Get free answers to your Child Custody legal questions from lawyers in your area.

answered on Feb 5, 2025
Yes, you can take your daughter and leave. The police will not stop you. The police will say that custody is a civil matter that must be resolved in Family Court. You can file a case in Family Court to get a determination of paternity, custody, child support and parenting time. The court's... View More
He is a narcissist

answered on Oct 30, 2024
There is a Guide and File portal on the Family Court section of the Rhode Island Judiciary's website. If you are trying to represent yourself then you can try to commence a case using the Guide and File and follow its instructions. Hiring a lawyer would be a good idea though.
As part of the divorce, my ex-wife declared that our daughter couldn't stay overnight with me when there is an adult female there.
The divorce was long and drawn out over many years and I reluctantly agreed. This is now part of our divorce agreement.
I have been dating the... View More

answered on Jun 18, 2024
The challenge you face is that you agreed to what the agreement says and it is still enforceable against you. But the opportunity here is: what exactly does it say? Look at the wording. And, if the wording is really as disadvantageous as you say it is, then next: the agreement can always be... View More
If court gets involved, can a judge say the father can’t take his kids anymore on visitation or overnights because he now shares a home with his girlfriend?

answered on Jan 23, 2024
Usually a mother cannot prevent a father from having visitation overnight at his new girlfriend‘s house where he now lives. If there were a provision of the divorce agreement that prohibits this then the court might pay attention to that. If there is something about the girlfriend or the house or... View More
She won't let me have my daughter where I live. She's given me no reason

answered on Feb 11, 2025
No, she cannot dictate where. You would need to proceed in court in order to compel her to cooperate with the present court order. The court will order her to comply unless there is a big problem with where you live or who you live with.
now a week later she says he said he cant fire her and will be representing her this week when i have to appear for family court seems wrong what can i do i don't have a lawyer either?

answered on Sep 20, 2023
It is unethical for a lawyer to try to start a relationship with a client during a child custody case or child support case. You can file a written complaint about this with the disciplinary board. Here is some information about that:... View More

answered on Aug 26, 2023
It is not legally required, no, unless you agreed in your divorce that you would. Often in marital settlement agreements the parties will promise to keep each other informed about where the child is staying and with whom. Even without an agreement it is customary that parents will give each other... View More

answered on Apr 25, 2023
Retaining competent representation would be your best path to avoid procedural problems.
There is a RI dcyf case for previous children but the baby was removed for lack of housing in RI. Mother had housing in MA.
The child is my husband 13 year old nephew. His mother abandoned him years ago due to her being mentally ill and then his father passed away so now he has no guardian but lives with us.

answered on Nov 2, 2022
You and your husband are well advised to speak with your friendly local family law practitioner in private to explore your options to continue caring for this child. Options to explore may include adoption and/or guardianship.
Hello, My childs mother has been charged with 3 counts of felony child neglect and abuse. However, the court has awarded her unsupervised visits, despite me being in fear of my childs safety. What are my child's rights? Why is he being forced to be with his abuser in an unsupervised setting?

answered on Sep 1, 2022
Something seems amiss here. Did you bring all of this to your attorney's attention and/or file the appropriate motions to ensure the child is protected? From the way you present these facts, it would be likely that the state would be involved also through DCYF. Bring your concern's to... View More
my son was inpatient at a psychiatric hospital for trying g to commit suicide.he told the drs he is being sexually abused by his biological father. There is no a pending investigation open with dcyf due to this information. The biological father will be here in a few days to pick him up. How can I... View More

answered on Apr 8, 2022
To make DCYF aware of the situation call 1800RICHILD. It is rather peculiar that the mandated reporters at the hospital did not make this report. Perhaps they did not have this information.
Wondering if I should advise the party to submit or leave it be as it’s their responsibility.

answered on Dec 6, 2021
Likely yes, especially if they appear, assuming service was proper.

answered on Nov 7, 2021
The is no law or automatic mandate that requires the noncustodial parent to meet the custodial parent’s romantic interest before the child is permitted to be in the presence of the romantic interest. Sometimes, the details regarding when children will meet a romantic interest of a parent are... View More
And we have a son together will court make me pay child support even thou we’re together in a relationship???? Why would we need to go to court if we’re together just because living upstairs n down stairs apartment...

answered on May 10, 2021
If you're in a separate household the Rhode Island Family Court could order you to pay child support. Usually, it's because the other parent or the state on behalf of the other parent is requesting it.
The mother of my child is on state help (section 8/neighborhood health etc.). The state of RI on her behalf came after me to provide the health insurance for the child through my job, which I did. Now the child support was never adjusted taking insurance into consideration. Am I able to have the... View More

answered on May 8, 2021
I don't think the state will do that for you but you can ask the Rhode Island Family Court to make the change in placement and they will do so if it is in the best interests of the child. In addition, if you have the child half the time or close to half the time, you could ask the court to use... View More

answered on May 6, 2021
Probably not. If you are in Dorchester and the case is in Rhode Island then you can't be made to go from Dorchester to testify in Rhode Island. Usually there is a subpoena that is served on you. If it were served upon you in Rhode Island then that's one thing, but if it were served on you... View More

answered on Apr 5, 2021
Consult with an attorney to explore your options. If you have a child in common, it is important to sort out custody and support issues soonest.
Theres no physical proof but friends and neighbors as well as myself have seen it first hand.

answered on Mar 31, 2021
Begin by speaking with your child about anything you believe might be a harm to him or her. Follow up with the child's father. Try to avoid phrasing it as blame and encourage him to focus on what the child needs. If that does not work then consider a change to the schedule. If there is no... View More
My daughter has been with me for summer visitation since june14th. I have concerns about her safety with her mother so I haven't returned her to her mother. Today her mother filed an emergency court motion and the judge ordered me to bring her back and gave us a court date of August 18th.... View More

answered on Jul 24, 2020
You must comply with the court's order. There is no excuse to fail to do so. If you feared so much for you child's safety, you should have filed your own motion, requesting the court to order you not to return your daughter to her mother. If your concern is so great and your daughter is... View More
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