

(2) The court, in order to grant the petitioner reasonable rights of visitation, must find and set forth in writing the following findings of fact:

(i) That it is in the best interest of the grandchild as determined on a case-by-case basis that the petitioner is granted visitation rights with the grandchild.

In considering whether it is in the childs best interests, the court shall consider all the relevant factors including, but not limited to:

(A) The nature of the relationship between the child and the grandparent seeking visitation;

(B) The amount of time the grandparent and child spent together;

(C) The potential detriments and benefits to the child from granting visitation;

(D) The potential effect of granting visitation on the parent-child relationship;

(E) The preferences of the grandchild who is of sufficient intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference; and

(F) The reasons that the parent(s) believe that it is not in their childs best interests to have visitation with the grandparent(s);

(ii) That the petitioner is a fit and proper person to have visitation rights with the grandchild;

(iii) That the petitioner has repeatedly attempted to visit his or her grandchild during the thirty (30) days immediately preceding the date the petition was filed and was not allowed to visit the grandchild during the thirty-day (30) period as a direct result of the actions of either, or both, parents of the grandchild;

(iv) That there is no other way the petitioner is able to visit his or her grandchild without court intervention; and

(v) That the petitioner, by clear and convincing evidence, has successfully rebutted the presumption that the parents decision to refuse the grandparent visitation with the grandchild was reasonable.

(vi) The court may assess the reasonable attorneys fees incurred by the parent(s) to the grandparent(s) if the petition for visitation is denied.

(b)(1) The family court, upon miscellaneous petition of, or on behalf of, a sibling(s) for visitation rights with a minor brother(s), and/or step-brother(s), and/or sister(s), and/or step-sister(s) of the sibling(s) and upon notice to both parents of the minor, and after a hearing on the petition, may grant reasonable rights of visitation of the minor to a sibling(s).

(2) The court, in order to grant a sibling reasonable rights of visitation, must find and set forth in writing the following findings of fact:

(i) That it is in the best interest of the minor that a sibling(s) be granted visitation rights with the minor;

(ii) That the sibling(s) is a fit and proper person to have visitation rights with the minor;

(iii) That the sibling(s) was not allowed to visit the minor during the thirty-day (30) period immediately preceding the date the petition was filed as a direct result of the actions of either, or both, parents or guardians of the minor;

(iv) That there is no other way the sibling(s) is able to visit the minor without court intervention; and

(v) That the sibling(s), by clear and convincing evidence, has successfully rebutted the presumption that the parental decision to refuse the visitation with the minor was reasonable.

(c) The court may issue all necessary orders relative to the visitation rights it has granted. Once a petition has been granted, notice of any petition seeking a change in custody or visitation shall be served on the petitioner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-10-2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-10 / Section 15-10-2
§ 15-10-2. Orders for benefit of parents.
Status: in_force

Before the trial, with the consent of the defendant, or at the trial, on entry of a plea of guilty, or after conviction, the court may, in its discretion, make any orders and require any conditions for the benefit of the destitute parent that the circumstances of the defendant may require.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-4-5 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-4 / Section 15-4-5
§ 15-4-5. Acknowledgment of deeds and letters of attorney.
Status: in_force

The deed of a married woman conveying her separate interest in any lands, tenements, or hereditaments shall be acknowledged by her in the same manner as if she were single and unmarried. If any deed affecting her right of life estate created by chapter 25 of title 33 in any estate of her husband during his life is executed by attorney of the wife, the letter of attorney shall be acknowledged in the same manner as if she were single and unmarried.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-2
§ 15-5-2. Additional grounds for divorce.
Status: in_force

Divorces from the bond of marriage shall also be decreed for the following causes:

(1) Impotency;

(2) Adultery;

(3) Extreme cruelty;

(4) Willful desertion for five (5) years of either of the parties, or for willful desertion for a shorter period of time in the discretion of the court;

(5) Continued drunkenness;

(6) The habitual, excessive, and intemperate use of opium, morphine, or chloral;

(7) Neglect and refusal, for the period of at least one year next before the filing of the petition, on the part of the husband to provide necessaries for the subsistence of his wife, the husband being of sufficient ability; and

(8) Any other gross misbehavior and wickedness, in either of the parties, repugnant to and in violation of the marriage covenant.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-6-1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-6 / Section 15-6-1
§ 15-6-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter may be cited as the Uniform Divorce Recognition Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-13-4 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-13 / Section 15-13-4
§ 15-13-4. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provision of this chapter or the application of it to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-29-6 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-29 / Section 15-29-6
§ 15-29-6. Notice of termination of employment.
Status: in_force

In any case in which the above employment terminates, the employer must promptly notify the division of taxation, child support enforcement agency of the termination within ten (10) days.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-18-1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-18 / Section 15-18-1
§ 15-18-1. Legislative findings.
Status: in_force

The general assembly finds and declares that:

(1) An increasingly large percentage of children in this state live in single parent households;

(2) Almost one-half (Â½) of single parent households have income below the poverty level;

(3) In excess of forty thousand (40,000) children in the state are receiving state aid through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program;

(4) Children in families where parents are separated or divorced are at greater risk of economic deprivation than in two (2) parent families.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-2-12 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-2 / Section 15-2-12
§ 15-2-12. Recording of license information.
Status: in_force

The several town and city clerks shall record, in separate books to be kept by them for that purpose, the information furnished to them and subscribed to as provided in §§ 15-2-1  15-2-10, except as otherwise provided in these sections.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-2.1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-2.1
§ 15-7-2.1. Pre-adoption report on child placed for adoption.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any other law or regulation, in those cases where a child is placed for adoption by the department of children, youth and families or a licensed child placement agency, the agency shall provide a pre-adoption report in writing to the prospective adoptive parents as early as practicable after the filing of a termination of parental rights or direct consent adoption petition and before a prospective adoptive parent agrees to accept the child for purposes of adoption. The pre-adoptive report shall include the following information that is reasonably available within the records of the department of children, youth and families or the licensed child placement agency that is placing a child for adoption:

(1) A current medical, dental, developmental and psychological history of the child, including an account of the childs prenatal care, medical condition at birth, developmental milestones; any medical, psychological or psychiatric examination and diagnosis related to the child; any physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect suffered by the child; any developmental assessment and a record of any immunizations and health care received while the child was in foster or other care; the childs enrollment and performance in school and any special educational needs and any adjudications of waywardness and/or delinquency.

(2) If the child has undergone any genetic testing, and the agency is aware of the results, those results must be disclosed in the report to the prospective adoptive parents.

(3) If the child has been tested for HIV, and the agency is aware of the results, those results must be disclosed in the report to the prospective adoptive parents.

(4) The age, race, religion, ethnicity and general physical appearance of biological parents.

(5) The educational levels of biological parents, including any known diagnosed learning disabilities.

(6) The relationship between biological parents; the age and sex of any other children born to the biological parents and if a parent is deceased, the cause of and the age at death.

