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My brother passed away last year, and he had no beneficiary listed on his life insurance, so it goes to the next of kin, which would be me and my two brothers. He had no children and was never married. I hired a lawyer to help me obtain a letter of appointment, which I have received. However, my... View More 
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answered on Mar 18, 2025
When a life insurance policy has no beneficiary designation the terms of the policy will often require that the proceeds of the life insurance go through probate court. In probate court it is required for the person appointed (the probate administrator) to notify heirs at law and any potential... View More
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answered on Jun 20, 2024
Yes. You can be sued and if the court finds that you owe the money then the court can enter judgment against you to pay the money. The court can also order interest, Attorneys fees and court costs to be paid by you, if the court find that is warranted. But, if your income is all from public... View More
If I inherited property during marriage would he be able to come for that as well
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answered on Jan 1, 2024
Custody arrangements and other issues relating to the best interests of children are always modifiable. The equitable distribution of property in divorce is usually done once in the divorce and that’s it. Exceptions: if the inherited property was not disclosed in the divorce then maybe someone... View More
If I inherited property during marriage would he be able to come for that as well
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answered on Jan 1, 2024
In Rhode Island, property acquired by inheritance is generally considered separate property in a divorce, as opposed to marital property which is subject to division. If you inherited property during your marriage, it is typically not included in the marital estate for division purposes, provided... View More
They hired a company to repair their roof. During the repair, they found the wood was rotted. They couldn't go on to the next step because we were told that they had to run it through the insurance company. They put a tarp on the roof which I assume it wasn't not secure enough. We had a... View More
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answered on Dec 21, 2023
If the insurance money was sent for the repairs to pay for the repairs that the contractor is doing pursuant to a budget that they submitted to the insurance company, then yes, you have to give the money to them in order to keep them under the obligation to finish the work. If there is a problem... View More
I have a Judgement of Civil Liability dated May 2023, since she didn't make all her payments in the allotted time, yet I have not been able to find her to enforce it. I have recently learned she passed away. Am I able to put a lien on her estate?
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answered on Nov 20, 2023
In Rhode Island, if a debtor owing restitution passes away, the debt becomes a claim against their estate. Since you have a Judgement of Civil Liability, you have a legal basis to pursue this claim.
To enforce the judgment, you should file a claim with the executor or administrator of the... View More
My partner and I have a verbal agreement with my parents to live in a house they own, with us paying the mortgage with the intention of buying it from them in a few years. The agreement states that my parents can visit but cannot stay more than two weeks at a time. Since we moved in November 2024,... View More
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answered on Jun 12, 2025
Your situation involves complex legal issues because you're essentially tenants with a rent-to-own arrangement, but your landlords (parents) are violating the occupancy terms of your verbal agreement. The good news is that your text messages documenting the agreement, including the two-week... View More
I am trying to find out the end results of my civil court case. I have a letter with a number on it but no longer possess the document that the judge sent to me. When I visited the court, they informed me that I need a document number to access information. Although I have reached out to legal... View More
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answered on Jun 12, 2025
What you’re going through sounds incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re just trying to understand the outcome of your own case. Even without a document number, you still have a right to access public records for your civil court case in Rhode Island. If you can provide the court with... View More
I'm seeking legal advice for my boyfriend, who is in prison after being falsely accused of a serious crime. Although found innocent at trial, he is serving a 4-year sentence for intimidation of a witness due to a call made to the accuser. He believes police ignored evidence from his phone that... View More
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answered on Jun 11, 2025
It’s heartbreaking to see someone you care about go through something so painful, especially when they believe they've been wronged by the system. Even though your boyfriend was found innocent of the initial accusation, the conviction for intimidation of a witness complicates things. Civil... View More
I moved into a home in Rhode Island in November 2024 under a verbal agreement with my partner's parents, who own the house. According to our agreement, we pay the mortgage, and they would reside in a separate home. However, my partner's mother has returned and refuses to leave, claiming... View More
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answered on May 31, 2025
You’re in a tough situation, but Rhode Island law does recognize some verbal rental agreements as valid, especially if you can show proof of payment and the details of your arrangement. Your financial records, messages, and any communications about your agreement can help establish the terms you... View More
