Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers | Affordable RI Divorce Lawyer Christopher A. Pearsall

RI Child Custody Question - I'm the Custodial Parent. Can my ex stop me from moving out of RI?

Physical Child Custody Question: I have sole physical custody of my two children and we share joint legal custody. We have been divorced for three years . I currently live in Lincoln, RI and would like to buy a home in Franklin, MA. It is 17 miles away and a 25-30 minute drive. Can the father of my children prevent me from moving such a short distance? There is nothing in our divorce decree that addresses this issue. He currently lives across the street from me and does not want to drive 25 minutes to pick them up or drop them off. I have agreed to meet him half way for visitation but he still has contacted a lawyer. Does he have a valid case?

Rhode Island Custody Lawyer Answers: 

Yes, your ex-husband can validly petition the Rhode Island Family Court for an Order preventing you from moving with the Minor Children out of the state. It is not so much the distance that is the issue. The issue arises in the fact that you want to move the Minor Children outside the geographical boundaries of the State of Rhode Island. It is irrelevant that there is nothing in your divorce decree or any marital settlement agreement that you may have had that addresses the issue. Courts and parties are rarely able to address every type of situation that might arise in a family after a divorce occurs, although this issue is a bit more common. However, your ex-husband should make sure he gets an experienced Rhode Island Divorce and Family law attorney to advise him regarding this issue. 

Why do I say this? 

Because the information he would receive would be substantially in your favor. Rhode Island case law is fairly clear that absent your ex-husband proving that you are moving for a vindictive reason such as to deprive him of his visitation or to make things more difficult for him, then as the placement parent (parent with physical custody) you only need to demonstrate to the court that you have a good reason for moving with the children. 

The reason can be anything from buying a house for the children, moving for a new job opportunity, better school systems for the children in the new area you would move to, a better neighborhood for the children, one or more family members live in the new area you propose to move to, etc... but all your reasoning should collectively be for the benefit of the minor children.

Generally speaking a "good reason" seems to be any reason that makes sense for the best interests of the children and you as the placement parent, other than one that vindictively is designed to hurt the other parent in some way. Therefore, even though your ex-husband has a valid case he can make before the court, based upon the facts you have provided here, he is unlikely to prevail in preventing you from moving with the children unless he can prove the vindictive reason for moving the children. 

Helpful Family Law Tip: 

To protect yourself, put your offer to meet him half way for his visitation and your desire that you don't want his relationship with his children to change in writing and spell out all the excellent reasons you have for moving with the kids and how it would benefit them. This might prove to be an excellent piece of evidence you might be able to present to the court at a later date if you need to.

I wish you the very best of luck.  I have addressed this issue over the years and it is one I am well versed in.  Your greatest challenge is not your legal issue.   

If you need further assistance, do not hesitate to contact me at (401) 632-6976 or review one of my helpful Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Websites listed on this page.

Warm Regards, 

Christopher A. Pearsall, Esquire

Rhode Island's Only Full-Time Divorce Lawyer and Family Law Coach*

* Note: The RI Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law and has no procedure for specialization or recognition in any area of law.

Rhode Island Divorce Clients - Lawyers May Tell You Divorce Scenarios You Want to Hear!

As a Rhode Island Lawyer focusing my practice exclusively in the area of Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law, I have learned that when people come in for a consultation they want to tell me their story and they want to be told exactly what they want to hear. 

Yes, despite the fact that every divorce lawyer may not portray a realistic scenario to the potential client, clients need to realize that a lawyer may tell them exactly what they want to hear.

If you skimmed that last paragraph which was only one sentence long and you have already forgotten it, then . . . my dear reader . . .WAKE UP!

I'll repeat it because it is so crucial and I'll even be more blunt.  Some lawyers . . . to get your business . . . will tell you exactly what you want to hear!  They may give you results that are not realistic not just for your divorce case but for ANY divorce case.

Lawyers are businesspeople and they get hit by economic times too.  Without clients they don't have income.  Without income, many of them can't afford that cushy little porshe or mercedes they drive.  Without income,  they may have to consider making a late payment on their house or their summer home.  Without clients, the lifestyle a lawyer may have developed for him or herself doesn't last long.  So the lawyer needs to bring in clients. 

That may be you!  Wouldn't it be nice to go into a divorce lawyer and give him or her a quick snapshot of your life with your spouse and kids and then he or she tells you how everything is going to be fine, that they've dealt with this scenario a million times before and that if you hire them, then they will deal with all that anxiety for you and it will be over before you know it.  Imagine a lawyer telling you that all this stress you are feeling right now is needless because the lawyer is going to get you a great divorce settlement and that you should let him or her deal with it and your troubles will be over.

Now, here you are all comfortable and feeling that this lawyer is going to take care of all your divorce troubles when he tells you the cost.  If you are especially stressed out, are you likely to agree to provide him or her with a $3,500 retainer at an hourly rate of $250 per hour?  Most people will find a way to do so because the lawyer is offering a solution to divorce stress and anxiety in your personal life.  What is more painful to you?  The stress and anxiety at home or parting with a few thousand dollars.  In many instances the stress outweighs the money. 

Some, but not all lawyers will do this.  Let me give you an example that came up recently but I'll change the players and the issue itself to protect the privacy of the individual involved.

Clyde met with me for a consultation.  Clyde wanted to divorce his wife Cassie.  Clyde and Cassie had a fight and Cassie told Clyde that he could go ahead and divorce her because she'd be set for life.  Clyde didn't know what Cassie was talking about so he asked her.  "Well", Cassie snapped, "I've already been to a lawyer and he already explained to me that you're going to have to pay me alimony and I'll be doing just great and you'll be broke."  Clyde looked at her in disbelief. 

"Really?" Clyde stated in disbelief.  "Yes.", Cassie answered.  The lawyer told me that you'll have to pay me alimony "indefinitely".  Clyde answered, "I don't think that's true Cassie.  You may want to check with another lawyer."

