Common Issues Surrounding Divorce:
The marital home
minor children
child support
marital debts
retirement accounts
bank accounts
investments
vehicles
division of property
alimony (spousal support)
pre-marital assets
prenuptial agreements
I want a divorce - what to do next
The first thing you should do is contact a dedicated divorce attorney in Warwick, Rhode Island, Nappa Law LLC, to make sure you are moving forward properly. To get divorced in Rhode Island you must have been a resident for one year before filing for divorce in the Family Court.
Sometimes a marriage just does not work and unfortunately, significant number of marriages end in divorce. Even if both of you want to end the marriage it can be a stressful, difficult, and guilt-ridden experience. If you are at the point of considering divorce, you should seek counsel prior to filing for divorce to make sure you are educated in the process, know what you may be entitled to, and what your next steps should be.
Schedule a free consultation with Nappa Law LLC and do not go through this process alone. We will work together to get you through this extremely difficult time with understanding and compassion. At Nappa Law LLC you will be engaged in the process to ensure that you are heard, your needs are met, and you have the support you need. Let us do the heavy lifting for you so you can focus on the next steps for a better tomorrow.
How long does it take to get divorced in Rhode Island?
The goal is to get through this process as quickly but to make sure you are thorough to ensure all your rights are protected. Rhode Island has instituted a two phase divorce for uncontested or “nominal” divorce. For uncontested divorce in Rhode Island the first hearing will be around 75 days after filing your complaint for divorce. There are a number of issues surrounding divorce but if there is an agreement made prior to your first hearing the Family Court can grant your divorce at the first hearing. However, you are not divorced yet!
After the court grants your “nominal” divorce you enter the second phase which is the mandatory waiting period. The waiting period is 90 days for couples that were not separated for more that two years. If the couple was living “separate and apart” the three month waiting period does not apply. Remember, your divorce is not final until the final order is entered after your waiting period is complete.
For couples who cannot agree or have a Contested Divorce in Rhode Island there will likely be a series of conferences between hearings that can span across quite some time until there is agreement on all marital issues. Either way, Nappa Law LLC can help you bare the burden that comes with any type of divorce.
Property Division
Property division can become a complicated issue. Not all property is automatically divided in half when a divorce is granted because Rhode Island is not a community property state. Judges will consider what is fair to reach an “equitable distribution” of your assets. Contributions during the marriage, needs of the parties, and even marital misconduct play a role in determining the outcome of an equitable distribution of property and assets.
Alimony
In Rhode Island, Alimony is also known as spousal support. There are many factors that the Family Court will consider when making a decision on spousal support. Some of those factors are length of the marriage, education of the parties, ability to earn future income, and more. Let Nappa Law advocate for you so that you can move forward with the support you deserve.
Custody and Child Support
To learn more about Child Support and Child Custody click here!