(7) Nonidentifying medical, substance abuse and mental health histories of the biological parents and siblings; the medical and mental health histories shall include drugs and medications taken by the childs biological mother during pregnancy, any known allergies, hereditary, genetic or metabolic diseases.

(8) The circumstances of any judicial order terminating the parental rights of a parent for abuse, neglect, abandonment, or other mistreatment of the child.

(9) The length of time the child has been in the care of the agency and the childs placement history.

(10) Any information necessary to determine the childs eligibility for state or federal benefits.

(11) No information provided under subsection (a) shall disclose the name, or last known address of the biological relatives.

(b) A report furnished under this section must be signed and dated by the individual who prepared the report.

(c) Any report regarding the child, furnished pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of this section may disclose the identity of providers of professional services to the child.

(d) The agency shall not be liable for the accuracy and completeness and shall be held harmless for information provided by the biological parents and others that it reasonably relies on to prepare the preadoption report.

(e) Any of the information listed in subsection (a), in the possession of the department of children, youth and families that is related to adoption proceedings completed prior to the effective date of this act [July 8, 2005] shall be supplied to the adoptive parents or an adoptee under this section, who is 18 years of age or over, upon request.

(f) If information listed in subsection (a) that was not available at the time the preadoption report was forwarded to the prospective adoptive parents becomes available prior to the adoption proceeding, the director shall prepare a supplemental written report detailing said information. If subsequent to the adoption, the biological parent or sibling contacts the agency for the purpose of sharing information about a genetic or hereditary illness, disease or condition that may affect the adoptees health, the agency shall make reasonable efforts to contact and forward the information in a manner that does not identify the birth relative, to an adoptee who is 18 or more years of age or to the adoptive parents of an adoptee who is less than 18 years of age.

(g) All information and documentation provided in accordance with subsection (a), is confidential and remains the property of the person/agency making the full disclosure until the adoption is final. If the prospective adoptive parent refuses or terminates the placement, all information and documentation provided regarding the child and his/her birth family shall be returned to the person/agency providing full disclosure. A prospective adoptive parent shall not disclose any confidential information, except as necessary to make a placement/adoption decision or to provide to professionals who are treating, assessing or educating the child.

(h) This section does not apply to a stepparent adoption, or the adoption of a child related to the petitioner by marriage, blood or adoption.

(i) Any adoptee under this section, who is 18 years of age or over shall be given the information in subsection (a)(1) upon written request.

(j) Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the voluntary exchange of identifying information between mutually consenting biological parents and adoptive parents and adoptees, 18 years of age or older.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-21-5 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-21 / Section 15-21-5
§ 15-21-5. Levy of personal property.
Status: in_force

(a) In any case where the department has perfected a lien pursuant to §15-21-4, the department may collect unpaid child support and levy upon all property as provided in this section. The department shall have the authority to issue an administrative notice of levy or administrative writ of execution to effectuate a levy under this chapter of the law. The term levy includes the power of seizure by any means authorized by law. The department may seize and sell any property that is subject to levy. Any person in possession of property upon which a lien has been imposed shall, upon demand, surrender the property to the department.

(b) A levy on property held by an organization with respect to a life insurance or endowment contract shall, without necessity for the surrender of the contract document, constitute a demand by the department for payment of the amount of the lien and the exercise of the right of the obligor to the advance of that amount. The organization shall pay the amount within ninety (90) days after service of notice of levy. The levy shall be deemed to be satisfied if the organization pays over to the department the full amount which the obligor could have had advanced to him or her, provided that the amount does not exceed the amount of the lien.

(c) Whenever any property upon which levy has been made is not sufficient to satisfy the claim of the state for which levy is made, the department may thereafter, as often as necessary, proceed to levy, with notice, upon any other personal property of the obligor liable to levy, until the amount due from him or her, together with expenses, is fully paid. In all cases, any support obligations shall be fully satisfied prior to payments for expenses.

(d) Upon demand by the department, a person who fails or refuses to surrender personal property subject to levy shall be liable in his or her own person and estate to the state in a sum equal to the value of the property not so surrendered, but not exceeding the amount of the lien, together with costs and interest, at the rate authorized for civil judgments, from the date of the levy. In addition, any person required to surrender property who fails or refuses to surrender the property without reasonable cause shall be liable for a penalty equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount recoverable. The interest or penalty incurred under this subsection shall be paid to the general fund and shall not be credited against the child support liability. Any non-obligor party aggrieved by a decision of the department may, within ten (10) days of receipt of notice of demand, request an administrative hearing with the department.

[See §12-1-15 of the General Laws.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-4-17 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-4 / Section 15-4-17
§ 15-4-17. Abolition of interspousal immunity.
Status: in_force

No cause of action shall be barred on the ground that the parties are married or were married at the time that the cause of action accrued. The common-law doctrine of interspousal immunity is explicitly and totally abrogated.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-17-5 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-17 / Section 15-17-5
§ 15-17-5. Amendment  Revocation.
Status: in_force

(a) After marriage, a premarital agreement may be amended or revoked only by a written agreement signed by the parties.

(b) The amended agreement or the revocation is enforceable without consideration.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-15-4.1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-15 / Section 15-15-4.1
§ 15-15-4.1. Return of service/alternate service.
Status: in_force

(a) The complaint and any order issued under this chapter shall be personally served upon the defendant by a member of the division of sheriffs except as provided in subsections (c), (d), and (f) of this section. Service shall be made without payment of any fee when service is made by a deputy sheriff. At the election of the plaintiff, service, pursuant to the subsection, may also be made by a certified constable authorized to serve process pursuant to § 9-5-10.1. The constable shall be entitled to receive the fee allowed by law for the service of a family court summons. Where the defendant is a minor, the complaint and any order issued under this chapter shall also be personally served upon a parent or guardian of the minor.

(b) Return of service shall be forwarded by the deputy sheriff or certified constable to the clerk of court prior to the date set down for a hearing on the complaint. If service has not been made, the deputy sheriff or constable shall indicate on the summons the reason and the attempts made to serve the defendant.

(c) At the time the return of service is sent to the clerk of the court, the deputy sheriff or certified constable shall cause a copy of the return of service to be sent to the plaintiff and to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

(d) If, at the time of the hearing on the complaint, the court determines that after diligent effort the deputy sheriff or certified constable has been unable to serve the defendant personally, the judge may order an alternate method of service designed to give reasonable notice of the action to the defendant and taking into consideration the plaintiffs ability to afford the means of service ordered. Alternative service shall include, but not be limited to: service by certified and regular mail at defendants last known address (excluding the residence which he or she has been ordered to vacate) or place of employment, leaving copies at the defendants dwelling or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion residing at the defendants dwelling or usual place of abode, or by publication in a newspaper for two (2) consecutive weeks. The court shall set a new date for the hearing on the complaint and shall extend the temporary order until that date.

(e) If the defendant appears in person before the court, the necessity for further service is waived and proof of service of that order is not necessary.