Cassie got angrier.  "I don't need you telling me what to do.  I've already seen a lawyer and I know what is going on and my lawyer said you're going to be paying me alimony FOREVER!"

"I don't think that's how it works Cassie. So you may want to check with another Rhode Island divorce lawyer."  Clyde was urging her now.

"Nope.  I like this guy and he's told me exactly how it's going to go for you and I like that just fine.  So go ahead and serve me with the papers because I don't like the way you're handling the money as it is."

In this situation it isn't hard to see what has happened.  Cassie went to a lawyer for what was probably a free consultation and she told the lawyer what was probably only her side of the story.  The economy is hurting and the attorney figured out what Cassie wanted to hear in order to hire him as her attorney.  So the attorney painted Cassie a very rosy picture and told her exactly what she wanted to hear in order to get her as his divorce client.

Only too often this is the rule rather than the exception.

It is best to remember the old adage.  If something sounds too good to be true. . . it probably is!  The easiest way to get a divorce client is to tell him or her what they want to hear instead of being honest about the process and what may or may not occur.

If a lawyer is pressing you to engage him or her as your divorce lawyer, usually this is a warning sign.  If you don't hear a few things that put you on edge during a consultation because they cause you to worry a little, this is another warning sign.  If you hear everything you want to hear AND you are pressured into retaining the lawyer's services quickly this is a warning sign as well.

On rare occasions when there is an uncontested divorce or when the parties have good respect and communication with each other, then it is reasonable to hear everything you want to hear from the lawyer.  Otherwise, if the lawyer doesn't raise some possible issues that give you cause for concern, then you should consider whether the lawyer is just telling you what you want to hear just to get your business, especially if the lawyer stands to gain a substantial hourly rate off the arrangement.

In the end, be careful.  If you hear exactly what you want to hear when there could be issues of alimony, child support, visitation, placement, retirement plans and real estate division, then you should shop around by selecting lawyers who are known to routinely practice divorce law before the Rhode Island Family Courts.

Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall, Attorney-at-Law

Call (401) 632-6976 Now for your low-cost consultation.
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Copyright 2009.  Christopher A. Pearsall, Esquire
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Alimony Language - Rhode Islander's Take Care! Part 2

This Rhode Island divorce tip article is a follow-up to my first tip article which may be found at http://www.rhode-island-divorce-lawyer.com/2008/11/alimony-language-rhode-islanders-take-care-part-1.html

This first tip article is helpful, if not essential, to helping you understand rehabilitative alimony in Rhode Island.  Therefore I recommend that you read my first alimony tip article if you do not already know how Rhode Island law treats alimony in general.

Lanuguage is crucial in both Rhode Island Settlement Agreements and especially in the Rhode Island divorce proceedings when it comes to alimony awards and alimony waivers.

Whether you are representing yourself or you have a Rhode Island lawyer to represent you in your divorce proceeding, it is best to be vigilant when it comes to the language used by you, your lawyer and even the judge.  In this divorce tip article the crucial word you should focus on is "non-modifiable."

Leaving out the word "non-modifiable" in your Marital Settlement Agreement or failing to clarify to the judge a request for the court's order to include the word "non-modifiable" could lead to hazardous consequences.

Consider this Rhode Island Divorce example about Mr. and Mrs. Lawyers:

Mr. Lawyers has agreed to pay Mrs. Lawyers alimony of $400 per week for a period of three (3) years in their Marital Settlement Agreement and he has testified to that on the record of the court.  Mrs. Lawyers agrees that Mr. Lawyers' testimony is accurate and that $400 per week for three (3) year is precisely what they agreed to in their Marital Settlement Agreement.

Mrs. Lawyers testifies that she wants to waive alimony after that three (3) years has been paid, that she knows that this waiver would be permanent, and that she believes she will be able to sustain herself at the end of the three year period and therefore she would like the court to grant her permanent waiver.

At the end of the hearing, the Court orders the following:

Mrs. Lawyers is awarded weekly alimony of $400 per week for a period of three (3) years from Mr. Lawyers and that upon completion of the three (3) years Mrs. Lawyers' request for waiver of alimony is granted and she waives alimony permanently.

Do you notice that the word "non-modifiable" does not appear anywhere in the excerpt of the testimony above?  Do you notice that Mrs. Lawyers confirmed that it is "precisely what they agreed to" in their Marital Settlement Agreement? 

Let's assume this is correct and that the Marital Settlement Agreement doesn't contain any reference to alimony being "non-modifiable". 

Now, imagine that Mr. Lawyers secures a job that pays considerably more than his last job, that he becomes a partner in a very profitable business, that he creates a very successful invention, that Mrs. Lawyers gets into a tragic accident in the first year after their divorce which leaves her with brain damage which prevents her from proceeding with her attempts to rehabilitate herself and become self sustaining.

Choose any one of these events or any other event that you might think of that drastically affects the earnings or abilities of Mr. and Mrs. Lawyers within the three (3) years alimony is to be paid.

What is important here is what Mrs. Lawyers DID NOT agree to!

Even though Mrs. Lawyers waived alimony permanently after the three (3) years of payments, she DID NOT agree at any time that the alimony during those three (3) years would be non-modifiable.

If Mrs. Lawyers wanted to, she could retain a Rhode Island lawyer and once again return to court and request that the alimony she is receiving in those first three years be increased based upon either Mr. Lawyers' increase in his ability to pay more alimony and/or her own decrease in her ability to provide for herself over the long term as planned.

Though the agreement provided for $400 per week of alimony for a period of three years, this merely indicates to the court that this is an amount and timeframe that was either agreeable to the parties or ordered by the Rhode Island family court judge at the time of the divorce.  However, without the word "non-modifiable" before the word "alimony" this DOES NOT prevent Mrs. Lawyers from arguing that neither the parties or the court intended that it could not be modified during that three (3) year period if circumstances changed which warranted a modification of the amount of alimony.

