If you are getting divorced in Rhode Island, you may want to know the background of the court system which will hear your Rhode Island Divorce. The Rhode Island Family Court was established by statute, and consists of eleven associate judges and the Chief Judge of the Rhode Island Family Court. The jurisdiction of the Rhode Island Family Court consists of petitions for absolute divorce, petitions for divorce from bed and board, petitions for separate maintenance, motions for alimony, and motions relating to the support and custody of children.
All matters relating to or arising from any of the above actions fall within the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island Family Court. Please note, this jurisdiction can extend to the enforcement of orders relating to alimony, child support, and child custody, which were entered in another state by a court of competent jurisdiction, provided a Judge of the Rhode Island Family Court deems certain statutory conditions have been met to presently establish jurisdiction within Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Family Court also has the ability to hear matters of adoptions, delinquent children petitions and dependency and neglect petitions.