In Rhode Island, I was incarcerated for over three years without any income, yet I continued to receive monthly child support bills during my time in jail. The child support order was active before and continued while I was in prison. Do I have to pay these amounts, and is there a way to modify or... View More
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answered on May 14, 2025
In Rhode Island, child support doesn’t automatically stop when someone is incarcerated. If no motion to modify the order was filed while you were in prison, the amount continued to build each month as if you were still earning income. That’s likely why you received monthly bills despite having... View More
I had a tummy tuck surgery on December 27, 2023, and experienced complications from the start, including swelling and issues with my belly button. Despite raising concerns, the surgeon insisted everything was fine and later treated my belly button without informing me. I had to undergo ultrasounds... View More
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answered on May 14, 2025
You have a civil claim for medical malpractice. For surgeries performed in Rhode Island there is a three-year statute of limitations, meaning that a claimant has to file a case in court within three years, otherwise they cannot move forward on it. You've got time but it's important that... View More
I am the custodial parent involved in ongoing legal proceedings regarding child support arrears amounting to $50,000 by the non-custodial parent. The court previously ordered the non-custodial parent to stay current in child support payments, but they only paid for three months due to wage... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
In Rhode Island, home confinement as an alternative to other consequences like jail time for child support arrears is not automatically granted and typically depends on the specific circumstances of the case. A non-custodial parent may be considered for home confinement if they can demonstrate... View More
I am trying to understand the criminal implications of the theft of cremated human remains. My 23-year-old son, who passed away from a fatal heart attack, was residing in a group home. After his death, the directors of the group home were given his cremated remains in a sealed container. However,... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
In Rhode Island, the theft of cremated remains could potentially be considered a criminal act, as it involves the unauthorized taking of property, especially if the remains were meant to be returned to the legal next of kin. While the law may not specifically address cremated remains, taking... View More
I took my vehicle to Firestone for a state emissions inspection on 9/1/2023, and I have a paid invoice that lists the inspection and sticker. On 3/22/2025, I was pulled over because my registration was suspended due to no inspection record at the RI DMV, leading to my car being towed and plates... View More
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answered on Apr 11, 2025
That sounds like a really frustrating and costly situation, especially since you relied on Firestone to perform a state-required service and it directly led to legal trouble and your car being towed. If they charged you for a state inspection and there’s no record at the DMV—no pass, no fail,... View More
I am 15 years old and have a joint bank account with my dad. A few months ago, around $429, which is basically all my money, was taken from my account for rent. My dad is the joint account holder, and despite having bank statements on my phone showing the transaction, my parents denied taking the... View More
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answered on Apr 8, 2025
It’s really tough when you feel like your money is taken without your consent, especially when you’re not getting clear answers. Since you and your dad are joint account holders, it’s important to remember that both of you have access to the account and can make transactions. However, it’s... View More
I am in Rhode Island, and my ex, who was verbally and emotionally abusive, obtained a protective order against me. This was due to the number of emails I sent him in anxiety, stress, and sadness in response to his initial email, which the judge saw as harassment, despite no threats being made.... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
You have the right to appeal the order if you believe it was unfairly granted. Appeals must typically be filed shortly after the order is granted, so consulting with a lawyer quickly is important. Many Rhode Island attorneys offer free initial consultations to discuss your options.... View More
Renters insurance doesn't cover flooding or Ground water. although water recedes the mildew smell which may be mold has made it uninhabitable. I have not slept there since Dec 23 2023 as it took them 6 days to respond to my call I've been paying hotels out of pocket and have no means to... View More
answered on Jan 18, 2024
A Rhode Island attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. If their response is in compliance with the terms of the policy, it isn't necessarily "Bad Faith," one of the posted categories - it might be more of a coverage issue. If it should be a covered loss... View More
answered on Nov 7, 2022
Not sure by what you mean: "caught in the law in Indonesia" or who you may be referring to as "the team." Generally speaking, only counsel licensed in each state, country, or jurisdiction may practice law in that state, territory, or country, unless granted special admission by the particular court.
answered on Dec 6, 2021
This will most likely be governed by the agreement that was made by the storage company. It may have been posted or written in a contract you signed when you delivered the goods for storage.
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