What could this mean for Mr. Lawyers?

If either Mr. Lawyers or his Rhode Island attorney did not add that one word "non-modifiable" then Mr. Lawyers could end up paying $600, $900 or even $1,200 per week to Mrs. Lawyers for the remainder of the three (3) year period, if the Rhode Island family court judge found that Mrs. Lawyers had that need for such alimony and Mr. Lawyers was capable of paying that amount of alimony.

What monetary difference could this make to Mr. Lawyers?

Let's say the court found Mr. Lawyers had the ability to pay Mrs. Lawyers Rhode Island alimony in the amount of $900 per week for the last 28 weeks of the three (3) year alimony period that was agreed upon.  Let's also assume that the court held Mrs. Lawyers to the three (3) year period of alimony because she had validly waived alimony permanently after that three (3) year period of time.

Mr. Lawyers had agreed to pay $400 per week.  Mr. Lawyers is now ordered to pay an extra $500 per week for the last twenty-eight (28) weeks.  This now requires Mr. Lawyers to pay Mrs. Lawyers an extra $14,000 that he hadn't planned on.

To Mr. Lawyers and/or Mr. Lawyers' Rhode Island attorney, the omission of that single word . . . "non-modifiable" . . . just cost Mr. Lawyers $14,000. 

The words you use in your agreement and the words used in the order by the court are crucial.  Care should be taken in drafting any alimony provision in a Rhode Island Marital Settlement Agreement.  Care should also be taken to make sure that the word "non-modifiable" is used by the court in its order, if that is what is intended or expected by the parties.

In this example it was worth $14,000 to Mr. Lawyers.  That's one very costly word, don't you think?

Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall
Attorney-at-Law
70 Dogwood Drive, Suite 304
West Warwick, RI 02893

Call (401) 632-6976 Now for your low-cost consultation.
from
Rhode Island's Most Affordable Divorce* Lawyer & Family Law* Attorney

Copyright 2008. Christopher A. Pearsall
A New Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer for a New Millenium!

*The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law. Pearsall.net | AttorneyPearsall.com | Rhode Island Divorce Tips | ChristopherPearsall.com | GuaranteedWealth.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorney | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer | Chris Pearsall | Legal Scholar | Pearsall Law Associates | Rhode Island Divorce Attorneys | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers

Alimony Language - Rhode Islander's Take Care! Part 1

In a Rhode Island Divorce proceeding alimony must be awarded or denied by the Family Court Justice.

Since alimony under Rhode Island law is rehabilitative in nature, more often then not it is waived by one or both parties during the course for most Rhode Island divorce proceedings.  

Alimony that is rehabilitative is awarded by the court based upon the recipients need for financial support while he or she (1) re-establishes himself or herself in the working world with existing skills, (2) re-trains himself or herself with skills sufficient to sustain himself or herself with more modern skills, (3) is unable to care for himself or herself due to injuries, illnesses, handicaps or other circumstances that reasonably warrant the award of alimony for an extended period of time because one spouse is unable to care for himself or herself.

Alimony may be agreed to by the parties in circumstances when an award of rehabilitative alimony may be considered inevitable by the parties and/or their lawyers.  In other instances, a spouse may agree to pay rehabilitative alimony to the other spouse because their is an ability to make such a payment, even if the court would not normally award it, and one spouse wants to help the other spouse for a reasonable period of time until he or she regains a financial foothold on his or her own.

 
Whether alimony is by an award of the court or by an agreement of the parties, it is important that the language used by the court for any award of alimony is accurate pursuant to the agreement of the parties or as intended by the court.

The typical example is when an award of alimony is made for a specific amount of money for a specific period of time.  In this instance, clarity of language is essential!

Assume that Mr. Lawyers has agreed to pay Mrs. Lawyers alimony of exactly $400 per week for a period of three (3) years.    Now let's assume that the alimony award is phrased as follows in both the Marital Settlement agreement of the parties as well as the Decision of the Court.  Nothing else is mentioned about alimony.

    "Defendant Mrs. Lawyers shall pay Mrs. Lawyers rehabilitative alimony of $400 per week for a period of three years."

Here is where accuracy in the language regarding the rehabilitative alimony provisions is crucial when it comes to clarifying the Marital Settlement Agreement and/or the Decision of the Court.  If this is the ONLY alimony that Mrs. Lawyers is to receive per their Marital Settlement Agreement, then Mrs. Lawyers MUST request to waive alimony permanently on the record of the court and Mr. Lawyers or his attorney must make sure that the decision of the court is clarified to state that Mrs. Lawyers waives alimony permanently after that three year period.  Either Mr. Lawyers or his attorney should do so even if it means clarifying to the judge BEFORE the hearing or trial is concluded that the award of alimony should involve a waiver of alimony permanently with the exception of that three year period.

Why is this so crucial in a Rhode Island divorce proceeding?

Well, in the first instance it is significant to Mr. Lawyers.  If there is no permanent waiver of alimony by Mrs. Lawyers other than that three year period, then Mrs. Lawyers has a viable legal argument that alimony WAS NOT expressly limited to that three year period of payments because she DID NOT waive alimony permanently.  Therefore, if things aren't going well for Mrs. Lawyers at that time and Mr. Lawyers still has the ability to pay continued alimony, then Mrs. Lawyers might decide to return to court for another 1, 3 or more years of alimony.

In the second instance, if Mr. Lawyers has hired a Rhode Island attorney to protect his interests in the divorce, then the attorney may have made a crucial mistake because he or she didn't make sure a permanent waiver of alimony was made by Mrs. Lawyers.  Unless there was a miscommunication or some other circumstance which explains why the Rhode Island attorney didn't insure the permanent waiver of alimony was made, then the Rhode Island attorney may find himself or herself on the receiving end of a legal malpractice claim.

Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall
Attorney-at-Law
70 Dogwood Drive, Suite 304
West Warwick, RI 02893

Call (401) 632-6976 Now for your low-cost consultation.
from
Rhode Island's Most Affordable Divorce* Lawyer & Family Law* Attorney

Copyright 2008. Christopher A. Pearsall
A New Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer for a New Millenium!

*The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law. Pearsall.net | AttorneyPearsall.com | Rhode Island Divorce Tips | ChristopherPearsall.com | GuaranteedWealth.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorney | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer | Chris Pearsall | Legal Scholar | Pearsall Law Associates | Rhode Island Divorce Attorneys | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers

Pensions - Vested and Unvested from a Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer's Perspective!

Are you in a Rhode Island Divorce?  Will your pension vest before the Final Judgment of Divorce is entered?  What can be distributed by the Rhode Island Divorce Judge?

If either party in a Rhode Island divorce has a pension then there are various issues you will want to consider.  Specifically, the divorce issue we want to address here is that of "vesting." 

You can find out if your pension is vested for the purposes of your Rhode Island divorce by contacting the administrator of your pension fund and simply asking if your pension if your pension is vested or not.  You also may want to asked your pension administrator when your pension will vest (become vested) just in case the date might occur during the course of your Rhode Island Divorce proceeding.

ISSUE

The Rhode Island family court judge only has the power to order the equitable distribution of marital assets, including pensions. 

If you or your spouse has a pension that is not vested, what part of the pension, if any, is subject to the Rhode Island family court's power of equitable distribution?

If you or your spouse has a pension that is vested, what part of the pension, if any, is subject to the Rhode Island family court's power of equitable distribution?

ANSWERS

The only part of a vested or unvested pension that is subject to equitable distribution/division by the Rhode Island Family Court Judge is the "marital portion" of the pension.

The marital portion of any pension is dependent upon various circumstances, including (1) the length of the marriage, (2) the type of pension (civilian or military) and the laws governing it, and (3) whether the pension is vested or not.

While it may be the Rhode Island family court judge's role to determine after trial what the marital portion of the pension may be, it is the job of each spouse and his or her divorce lawyer to present to the court what part of the pension is the marital portion.  Sometimes your divorce lawyer may be able to argue that a larger portion of the pension is actually the "marital portion" if it is to your benefit to do so.  However, if there is disagreement between spouses and/or their divorce lawyers regarding the true manner in which the marital portion should be calculated, proof may be presented at trial.

Proof of the marital portion of the pension that is subject to distribution by the Rhode Island family court may require expert testimony by way of an actuary who substantiates the basis for claim and the amount of it.  Without this information, your Rhode Island divorce judge may not have sufficient information for determining the basis, amount or validity of your claim on that pension.

The issue of whether a pension is vested or not is of substantial benefit to both spouses, the court and an actuarial expert if one is necessary. 

If the pension has not vested at the time of the entry of the Final Judgment of divorce, then the pension payments themselves are not subject to distribution in the future.  Since the pension is not vested then the body (corpus) of the pension is only made up of the contributions made to the pension.  There is no entitlement to the benefits of the pension after it vests simply because a spouse may have an entitlement to a portion of the monetary contributions to the pension.

If the pension is vested prior to the entry of the Rhode Island Family Court's Final Judgment of Divorce, then the benefits of the pension itself provided by the "vesting" of the pension during the marriage are subject to distribution of the Rhode Island family court.

Thus, the family court's distribution power in Rhode island in a divorce proceeding is limited to either (1) the financial contributions made to the pension when it has not vested prior to the entry of Final Judgment of Divorce, or (2) the benefits provided by the pension when it has vested prior to the entry of Final Judgment.

Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall
Attorney-at-Law
70 Dogwood Drive, Suite 304
West Warwick, RI 02893

Call (401) 632-6976 Now for your low-cost consultation.
from
Rhode Island's Most Affordable Divorce* Lawyer & Family Law* Attorney

Copyright 2008.  Christopher A. Pearsall
A New Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer for a New Millenium!

*The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law. Pearsall.net | AttorneyPearsall.com | Rhode Island Divorce Tips | ChristopherPearsall.com | GuaranteedWealth.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorney | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer | Chris Pearsall | Legal Scholar | Pearsall Law Associates | Rhode Island Divorce Attorneys | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers

Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers explain Pre-marital Aspects of 401Ks!

Question:  Can My 401K Help Me In this Situation?

    For the sake of this question I'll call myself William.  I have a 401k that I began 10 years before I got married.  It had about $75,000 in it before Tammy and I got married.  We've been married for the past 13 years and my 401k is up to about $285,000.  I'm concerned about being able to pay my attorney's fees.  I'm also concerned because I want to keep the house my wife and I live in.  The house has been in our family for generations.  I don't think I can get a loan to buy out my wife's interest in the house because my credit isn't so good.  We have about $140,000 in equity in the house.  What can I do to save my house?  One attorney has told me that Tammy will get 1/2 of my 401k and that I can't touch my 401k monies while the divorce is pending.  This doesn't seem fair.  It looks like I'm going to lose 1/2 of everything I built.  I know Tammy is entitled to part of everything but it seems like I'm being left with no options but to lose the house and 1/2 of my 401k.  Is there anything I can do here?

    - William  (Coventry, RI)

Answer:  In this situation your 401K's Versatility Could be the Key in your Rhode Island Divorce!

    William, I can tell you that you have more options than you may think.  Ultimately, your 401k plan is the key to resolving your difficulties.  A 401k if much more versatile than a pension, annuity, IRA or any other investment vehicle. 

    First, Check with your 401k Plan Administrator.  Ask whether you are allowed to take a loan up to a certain percentage of your vested 401k balance.  Then confirm the amount of your vested balance and the allowable loan that you could take from your vested balance.  Loans on 401k plans are typical and are usually limited to 50% of your vested balance.