(f) If the defendant is served notice regarding the complaint and hearing, but does not appear at the hearing, the clerk of the family court will mail the defendant a copy of the resulting order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-25 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-25
§ 15-7-25. Reimbursement to adoptive parents.
Status: in_force

The state shall make funds available through the department of children, youth and families for special reimbursement to adoptive parents in matters of placement of children with disabilities or hard to place children. These funds will be disbursed in accordance with the guidelines to be promulgated by the department of children, youth and families.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-15-2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-15 / Section 15-15-2
§ 15-15-2. Filing of complaint.
Status: in_force

(a) Proceedings under this chapter shall be filed, heard, and determined in the family court of the county in which the plaintiff resides and shall be independent of divorce proceedings.

(b) Any proceedings under this chapter shall not preclude any other available civil or criminal remedies.

(c) A party filing a complaint under this chapter may do so without payment of any filing fee, but shall be required to disclose any prior or pending actions for divorce or separation.

(d) If the plaintiff has left the residence or household to avoid abuse, he or she may bring the action in the court of previous residence or the court of present residence. There shall be no minimum residence requirements for the bringing of an action under this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-16-13 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-16 / Section 15-16-13
§ 15-16-13. Registering support orders of another jurisdiction for purposes of income withholding.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) A party seeking to enforce a support order or an income-withholding order, or both, issued by a tribunal of another state may send the documents required for registering the order to a support enforcement agency of this state.

(2) Upon receipt of the documents, the support enforcement agency, without initially seeking to register the order, shall consider and, if appropriate, use any administrative procedure authorized by the law of this state to enforce an income-withholding order. If the obligor does not contest administrative enforcement, the order need not be registered. If the obligor contests the validity or administrative enforcement of the order, the support enforcement agency shall register the order.

(3) At any hearing contesting proposed income withholding based on a support order registered under this section, the registered order, accompanying sworn or certified statement, and a certified copy of an income withholding order, if any, still in effect shall constitute prima facie proof, without further proof or foundation, that the support order is valid, that the amount of current support payments and arrearages is as stated, and that the obligee or agency would be entitled to income withholding under the law of the jurisdiction which issued the support order. Once a prima facie case has been established, the obligor may only raise the defense of mistake of fact as stated in § 15-16-5.

(b) The following documentation is required for the registration of a support order of another jurisdiction:

(1) A letter of transmittal requesting registration and enforcement;

(2) Two (2) copies, including one certified copy, of all orders to be registered, including any modification of an order;

(3) A sworn statement by the party seeking registration or a certified statement by the custodian of the records showing the amount of any arrearage;

(4) The name of the obligor and, if known:

(i) The obligors address and social security number;

(ii) The name and address of the obligors employer and any other source of income of the obligor; and

(iii) A description and the location of property of the obligor in this state not exempt from execution; and

(5) The name and address of the obligee and, if applicable, the agency or person to whom support payments are to be remitted.

(c) On receipt of a request for registration, the registering tribunal shall cause the order to be filed as a foreign judgment, together with one copy of the documents and information, regardless of their form.

(d) A registered order issued in another state is enforceable in the same manner and is subject to the same procedures as an order issued by a tribunal of this state. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a tribunal of this state shall recognize and enforce, but may not modify, a registered order if the issuing tribunal had jurisdiction.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-24-4 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-24 / Section 15-24-4
§ 15-24-4. Employees obligation.
Status: in_force

On or before the effective date of employment, an employee must complete the sections of the W-4 form pertaining to the employees name, address, date of birth, social security number, signature and date of signing, and submit the form to his or her employer. If an employee is being reinstated after a lapse in pay, the employee may, but is not required to, complete a new W-4 form.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-3-7 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-3 / Section 15-3-7
§ 15-3-7. Presentation of marriage license.
Status: in_force

No minister, elder, justice, warden, or other person shall join any person in marriage until the persons to be married have presented to him or her the license named in chapter 2 of this title, and he or she has signed the certificate appended to the license.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-2
§ 15-7-2. Report, investigation, and hearing on placement of child for adoption.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever a parent or parents places a child with a person or persons, other than a father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or stepparent of the child for adoption purposes, the person or persons with whom the child has been placed for adoption shall, within fifteen (15) days of the placement, notify the department of children, youth, and families of the placement.

(b) The willful failure, neglect, or refusal of the person or persons with whom the child has been placed to make the report within fifteen (15) days shall be considered in violation of this chapter and prejudicial to the best interests of the child. The department shall, when it receives the notice or when it receives notice from any source that the person or persons with whom the child has been placed has failed, refused, or neglected to make the report within fifteen (15) days of placement, make any investigation that it deems necessary in the circumstances.

(c) The results of the investigation shall be then referred to the family court within sixty (60) days of the receipt by the department of the notice.

(d) The family court, after any notice that it deems proper to the parent or parents and the person or persons with whom the child has been placed, shall hold a hearing to determine whether the placement of the child is or is not for the best interest of the child.

(e) If the court finds that the placement is not for the best interest of the child, or is contrary to law, it shall order that the child be returned to its parent or parents or placed with the department or a licensed child placing agency or with whomsoever the court deems for the best interest of the child.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-1-1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-1 / Section 15-1-1
§ 15-1-1. Equal access to marriage.
Status: in_force

Any person who otherwise meets the eligibility requirements of chapters 15-1 and 15-2 may marry any other eligible person regardless of gender.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-1-4 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-1 / Section 15-1-4
§ 15-1-4. Marriages of kindred allowed by Jewish religion.
Status: in_force

The provisions of §§ 15-1-2 and 15-1-3 shall not extend to, or in any way affect, any marriage which shall be solemnized among the Jewish people, within the degrees of affinity or consanguinity allowed by their religion.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-1-3 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-1 / Section 15-1-3
§ 15-1-3. Incestuous marriages void.
Status: in_force

If any person intermarries within the degrees stated in § 15-1-2, the marriage shall be null and void.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-30-1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-30 / Section 15-30-1
§ 15-30-1. Legal counsel.
Status: in_force

(a) Whether acting on its own behalf or on behalf of the obligee, obligor, or child, the department of human services, office of child support services, and its attorneys serve the public interest in ensuring that children are supported by their parents. The department does not represent the interests of any individual person, and its attorneys represent only the department. An attorney-client relationship is not created between department attorneys and any person or entity other than the department of human services, office of child support services, or when acting on behalf of the department of children, youth and families pursuant to §15-9-3 or the department of human services pursuant to §15-13-2, or another state child support agency pursuant to §15-23.1-1 et seq. The obligee, obligor, and child may obtain the services offered by the department but will not be legally represented by the attorneys for the department. Nothing herein shall preclude any party from retaining the services of a private attorney to legally represent their interests. The existence or appearance of a private attorney as counsel of record for the obligee, obligor, or child does not affect the departments right to act or provide services.

The department is not required to provide a private attorney nor reimburse either the obligee, obligor, guardian or child for the services of private counsel.