    For the sake of example let's assume this is a typical 401k plan and you can take a loan of up to 50% of your vested balance.  Based upon the numbers you have provided, I would be willing to venture a guess that you may be told that the entire $285,000 is vested and that your maximum allowed loan at 50% would be limited to $142,500.  You should also find out how much interest will be charged on whatever loan you take out and the maximum repayment period.  Of course you will be repaying yourself the interest so this is a considerable benefit to you.  Plus, you can check with your accountant to see if any of the 401k interest is potentially deductible because it is used as a buyout of your wife's interest in the real estate and adds to your adjusted basis in the property.

    Now William, there are a few things to take into consideration but careful planning will eliminate difficulty.  If you are already in the midst of a divorce then your are bound by the Automatic Orders of the Court.  These Orders prevent you from spending, hiding or doing anything out of the ordinary with any assets without the written consent of your spouse.  You may not unreasonably incur any debt that is not in the normal course of your home or running your business except for paying your attorney's fees.

At the outset this looks like it poses a massive hurdle but your case is a bit different.

The Rhode Island Family Court has the power of equitable distribution over the marital estate.  This means the marital assets and debts of the parties.  This does not include pre-marital assets.  You have already disclosed that your 401k had a value of $75,000 before you got married.  This $75,000 is a premarital asset.  These funds are yours.  Additionally, any appreciation relating solely to those $75,000 is also a non-marital asset because they are funds generated purely by virtue of a the pre-marital asset without further contribution from the parties.  Thus if over the 13 years if your 401k averaged 7% per annum return then your $75,000 has roughly appreciated to $180,738.38 making the marital portion of your 401k $285,000 minus $180,738.38 which equals $104,261.62.    The $104,261.62 should roughly be the true marital portion for distribution by the Rhode Island Family court.  It is certainly viable for you and your attorney take the position that this should be undisputed and that $180,738.38 is truly a premarital asset to which your wife is not entitled. 

If you are allowed a 50% loan to vested monies then you have in excess of $90,000 that you can take as a loan for both your attorneys' fees and to buy out your wife's interest in the house.  If your wife's share of the house equity is agreed to be $70,000 then even with poor credit you should be able to secure an equity line of credit or a refinance of the house even if you take out a loan of $40,000 and put $35,000 toward the house and rely upon $35,000 of the house equity to balance out the loan.  This also leaves you with an additional $5,000 for attorneys' fees.

If you take out a loan of $35,000 as suggested, then you still have $145,738.38 that should remain a pre-marital asset that you are entitled to claim as a pre-marital asset.

Keep in mind that this is an arguable position.  Technically, it is a judge's role to determine whether an asset is marital, non-marital, premarital or otherwise exempt from the court's equitable distribution power.  However, when the issue is as clear cut as this in accordance with the statutes, most judges will not penalize an individual for following the advice of his attorney in order to settle a matter on the judge's calendar.

If the judge disapproves of the manner in which you proceed and finds the circumstances to require the court's authority, the most likely conclusion is that the Judge will consider any disproportionate amount as an offset to your spouse against the marital estate.  However, pursuant to the Rhode Island General Laws this is an arguable position that you should be able to take and use without the written permission of the other party or an order of the court, especially if it is used in an effort to settle the case. 

However, if the funds are used for purposes other than settling the case, be prepared for the court to take more appropriate actions to punish you as an abusing party even if you are within your legal rights.

Authored By:

  Christopher A. Pearsall
Attorney-at-Law
70 Dogwood Drive, Suite 304
West Warwick, RI 02893

Call (401) 632-6976 Now for your low-cost consultation.
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Rhode Island's Most Affordable Divorce & Family Law* Attorney
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Copyright 2008.  Christopher A. Pearsall, A New Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer for a New Millenium

*The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.
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Uncontested RI Divorce Prices - What the . . ?

"I have a simple divorce.  We agree on everything.  What's your price for an Uncontested Divorce?"

My practice is focused almost entirely on Rhode Island family law. Every week I hear this same sentence by people trying to find the most affordable Rhode Island Divorce lawyer.

No doubt I'm going to burst a few bubbles here and perhaps even anger a few people, but I'm a lawyer who tells it like it is.

First, when you call an attorney and you say these three little sentences, here is what the translation ends up being. 

I'm shopping for an attorney because I don't think I can do this divorce myself.

I'm calling you because I'm looking for someone who is cheap. 

If you are a lawyer and you are cheap then I might hire you because any lawyer should be able to do something as simple as my divorce.

Even without any tone or inflection, this comes across as an insult, especially to a family law attorney who knows that every case is different.

It is no understatement on my part to you that these are the calls I get all week because I offer my services as Rhode Island's Most Affordable Full-Time Divorce and Family Law Lawyer.  More than 90% of the calls I get are asking, What's your price for a completely uncontested divorce?

People are lawyer shopping.  Not only do I understand that, but I encourage it.  Yet this is far from the best way to go about it.  Certainly, it is not an easy thing to find a good Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer and there is no magic book to tell you how to find a good one that offers reasonable rates. 

However, calling a bunch of Rhode Island lawyers who advertise that he or she does divorces and then asking how much he or she charges for an uncontested divorce and choosing the lowest price one because you have limited financial resources is far from the best way to get good results.

I can say with sincerity the following just as if I were saying it to one of my brothers, "It is worse to have a lawyer who doesn't know what he or she is doing in divorce and family law than it is to have no lawyer at all."

Certainly you want to price shop for an attorney, but if you engage the services of a lawyer who does not know what he or she is doing when it comes to divorce or family law then you  might as well fold your money into a paper airplane and sail it out the window.  A lawyer who is not skilled in Rhode Island divorce and family law may quickly and easily give you a telephone quote for an uncontested divorce because he or she does not handle them frequently and simply wants to get some money "in the door".  Most attorneys have overhead expenses to pay after all.