(b) The department has the power of attorney to act in the name of any obligee to endorse and cash any drafts, checks, money orders, or other negotiable instruments received by the department on behalf of a child.

(c) If the department is providing IV-D services, the department must be afforded notice and an opportunity to participate as an independent party in any proceeding, relating to paternity, to establishment, enforcement or modification of a support or medical obligation, whether initiated by the obligee, the obligor, or the child.

(d) The notice must reasonably inform the department of the issues to be determined in the proceeding, the names of the parties and the child, and the identity and location of the tribunal in which the issues will be determined. The notice is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for procedures necessary under the Rhode Island rules of civil procedure to establish personal jurisdiction over the parties and department. If the department is not given notice, an agreement, judgment, decree, or order is void as to any interest of the department that is or may be affected by the agreement, judgment, decree, or order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-22 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-22
§ 15-5-22. Trial required  Collusion.
Status: in_force

No divorce from the bond of marriage shall be granted solely upon default nor solely upon admissions by the pleadings, except upon trial before the court in open session; nor shall the divorce be granted where the court is satisfied that there has been any collusion or corrupt conduct by the parties, or either of them, in regard to the proceedings to obtain the divorce.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-22-2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-22 / Section 15-22-2
§ 15-22-2. Financial institution data matches.
Status: in_force

The department of administration, division of taxation, shall enter into cooperative agreements with financial institutions further defined as any bank, savings association, federal or state credit union, benefit association, insurance company, safe deposit company, money-market mutual fund or similar entity authorized to do business in the state, to develop and operate a data match system using automated data exchanges to the maximum extent feasible on a quarterly basis, listing each noncustodial parent provided by the department in the exchange who maintains an account at the financial institution and who owes past due support in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500). The financial exchange shall include, but not be limited to, the name, address, date of birth and social security number or other taxpayer identification number, the asset description, account number and account balance and any and all information required pursuant to § 15-21-2 for the purpose of establishing an administrative lien. The financial institution shall not be liable to any person for any disclosure to the state agency, for encumbering or surrendering any assets held by the financial institution in response to a notice of lien or levy issued by the state pursuant to chapter 21 of this title, or for any other action taken in good faith to comply with the requirements of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-2-14 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-2 / Section 15-2-14
§ 15-2-14. Minimum age for marriage license.
Status: in_force

A marriage license shall only be granted to a person of full age. Attaining the age of eighteen (18) years shall be deemed full legal age pursuant to § 15-12-1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-21 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-21
§ 15-5-21. Service by publication  Jurisdiction acquired.
Status: in_force

After service of process on any petition, whether by citation or by publication, where the adverse party has no attorney of record and cannot be found for the service of citation or notice of any motion or any other matter arising in the course of the proceedings, the court may order service by publication and the service shall have the same effect as personal service within the state on the party; provided, that the service shall not, in the case of an adverse party who has not appeared either in person or by attorney, and the petition against him or her was served by publication, authorize the entry of any decree or order binding the party personally to pay any sum of money or to do any other affirmative act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-21-11 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-21 / Section 15-21-11
§ 15-21-11. Full faith and credit of liens.
Status: in_force

A lien procured by another jurisdiction, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, shall be accorded full faith and credit without the requirement of a hearing.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-24 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-24
§ 15-5-24. Support  Wage assignment procedures.
Status: in_force

(a) With respect to a support order issued, enforced, or modified on or after January 1, 1994, the income of an obligor shall be subject to immediate income withholding under chapter 16 of this title on the effective date of the order, regardless of whether support payments by the obligor are in arrears; provided, that the income of the obligor shall not be subject to immediate income withholding: (1) if a judge or magistrate of the family court finds that there is good cause not to require immediate income withholding, or (2) if the obligor and obligee (and the department in the case of an obligee subject to an assignment of support rights under § 40-6-9) enter into a written agreement or the family court enters an order which provides for an alternative agreement for the timely payment of support due under the support order. In no event shall the court order wage withholding payable to the obligee directly from any wage withholding agent.

(b) The obligor shall be given the notice by way of the pleadings or otherwise, that his or her income is subject to immediate income withholding as provided in subsection (a) of this section, that the maximum amount of income to be withheld may not exceed the limit permitted under § 303(b) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1673(b)), and that he or she may contest immediate income withholding, and assert any defenses, exceptions or exemptions to which he or she may be entitled, at a hearing before a judge or magistrate of the family court.

(c) An immediate income withholding order issued under this section shall be filed by the obligee or the department of administration, division of taxation, child support enforcement with the clerk of the family court and shall be subject to the provisions of §§ 15-16-9  15-16-12.

(d) A wage withholding made under this section shall be binding upon a wage withholding agent one week after service upon the wage withholding agent of the wage withholding by personal service or by registered or certified mail, until further order of the court. For purposes of this chapter, the term employer includes the state and federal governments and the political subdivisions of the state. The wage withholding agent shall remit to the clerk of the family court, or other designated remittee, within seven (7) days of the date of withholding, the amount withheld pursuant to the wage withholding and the wage withholding agent shall specify the date and amount of each withholding included in the remittance, the social security number of the obligor, the child support account number, the employees name and any other information as required if electronic transfer is utilized. The wage withholding agent may combine withheld amounts from two (2) or more obligors into a single payment, provided that the withholding agent separately identifies the individual obligors and the amount attributable to each obligor.

(e) The wage withholding agent may not use the wage withholding as a basis for the discharge of an employee or for any disciplinary action against the employee.

(f) The wage withholding agent must notify the clerk of the family court, in writing, of the termination of the obligor employees employment within ten (10) days of termination. Notice must include the name and address of the obligor employees new employer if known.

(g) A wage withholding under this section shall have priority over any attachment, execution, garnishment, or wage assignment unless otherwise ordered by the court. A wage withholding under this section shall not be subject to any specific or general statutory exemption or limitation prohibiting levy, execution, assignment, or attachment process or limiting the amount subject to assignment levied against the income of the obligor employee except as provided by federal law.

(h) The family court is authorized and directed to promulgate rules, regulations, and forms reasonably calculated to apprise the obligor of exemptions available to him or her under the law with respect to a family court wage withholding and the procedure for asserting these exemptions.

(i) A wage withholding agent may deduct two dollars ($2.00) from the obligors remaining income for each payment made pursuant to a wage withholding under this section to cover the wage withholding agents expenses involved in the wage withholdings.

(j) The obligor shall pay all costs involved in the wage withholdings.

(k) The justices or magistrate(s) of the family court shall enter, when appropriate, an order for payment of reasonable counsel fees for the prosecution of the wage withholdings.

(l) Any judgment or order of support issuing from a court of competent jurisdiction of any state shall have the same force and effect as if the judgment or order issued from the Rhode Island family court.