Yet I digress.  This article is not about how to select a Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Lawyer.  Rather, this article is about understanding that a good Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Lawyer will not simply quote a a price to you over the phone. 

Why? 

Because good Rhode Island divorce lawyers know that 9+ out of 10 people who call will say that they have an uncontested divorce when the divorce lawyer who practices enough before the family court knows that only about 1 in 20 cases is truly uncontested from the outset and that this can only be determined with any degree of certainty after a detailed consultation and question and answer session with the prospective client.

If you get anything out of this article, I hope that it is this sentence. 

Every divorce case is different.

Those of us who choose to practice as Rhode Island Divorce lawyers know the intricacies that plague each of the cases.  We have honed our skills and our minds to identify the present issues, tax consequences, future medical issues and much more so that you can rely upon our advice and give you solid legal representation.   A good Rhode Island divorce lawyer knows that family law is always changing and that as much as we may try we are not always "up to the moment" on every case that has been ruled upon.  A true professional when it comes to divorce and family law will state with confidence that  he or she would prefer not to give you advice on a particular issue until he or she has checked into the latest cases on the issue. 

No lawyer is expected to know everything on any subject.  However, a good lawyer working within his or her primary practice focus will take prudent steps to insure that the correct advice is given to anyone he or she is speaking to.

So, what's my price of an uncontested divorce?  I have none.  I make it a rule not to quote prices over the phone because as I have said, I know that every divorce is different.  All lawyers are not the same.  Some have chosen to focus their practice in an area of law.  If you are going to hire a Rhode Island lawyer for your divorce or other family law matter, then take the time to meet with and screen each lawyer.

If you just want to hire the cheapest attorney possible, then just call a lawyers who just finished law school, has passed the Rhode Island Bar Examination and was just sworn in before the Rhode Island Supreme Court.  Why do that if you want CHEAP?  That lawyer is hungry for income and clients to start his or her new career.  Then, chances are better than not that you can just waive goodbye as your money goes out the door as you pay for a lawyer who probably doesn't have the slightest idea what they are doing in family court or perhaps where it is located.

I'll say it again and I can't stress this enough.

Every divorce is different.

More than 9+ people out of 10 who call me will say they have a completely uncontested divorce.  Yet only 1 out of 20 of those callers actually do have an uncontested divorce.

When trying to get a price for your divorce, the attorney will know if your divorce is likely to be considered uncontested or not, BUT only after a detailed consultation and explanation of your rights to you.  Without that, most people only state they have an uncontested divorce because they think that they do or they want it to be uncontested OR because they believe that by asking for the uncontested rate they can just hire the attorney at the cheapest possible cost and then deal with any additional cost later.

Consider this analogy and perhaps you won't be so offended or you will understand when a professional Rhode Island divorce lawyer tells you that he or she is unable to quote you a rate for your divorce over the telephone.

ANALOGY

Let's say that you call up up a department store to get a price on spark plugs for your car, the call center must switch you to the department that focuses on that specialty product right?  So you have to get to the department that carries that product.  This is just like finding a true divorce lawyer in the midst of all the thousands of lawyers in Rhode Island.  Fortunately, it's much easier because the call center person knows that there is a specific department for that and just shunts your call to the Automotive Department.

When the Automotive Assistant picks up the telephone, you ask how much it costs for the cheapest spark plugs for a basic Chevrolet.

Can the Automotive assistant tell you the correct price without asking you more questions when the store carries (4) 4 brands of spark plugs for all different makes and models of cars and trucks? 

No.  The automotive assistant can't help you at all without asking you more detailed questions.  In fact, without more information the automotive assistant may not even carry the spark plugs you need. 

Fairly similar, right? 

What's your price for an uncontested divorce? 

and

What's your price for the cheapest spark plugs for a Chevrolet?

In fact, the automotive assistant may have to take quite some time with you on the telephone asking you about the Model, YEAR, Number of Doors, Engine Size and other information in order to figure out which spark plugs would even fit your car for ONE BRAND!  Then he or she may have to do the same for all four (4) brands to see what fits, what is available and what its cost is.  Then, finally the automotive assistant might be able to tell you what the cheapest one that fits your car is that they have in stock.  This is pretty similar to a full consultation with a divorce lawyer don't you think.  He or she has to ask you the questions that he or she knows to ask to find out what is needed for your case just as the automotive assistant needs the information to find out what spark plugs fit your needs.

Now, what happens.   You are dealing with an inexperienced lawyer who thinks he or she knows the questions to ask.  Yet isn't he or she really just like an inexperienced automotive assistant who is some poor kid just out of college trying to figure out what to do with his life and is working in the automotive department for minimum wage?  What if the automotive assistant is wrong andgives you the wrong spark plugs and you try to use them into your car.  After all, you relied on the automotive assistant's knowledge, right?   And a spark plug is just a spark plug, isn't it?

Well, you can guess what could happen.  You could blow the engine and make it unusable.  You couldstrip the spark plug threads requiring retapping of the treads at substantial cost.  You could ruin the ignition timing so the timing needs to be redone, perhaps the replacement of the timing belt, engine damage, etc . . .   

So you paid the cheapest price on spark plugs from someone who you expected to know what they were doing and you have a ton of headaches. 

Do you think the automotive assistant or the department store is going to be responsible for those headaches or your costs?  Do you think they will be able to reverse the damage that was done?  Nope.  Too late.  You should have gone to a specialist who might have told you which spark plugs were correct or you might have been told that the cheapest ones will only cause you costly headaches down the road and that the middle priced spark plugs are much better for your needs.

Ultimately, some attorneys may have a fixed price for an uncontested divorce.  They may, in fact, be cheaper than everyone else, including me, but that doesn't mean that they are the best for your situation, nor does it mean that they even care about your situation, or what happens to you if you follow their advice and it happens to be a bit off. 