(m) For purposes of this section and §§ 15-5-25 and 15-5-26, the following definitions apply:

(1) Income includes amounts paid or payable to an obligor as:

(i) Compensation paid or payable for personal services whether denominated as wages, salary, commission, bonus, or otherwise, whether taxable or not taxable, and specifically including periodic payments pursuant to pension or retirement programs or insurance policies of any type; and

(ii) Benefit payments or other similar compensation paid or payable to the obligor by or through a department, agency, or political subdivision of the state or federal government, or by an insurance company, including unemployment compensation benefits, workers compensation benefits, and temporary disability benefits, except where garnishment or attachment of such benefit payments is prohibited by federal law.

(2) Wage withholding agent means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association, trust, federal or state agency, department, or political subdivision, paying or obligated to pay income, as defined in this subsection, to an obligor of court ordered child support.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-4-11 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-4 / Section 15-4-11
§ 15-4-11. Agent for husband  Husband as agent.
Status: in_force

The wife may act as agent or attorney of her husband, and the husband may act as the agent or attorney of his wife.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-13-3 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-13 / Section 15-13-3
§ 15-13-3. Reconsideration of support orders.
Status: in_force

(a) Every order entered by the family court providing for support of a child who at the time of entry of the order was not a recipient of or applicant for public assistance shall, in the event the child becomes the recipient of public assistance, be reconsidered de novo upon the petition of a parent or guardian of the child or the department of human services.

(b) Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall hold a hearing for the purpose of determining the amount of support to which the child is entitled from the appropriate parent. In fixing the amount of support the court shall take into account the factors set forth in § 15-13-2.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-13-3.1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-13 / Section 15-13-3.1
§ 15-13-3.1. Enforcement procedures.
Status: in_force

(a) In any proceeding brought for failure to make support payments as ordered by the court, upon a showing that the payments are more than forty-five (45) days overdue, the family court may grant an order directing that an execution issue against the wages, debts, earnings, salary, income from trust funds, or profits of the parent responsible for support for the full amount of both the arrears payments and for the satisfaction of current support and maintenance payments until further order of the family court, notwithstanding any statutory limitation on executions issued against the wages, earnings, salary, or other income of the judgment debtor, and the execution shall have priority over any other executions.

(b) No employer shall discharge an employee because his or her wages are subject to execution in accordance with this section or shall discriminate in hiring because of a potential execution.

(c) An employer, in remitting wages levied upon a judgment or order of support, may make a two dollar ($2.00) deduction to defray his or her bookkeeping expenses for each paycheck levied upon out of the funds ordered for support.

(d) In any proceeding brought for failure to make support payments, upon a showing that the payments are more than forty-five (45) days overdue, the family court may grant an order directing that an execution issue against the interest of the responsible parent in and to any real estate or personal property within the jurisdiction of the family court whether that interest is held individually or jointly with others, and the execution shall have priority over any other executions or attachments except as prescribed by applicable federal or state statutes.

(e) The execution shall attach to all real and personal property of the responsible parent when it is recorded with the recorder of deeds for the city or town in which the real estate is located or with the appropriate office for a notice with respect to personal property. The department of administration, division of taxation, child support enforcement agency, shall not be required to pay a recording fee.

(f) Whenever an execution has been filed and there is in the possession of any person having notice of the execution any property which may be subject to the execution, the property shall not be paid over, released, sold, transferred, encumbered, or conveyed unless a release or waiver signed by the director has been delivered to the person in possession or the family court has ordered the release of the execution.

(g) Any person who fails to honor an execution shall be liable to the person entitled to receive the support payments in an amount equal to the debt, which is the basis of the execution, together with costs, interest, and reasonable attorney fees.

(h) Any judgment or order for support issuing from a court of competent jurisdiction of any other state, which passes legislation similar to this chapter and provides for reciprocity to this state, shall have the same force and effect as if the judgment or order originated from the Rhode Island courts.

(i) Interest at the rate of twelve (12%) per annum on any support debt due or owing may be assessed by operation of law unless the responsible parent shall, for good cause shown, be relieved of the obligation to pay the interest by the family court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-17-3 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-17 / Section 15-17-3
§ 15-17-3. Content.
Status: in_force

(a) Parties to a premarital agreement may contract with respect to:

(1) The rights and obligations of each of the parties in any of the property of either or both of them whenever and wherever acquired or located;

(2) The right to buy, sell, use, transfer, exchange, abandon, lease, consume, expend, assign, create a security interest in, mortgage, encumber, dispose of, or otherwise manage and control property;

(3) The disposition of property upon separation, marital dissolution, death, or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any other event;

(4) The modification or elimination of spousal support;

(5) The making of a will, trust, or other arrangement to carry out the provisions of the agreement;

(6) The ownership rights in and disposition of the death benefit from a life insurance policy;

(7) The choice of law governing the construction of the agreement; and

(8) Any other matter, including their personal rights and obligations, which are not in violation of public policy or a statute imposing a criminal penalty.

(b) The right of a child to support may not be adversely affected by a premarital agreement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-7 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-7
§ 15-7-7. Termination of parental rights.
Status: in_force

(a) The court shall, upon a petition duly filed by a governmental child placement agency or licensed child placement agency, or by the birthmother or guardian of a child born under circumstances referenced in subsection (a)(2)(viii) of this section, after notice to the parent and a hearing on the petition, terminate any and all legal rights of the parent to the child, including the right to notice of any subsequent adoption proceedings involving the child, if the court finds as a fact by clear and convincing evidence that:

(1) The parent has willfully neglected to provide proper care and maintenance for the child for a period of at least one year where financially able to do so. In determining whether the parent has willfully neglected to provide proper care and maintenance for the child, the court may disregard contributions to support that are of an infrequent and insubstantial nature; or

(2) The parent is unfit by reason of conduct or conditions seriously detrimental to the child; such as, but not limited to, the following:

(i) Institutionalization of the parent, including imprisonment, for a duration as to render it improbable for the parent to care for the child for an extended period of time;

(ii) Conduct toward any child of a cruel or abusive nature;

(iii) The child has been placed in the legal custody or care of the department of children, youth and families and the parent has a chronic substance abuse problem and the parents prognosis indicates that the child will not be able to return to the custody of the parent within a reasonable period of time, considering the childs age and the need for a permanent home. The fact that a parent has been unable to provide care for a child for a period of twelve (12) months due to substance abuse shall constitute prima facie evidence of a chronic substance abuse problem;

(iv) The child has been placed with the department of children, youth and families and the court has previously involuntarily terminated parental rights to another child of the parent and the parent continues to lack the ability or willingness to respond to services that would rehabilitate the parent and provided further that the court finds it is improbable that an additional period of services would result in reunification within a reasonable period of time considering the childs age and the need for a permanent home;

(v) The parent has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances, which circumstances shall be abandonment, torture, chronic abuse, and sexual abuse;

(vi) The parent has committed murder or voluntary manslaughter on another of his or her children or has committed a felony assault resulting in serious bodily injury on that child or another of his or her children or has aided or abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit such a murder or voluntary manslaughter;

(vii) The parent has exhibited behavior or conduct that is seriously detrimental to the child, for a duration as to render it improbable for the parent to care for the child for an extended period of time; or

(viii) The parent has been convicted of sexual assault upon the birthmother and parenthood is a result of that sexual assault, which shall be established by proving that the child was conceived as a result of a conviction for any offense set forth in § 11-37-2, § 11-37-6, or § 11-37-8.1. Conception as a result of sexual assault may be proved by DNA tests and upon conviction of the putative father, and after a fact-finding hearing establishing paternity, the fathers parental rights shall be terminated by order of the court. Termination of the parental rights of the father shall include the loss of all parental rights without limitation, including the adoption of the child. The father shall also have no right to any visitation with the minor child and shall have no right to any inheritance from a child conceived as a result of sexual assault as specified;

(3) The child has been placed in the legal custody or care of the department of children, youth and families for at least twelve (12) months, and the parents were offered or received services to correct the situation that led to the child being placed; provided, that there is not a substantial probability that the child will be able to return safely to the parents care within a reasonable period of time considering the childs age and the need for a permanent home; or

(4) The parent has abandoned or deserted the child. A lack of communication or contact with the child for at least a six-month (6) period shall constitute prima facie evidence of abandonment or desertion. In the event that parents of an infant have had no contact or communication with the infant for a period of six (6) months the department shall file a petition pursuant to this section and the family court shall conduct expedited hearings on the petition.

(b)(1) In the event that the petition is filed pursuant to subsection (a)(1), (a)(2)(i), (a)(2)(iii), or (a)(2)(vii) of this section, the court shall find as a fact that, prior to the granting of the petition, such parental conduct or conditions must have occurred or existed notwithstanding the reasonable efforts that shall be made by the agency prior to the filing of the petition to encourage and strengthen the parental relationship so that the child can safely return to the family. In the event that a petition is filed pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(ii), (a)(2)(iv), (a)(2)(v), (a)(2)(vi), or (a)(4) of this section, the department has no obligation to engage in reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify a family.

(2) Any duty or obligation on the part of a licensed or governmental child placing agency to make reasonable efforts to strengthen the parental relationship shall cease upon the filing of a petition under this section. This provision shall not be construed and is not intended to limit or affect in any way the parents right to see or visit with the child during the pendency of a petition under this section.

(3) Upon the filing of a termination of parental rights petition, the agency has an affirmative duty to identify, recruit, process, and approve a qualified family for adoption or other permanent living arrangement for the child.

(c)(1) In considering the termination of rights as pursuant to subsection (a), the court shall give primary consideration to the physical, psychological, mental, and intellectual needs of the child insofar as that consideration is not inconsistent with other provisions of this chapter.

(2) The consideration shall include the following: If a child has been placed in foster family care, voluntarily or involuntarily, the court shall determine whether the child has been integrated into the foster family to the extent that the childs familial identity is with the foster family and whether the foster family is able and willing to permanently integrate the child into the foster family; provided, that in considering integrating into a foster family, the court should consider:

(i) The length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining that environment and continuity for the child; and

(ii) The reasonable preference of the child, if the court determines that the child has sufficient capacity to express a reasonable preference.

(d) If the court finds that the parental rights of the parent should be terminated as specified in subsection (a), it shall by decree duly entered, appoint some suitable person to give or withhold consent in any subsequent adoption proceedings. In the case of petitions filed by licensed or governmental child placement agencies, the court shall appoint the agency to be the sole party to give or withhold consent to the adoption of the child and further vest the agency with all rights of guardianship over the child.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the introduction of expert testimony with respect to any illness, medical or psychological condition, trauma, incompetency, addiction to drugs, or alcoholism of any parent who has exhibited behavior or conduct that is seriously detrimental to a child, to assist the court in evaluating the reason for the conduct or its probable duration.

(f) The record of the testimony of the parties adduced in any proceeding terminating parental rights to a child shall be entitled to the confidentiality provided for in § 8-10-21 and more specifically shall not be admissible in any civil, criminal, or other proceeding in any court against a person named a defendant or respondent for any purpose, except in subsequent proceedings involving the same child or proceedings involving the same respondent.

(g) In the event any child, the parental rights to whom have been finally terminated, has not been placed by the agency in the home of a person or persons with the intention of adopting the child within thirty (30) days from the date of the final termination decree, the family court shall review the status of the child and the agency shall file a report that documents the steps the agency is taking to find an adoptive family or other permanent living arrangement for the child, to place the child with an adoptive family, a fit and willing relative, a legal guardian, or in another planned permanent living arrangement, and to finalize the adoption or legal guardianship. At a minimum, this documentation shall include child specific recruitment efforts, such as the use of state, regional, and national adoption exchanges, including the electronic exchange system.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-17-11 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-17 / Section 15-17-11
§ 15-17-11. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-14.1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-14.1
§ 15-5-14.1. Automatic orders in divorce cases.
Status: in_force

(a) Upon the filing of a complaint for divorce, divorce from bed and board, legal separation, annulment, custody or visitation by the plaintiff and upon service of the petition and summons of the defendant or upon waiver and acceptance of service by the parties, the automatic orders shall be effective with regard to the plaintiff upon the signing of the complaint and with regard to the defendant upon service. A copy of the automatic order shall be served with the summons and complaint.

(b) Neither party shall sell, transfer, encumber, conceal, assign, remove or in any way dispose of, without the consent of the other party in writing, or without an order of the court, any property, individually or jointly held by the parties, except in the usual course of business or for customary and usual household expenses or for reasonable attorneys fees in connection with this action. Nothing in this section shall be construed to create liability against or affect the validity of the title to real estate of any purchaser of real estate for value when the purchaser acts in good faith and without actual knowledge of the courts order.

(c) Neither party shall incur any unreasonable debts including, but not limited to, further borrowing against any credit line secured by the family residence, further encumbrance of any assets, or unreasonably using credit cards or cash advances against credit or bank cards. Nothing in this section shall be construed to create liability against the creditor under the terms of the original agreement when the creditor acts in good faith and without actual knowledge of the courts order.

(d) Neither party shall permanently remove the minor child or children from the state of Rhode Island without the written consent of the other party or an order of the court.

(e) Neither party shall cause the other party or the children of the marriage to be removed from any medical, hospital and/or dental insurance coverage, and each party shall maintain the existing medical, hospital, and dental insurance coverage in full force and effect.

(f) Neither party shall change the beneficiaries of any existing life insurance policies, and each party shall maintain the existing life insurance, automobile insurance, homeowners or renters insurance policies in full force and effect.

(g) If the parties are living together on the date of service of these orders, neither party may deny the other party use of the current primary residence of the parties, whether it be owned or rented property, without court order. This provision shall not apply if there is a prior, contradictory court order.

(h) If the parties share a child or children, a party vacating the family residence shall notify the other party or the other partys attorney, in writing, within forty-eight (48) hours of such move, of an address where the relocated party can receive communication. This provision shall not apply if there is a prior, contradictory court order.