Unfortunately, though readers may not wish to hear this, getting a price on what you state as an uncontested divorce is not the same as buying a small, black coffee at the Dunkin Donuts drive through.  This is divorce law.  It is complicated and it changes frequently.  Without knowing all the details a good family law attorney can't properly give you a price. 

If you call an attorney and simply get a set price on the telephone for a retainer and hourly fees and you haven't discussed with the attorney any aspects of your situation or your case or your life then I have only one word for you . . .

NEXT!

Authored By:

  Christopher A. Pearsall
Attorney-at-Law
70 Dogwood Drive, Suite 304
West Warwick, RI 02893

Call (401) 632-6976 Now for your low-cost consultation.
from
Rhode Island's Most Affordable Divorce & Family Law* Attorney
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Copyright 2008.  Christopher A. Pearsall, Entrepreneur and Attorney-at-Law

*The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.
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RI Lawyers Should Know We Have Fault Divorce Grounds!

How does a Rhode Island divorce lawyer who is seemingly competent make the mistake of advising clients and people in general, through writings, articles, press releases or other literature or publications that Rhode Island is a NO FAULT state when it comes to divorce? 

I've seen this on several lawyer's websites and I've seen this on generic legal sites that try to entice you to come to their sites so they can help hook you up with a legal referral service from which I can only presume they receive some kind of kickback or monetary remuneration. 

Yet for heaven's sake, shouldn't a lawyer at least get the fundamentals right!  It's no wonder lawyers have a bad name when lawyers go out of their chosen field of expertise and give answers that are incorrect simply because they don't want to lose a client or appear inept.  This becomes a stereotype that is then applied to all lawyers.

Well, let me set the record straight.  Any lawyer, whether they are licensed to practice law in Rhode Island or not, who tells you that Rhode Island is a NO FAULT state when it comes to divorce, simply does not know what they are talking about.  Frankly, if after reading this article you go ahead and hire such a lawyer then you deserve exactly what you get.

This is and should be an easy question for any Rhode Island lawyer who professes to practice before the Rhode Island family courts.  Even if it isn't known off the top of the lawyer's head, he or she should be able to look up the answer in a matter of 60 seconds.

Here's a quick lesson.  A state that is considered a NO FAULT divorce state is one in which divorces are not granted based upon the fault of either party.  In other words all grounds for divorce in that "NO FAULT" state are not based on the fault of either party.

I've heard it stated by Rhode Island lawyers and I've even seen it published by Rhode Island lawyers that Rhode Island is a NO FAULT divorce state.   WRONG!  WRONG!  WRONG!

Frankly, I don't have to tell you it's wrong at all.  The Rhode Island General Assembly that makes the laws of our state has already said it.

Though Rhode Island Family Court judges and most parties prefer divorces that are based on irreconcilable differences (which WOULD be a NO FAULT divorce) that is not the only grounds for divorce.   The following section of the Rhode Island General laws spells out the additional grounds for divorce as follows:

§ 15-5-2  Additional grounds for divorce. – 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.

Now, if any Rhode Island lawyer who professes to you that Rhode Island is a NO FAULT state.  Please have him or her explain to you how each of these items lacks a condition or action by either one or both parties that is not fault based.  Then, please give me a call and explain it to me.

My point is simply this.  Rhode Island is NOT a NO FAULT divorce state.  This is an easy way to determine if the lawyer you are considering engaging for your divorce matter knows what he or she is talking about or not.  If you ask the lawyer if Rhode Island is a NO FAULT divorce state and he or she says "yes" . . . then I highly recommend finding a new lawyer to interview.

Authored By:

  Christopher A. Pearsall
Attorney-at-Law
70 Dogwood Drive, Suite 304
West Warwick, RI 02893

Call (401) 632-6976 Now for your low-cost consultation.
from
Rhode Island's Most Affordable Divorce & Family Law* Attorney
now
100% Digital and Virtual!

Copyright 2008.  Christopher A. Pearsall, Entrepreneur and Attorney-at-Law

*The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.
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Child Support in Rhode Island can be Problematic!

Rhode Island child support modification can be a frustrating situation not only for clients but also for lawyers.

CONSIDER THIS SCENARIO

Imagine that you are a client who has placement of three children.  Your ex-spouse is making considerably more money than when you divorced and the cost of living has risen. 

First, you contact a lawyer about your child support rights and whether modification is appropriate. 

Second, after finding out that modification is appropriate you speak with your ex-spouse and he is unwilling to agree to give you a dime more than you are already receiving in court ordered child support.  So you resort to having your attorney send a letter to your ex-spouse asking for agreement of a small increase and that if you cannot agree that a Motion to Modify will have to be filed with the court.

Sounds simple enough doesn't it?  If the ex-spouse doesn't agree then you file a Motion to Modify and the court will modify your child support if you meet your burden of proof, namely that there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the last order was set.

Enter the ex-spouse who gets an attorney friend to serve the placement parent with 6 motions on the day a response is requested.  The placement parent's attorney files a Motion for Contempt and a Motion to Modify Child Support.

The ex-spouse concocts even more and more motions as the initial filing party and the Motion for Child Support which is truly the issue is placed on the back burner by the court.  Despite the efforts of the placement parent's counsel, more and more motions are filed by the ex-spouse to further cloud the issues and take the court on so many tangents that no judge could see the forest for the trees even if he or she wants to.

Here's the clincher for the attorney representing the placement parent.  How do you explain to your client after 3 years of fighting and after the ex-spouse's attorney has filed 35+ motions that there is no end in sight and the family court judge has literally refused to hear the placement parent's Motion to Modify Child Support despite countless direct requests that a hearing be held on the subject?

It is not only a child support issue but a legal frustration both for the client seeking the modification and for the lawyer representing the client.  This is not simply because it makes the lawyer appear inept when he or she may have done everything within his or her power necessary to obtain a hearing, but also because the client is entitled for child support relief for the benefit of the children.