(i) If the parents of the children live apart during the dissolution proceeding, they shall assist their children in having contact with both parties, which is consistent with the habits of the family, personally, by telephone, and in writing unless there is a prior court order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-13-3.3 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-13 / Section 15-13-3.3
§ 15-13-3.3. Release of execution.
Status: in_force

Any person or the director may release or discharge an execution upon receipt of any other security that the holder of the execution shall deem satisfactory.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-12 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-12
§ 15-5-12. Domicile and residence requirements.
Status: in_force

(a) No complaint for divorce from the bond of marriage shall be granted unless the plaintiff has been a domiciled inhabitant of this state and has resided in this state for a period of one year next before the filing of the complaint; provided, that if the defendant has been a domiciled inhabitant of this state and has resided in this state for the period of one year next before the filing of the complaint, and is actually served with process, the requirement of this subsection as to domicile and residence on the part of the plaintiff is deemed satisfied and fulfilled. The residence and domicile of any person immediately prior to the commencement of his or her active service as a member of the armed forces or of the merchant marine of the United States, or immediately prior to his or her absence from the state in the performance of services in connection with military operations as defined in subsection (c) of this section, shall, for the purposes of this section, continue to be his or her residence and domicile during the time of his or her service and for a period of thirty (30) days after this. Testimony to prove domicile and residence may be received through the ex parte affidavit of one witness.

(b) Every word importing the masculine gender only shall be construed in this section to extend to and include females as well as males.

(c) The term services in connection with military operations shall be construed in this section to include persons serving with the American Red Cross, the Society of Friends, the Womens Auxiliary Service Pilots, and the United Service Organizations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-2-1.1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-2 / Section 15-2-1.1
§ 15-2-1.1. Statewide electronic marriage license system.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 15-2-1, at such time as the director of health adopts and implements a statewide electronic marriage license issuance and record registration system, the license may be obtained from the clerk in any city or town.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-15 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-15
§ 15-5-15. Orders as to notice.
Status: in_force

Whenever any petition for divorce has been filed or is pending in the family court, and the court is of the opinion that sufficient notice of the pendency of the petition has not, from any cause, been given to the adverse party, the court may order notice or further notice to the adverse party to be given in the manner that the court may prescribe.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-18 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-18
§ 15-7-18. Denial of petition  Order as to custody of child.
Status: in_force

(a) Upon hearing before the family court on any petition for adoption, if it finds that the petition for adoption is not for the best interest of the child and denies the petition, the court shall have the power to order the child returned to the person, persons, or licensed agency legally entitled to custody.

(b) The failure of a person having the physical control of the child to place the child in accordance with the order of the family court shall constitute contempt which may be punished by the court by imprisonment in the adult correctional institutions until such time as he or she purges himself or herself.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-17 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-17
§ 15-5-17. Change of name.
Status: in_force

Any person, to whom a divorce from the bond of marriage is decreed, shall, upon request, be authorized by the decree to change their name, notwithstanding that there may be children born of the marriage, and subject to the same rights and liabilities as if their name had not been changed. This statute is in addition to, and not in abrogation of, the common law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-5.1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-5.1
§ 15-7-5.1. Contact preference form information.
Status: in_force

Upon providing consent to an adoption, the biological parent(s) shall be informed that, consistent with § 23-3-15(g)(1), an adoptee may obtain a non-certified copy of his/her unaltered, original certificate of birth upon his/her eighteenth birthday, and that the birth parent is allowed and authorized to file a contact preference form with the division of vital records as provided in § 23-3-15(g)(2).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-13-2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-13 / Section 15-13-2
§ 15-13-2. Setting of support for children receiving public assistance.
Status: in_force

(a) If the statement appended to the petition indicates that any child of the marriage is a recipient of or applicant for public assistance, a hearing shall be held as promptly as possible to determine the amount of support to which each child is entitled from the appropriate parent. The department of human services shall be given notice of the hearing and shall appear at the hearing for the purpose of assisting the court in fixing the amount of support. In the absence of the consent of the parties and agreement of the department of human services, the court shall not enter an order providing for support without conducting a hearing.

(b) In fixing the amount of support, which the parent shall be ordered to pay, the court shall take into account the following factors:

(1) All earnings, income, and resources of the parent including real and personal property;

(2) The earnings potential of the parent;

(3) The reasonable necessities of the parent;

(4) The needs of the child for whom support is sought;

(5) The existence and needs of other dependents of the parent; and

(6) Any other factors, which bear upon the needs of the child and the ability of the parent to provide financial support of those needs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-13-1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-13 / Section 15-13-1
§ 15-13-1. Determination of children receiving public assistance.
Status: in_force

The party commencing an action seeking a divorce from the bond of marriage or divorce from bed and board or an order pursuant to § 15-5-19 shall, at the time the proceeding is begun, append to the petition a statement containing the names of all children of the marriage and their ages and stating whether any of the children are at that time recipients of or applicants for public assistance.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-4-2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-4 / Section 15-4-2
§ 15-4-2. Receipt of property and release of debts by married woman.
Status: in_force

The sole and separate receipt, order, or discharge of the wife for the payment and delivery to her, or to any person upon her order, of her own property, or the rents and profits of her property, including money on deposit in any savings bank or institution for savings, or other banking institution, and for the payment of any debt or damage to her belonging from any person or corporation, whether secured by mortgage or otherwise, shall be a sufficient discharge for it; and she may, in her own name or by her own separate deed, discharge any such mortgage or security.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-26-4 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-26 / Section 15-26-4
§ 15-26-4. Change in payee.
Status: in_force

In cases in which support is assigned to the state pursuant to § 40-6-9 and where there is an existing child support order made payable to the obligee, after notice to the obligor and obligee, the state collection and disbursement unit and/or any other state or federal agency taking action to establish or enforce a child support or medical order shall direct the obligor or other payer through a wage withholding order to change the payee to the appropriate instate or interstate government entity without the necessity of a court order or a hearing relative to the child support order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-17-2 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-17 / Section 15-17-2
§ 15-17-2. Formalities.
Status: in_force

(a) A premarital agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties.

(b) It is enforceable without consideration.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-3.1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-3.1
§ 15-5-3.1. Divorce on grounds of irreconcilable differences.
Status: in_force

(a) A divorce from the bonds of matrimony shall be decreed, irrespective of the fault of either party, on the ground of irreconcilable differences which have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage.

(b) In any pleading or hearing for divorce under this section, allegations or evidence of specific acts of misconduct shall be improper and inadmissible, except for the purpose of making a determination pursuant to §§ 15-5-16 and 15-5-16.1, or where child custody is in issue and the evidence is relevant to establish that parental custody would be detrimental to the child, or at a hearing where it is determined by the court to be necessary to establish the existence of irreconcilable differences.