I have had the displeasure of seeing several unfortunate circumstances similar to the one described.  In truth the problem is caused not only by the system but by lawyers who may be questioned as to whether they are acting within the boundaries of their ethical obligations and are abusing the system.

Unfortunately one lawyer usually has no control over another lawyer who is trying to bury a valid Motion for Child Support Modification under a mound of motions so deep   that the court will never see it and never address it.

The question then becomes, does the placement parent who is moving for the modification of the child support have an entitlement or right to a hearing on the subject. 

Rhode Island law regarding child support gives family court judges discretion as to whether to award the moving party child support retroactive to the date the motion was filed.  Assuming for a moment that the motion is heard 3+ years later by the court, what do you think the chances are that the non-placement party will be ordered to pay 3+ years of retroactive child support? 

As a Rhode Island lawyer, I can tell you quite frankly that it is slim to none that the placement parent will be given the rightful award of child support retroactive to the date of filing.  This is most likely because the amount of retroactive support is likely to be seen as so large as to appear to be punitive.  Since the court does not award child support as a punitive measure and judges are afforded this retroactive discretion the award of retroactive child support is unlikely at best.

As a lawyer, it is not an enjoyable task to explain to your client that a retroactive award of child support for the children is unlikely without even having had a hearing.  Perhaps the more difficult part for an attorney is realizing that when a family court judge fails to hear a Motion to Modify Child Support in a timely fashion and otherwise may fail to exercise his or her discretion to grant support retroactive to the date of the Motion to Modify, that judge is more than hurting the placement parent, that judge is depriving the minor children of support that they are entitled to from the non-moving parent.

It should always be remembered, both by lawyers and by the courts that child support, and thus Motions to Modify Child Support, relate to the parent's exercise of rights on behalf of the children.  Thus, if a Motion to Modify Child Support is granted, shouldn't it also be correct and proper to grant the child support retroactive to the filing date.  It causes one to question why a retroactive ruling is not always the case and why the family court judiciary are afforded discretion in this regard which deprives minor children of child support to which they are entitled.

What then can a lawyer or pro se individual do when faced with a Motion to Modify Child Support that he or she seemingly can't get before the court? 

Stay the course!  Do not diverge from the purpose of your motion to modify.  Continuously bring the court's focus back to this Motion over and over again.  Make every effort not to let the court get side-tracked by opposing counsel, opposing motions and other obstacles that are not as crucial to the well-being of the minor children.  Emphasize to the court that the longer the motion goes unheard the longer the children go without necessary child support in an ever worsening economy. 

This is a situation where you must have laser-like focus and purpose to insure to the best of your ability that the Motion to Modify Child Support is heard.   The court has often focused on the fact that one of it's foundational tenets is the best interests of the minor children.  Most assuredly the financial best interests of the minor children are among the most important.  Food, clothing, education, shelter and medical care are all part of the financial aspects of child support.  Without increases when warranted by the court and awarded by the court, the minor children suffer. 

Though there are no guarantees, this is the best avenue of focus, for your client seeking modification and for the children who NEED the modification.

Authored By:

  Christopher A. Pearsall
Attorney-at-Law
70 Dogwood Drive, Suite 304
West Warwick, RI 02893

Call (401) 632-6976 Now for your low-cost consultation.
from
Rhode Island's Most Affordable Divorce & Family Law* Attorney
now
100% Digital and Virtual!

Copyright 2008.  Christopher A. Pearsall, Entrepreneur and Attorney-at-Law

*The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.
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The Alcoholism Policy of the Rhode Island Family Courts

As a Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer perhaps one of the more controversial issues I've dealt with is the case of the alcoholic spouse or parent. 

Officially, the policy statement of the Rhode Island family court is stated on their Family Counseling Unit Services form which is filed with every divorce.  The Family Court's policy statement reads as follows:

Policy Statement:  The Family Court recognizes alcoholism as an illness and that such drinking problem is treatable and that entering treatment or counseling will not be prejudicial to legal issues in the court.  The court is sensitive to the family problems raised by problem drinking and wishes not to be considered an obstacle to help in these matters.

The question for Rhode Island divorce and family law lawyers is whether to simply explain to clients that they should simply accept this as the court's policy, or whether to advocate that they take whatever position serves their ends in family court.

The issue is more problematic when personal beliefs conflict with family court policies.  This is true both for the individual who chooses to represent himself or herself as well as Rhode Island divorce lawyers who may disagree with policy.

Neither those who represent themselves in court nor divorce lawyers in Rhode Island are required to conform their own personal or professional beliefs to the family court's policy statements.  These policy  statements merely set forth the family court's view as a governmental body to the treatment of . . in this case. . . alcoholism in matters before the family court.

It would not surprise me if there are perhaps many individuals and even many Rhode Island divorce lawyers and family law practitioners who disagree with the treatment of alcoholism as an "illness."   This may be perhaps because the use of other drugs, whether by prescription or otherwise are thought of more along the lines of a voluntary addiction than is alcoholism.  It is as yet an unanswered question to many as to why only "alcoholism" is the subject of a policy statement on an official court form.  Is alcoholism deserving of special treatment when there are addictions and illnesses that are just as prominent and just as devastating to families in divorce and other situations.

In the end, the best bet for Rhode Island family lawyers and individuals who seek to represent themselves is to take the position that best furthers their case in family court whether it is contrary to the policy statement or not.

Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall
Attorney-at-Law
70 Dogwood Drive, Suite 304
West Warwick, RI 02893

Call (401) 632-6976 Now for your low-cost consultation.
from
Rhode Island's Most Affordable Divorce & Family Law* Attorney
now
100% Digital and Virtual!

Copyright 2008.  Christopher A. Pearsall, Entrepreneur and Attorney-at-Law

*The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.
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