(c) Upon hearing of an action for divorce under this section, the acts of one party shall not negate the acts of the other nor bar the divorce decree.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-10-1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-10 / Section 15-10-1
§ 15-10-1. Penalty for unreasonable neglect of destitute parents.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person, above the age of eighteen (18) years, who unreasonably neglects or refuses to provide for the support and maintenance of his or her parent, whether father or mother, residing in this state, when his or her parent through misfortune, and without fault of his or her own, is destitute of means of sustenance and unable by reason of old age, infirmity, or illness to support and maintain himself or herself, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200), or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both a fine and imprisonment.

(b) No neglect or refusal shall be deemed unreasonable as to a child who, during his or her minority, was not reasonably supported by the parent, if the parent was charged with the duty to do so, nor as to any child who, being one of two (2) or more children, has made proper and reasonable contribution toward the support of his or her destitute parent.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-16-11 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-16 / Section 15-16-11
§ 15-16-11. Duration  Modification or revocation of order.
Status: in_force

(a) An income withholding order issued pursuant to this chapter shall remain in full force and effect until modified or revoked.

(b) The order may be modified or revoked by the court upon application and for good cause shown, provided that the payment by the obligor of all support arrearages shall not be the sole basis for modification or revocation of the income withholding order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-3-5 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-3 / Section 15-3-5
§ 15-3-5. Officials empowered to join persons in marriage.
Status: in_force

Every ordained clergy or elder in good standing; every justice of the supreme court, superior court, family court, workers compensation court, district court or traffic tribunal; the clerk of the supreme court; every clerk, administrative clerk, general chief clerk, or administrator of the supreme court, superior court, family court, district court, or traffic tribunal; magistrates, special or general magistrates of the superior court, family court, traffic tribunal or district court; administrative clerks of the district court; administrators of the workers compensation court; every former justice or judge and former administrator of these courts; every former chief clerk of the district court; every former clerk, administrative clerk, or general chief clerk of a superior court; the secretary of the senate; elected clerks of the general assembly; any former secretary of the senate; any former elected clerk of the general assembly who retires after July 1, 2007; judges of the United States appointed pursuant to Article III of the United States Constitution; bankruptcy judges appointed pursuant to Article I of the United States Constitution; and United States magistrate judges appointed pursuant to federal law, may join persons in marriage in any city or town in this state; and every justice and every former justice of the municipal courts of the cities and towns in this state and of the police court of the town of Johnston and the administrator of the Johnston municipal court, while he or she is serving as an administrator, and every probate judge and every former probate judge may join persons in marriage in any city or town in this state, and wardens of the town of New Shoreham may join persons in marriage in New Shoreham. In addition to the foregoing, the governor shall designate, upon application, any person eighteen (18) years or older to solemnize a particular marriage on a particular date and in a particular city or town, and may for cause at any time revoke such designation. In the case of persons so designated by the governor, the secretary of state shall promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement and carry out the provisions of this section. The secretary of state shall issue a certificate of designation upon payment of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for applications delivered by mail, facsimile, or hand. All applications submitted electronically shall pay a fee of twenty dollars ($20.00). Upon payment, a certificate of designation shall be issued within twenty-one (21) days. The certificate shall expire upon completion of the solemnization. The fees collected under this section shall be deposited into the general fund.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-16-4 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-16 / Section 15-16-4
§ 15-16-4. Income withholding agency.
Status: in_force

The division of taxation within the department of administration is designated as the state income withholding agency for all income withholding orders issued or registered in Rhode Island and shall have all powers, duties, and responsibilities to establish and administer income withholding in accordance with this chapter, and is further authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regulations that it deems necessary to implement the provisions and purposes of this chapter; provided, that any rule or regulation affecting the duties and responsibilities of the family court shall be made with the concurrence of the chief judge of the family court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-24-1 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-24 / Section 15-24-1
§ 15-24-1. Purpose.
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to enhance the enforcement of support obligations by requiring employers to report all new hires or rehires effective October 1, 1997, by establishing a state directory of new hires to be reported to a national directory of new hires, to establish procedures for reporting and penalties for failure to report, in accordance with title IV, part D, § 454 of the Federal Social Security Act, 42 USC § 654, and as defined in § 15-24-2 of this chapter. This chapter shall be construed liberally to effect this purpose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-18-5 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-18 / Section 15-18-5
§ 15-18-5. Reports and recommendations.
Status: in_force

The commission shall report to the general assembly at least every two (2) years its findings and the results of its studies, and shall make such recommendations to the general assembly as it deems advisable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-30 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-5 / Section 15-5-30
§ 15-5-30. Custody of domestic companion animals  Pets.
Status: in_force

(a) In awarding sole possession or ownership of a domestic companion animal in a divorce or separation proceeding, the court shall consider the best interest of the animal and shall consider, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) Which party owned the animal first or whether they purchased or acquired the animal together following marriage;

(2) Which party assumed most of the responsibility for tending to the animals needs including, but not limited to, feeding, walking, grooming, and veterinarian visits;

(3) Which party spent more time on a regular basis with the animal;

(4) What living arrangement is in the best interest of the animal in question;

(5) Who presently wants sole possession or ownership and the proximity of the parties to one another to enable shared custody; and

(6) Whether there are children involved in caring for the animal and the nature of their attachment to the animal, including consideration of which parent has custody of the children, and whether it is in the best interests of the children to keep the animal in their domicile for care and affection.

(b) In awarding joint possession of a domestic companion animal, the court shall consider, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) How long the animal will stay with each party to the animal possession determination;

(2) How veterinary visits and costs shall be handled;

(3) Who shall be responsible for basic needs of the animal including, but not limited to, food, toys, pet sitting, and daycare expenses while the animal is in each partys home; and

(4) Any additional criteria the court determines relevant to the care and possession of the animal.

(c) Either party to a divorce or separation proceeding pursuant to this chapter may petition the court in a form prescribed by the court for the temporary allocation of sole or joint possession of and responsibility for the companion animal jointly owned by the parties, and at any time prior to the courts decision, the parties may also enter into an agreement allocating the sole or joint ownership or responsibility for the companion animal.

(d) If the court finds that a companion animal of the parties is a marital asset, it shall allocate the sole or joint ownership of and responsibility for a companion animal of the parties. In issuing an order under this subsection, the court shall take into consideration the well-being of the companion animal under the standards set forth in this section.

(e) As used in this section, companion animal means a domesticated animal or pet and shall not include assistance animals (also called service animals), which are defined as any animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-24-9 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-24 / Section 15-24-9
§ 15-24-9. Departments obligation.
Status: in_force

The department must use information collected pursuant to this chapter to prevent tax evasion, fraud in financial assistance, benefits, or loan programs administrated by agencies including, but not limited to, the department of labor and training and the department of human services, and to assist the IV-D agency in locating absent parents and establishing, enforcing, and modifying child support orders.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-7-15 — RI Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15-7 / Section 15-7-15
§ 15-7-15. Decree of change of name.
Status: in_force

If, in a petition for the adoption of a child, a change of the childs name is requested, the court, upon decreeing the adoption, may also decree the change of name and grant a certificate for the name change.