Rhode Island Family Lawyer

Family, Divorce, Criminal Defense Lawyer Susan T. Perkins of Providence, Rhode Island

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Experienced Rhode Island Family Attorney

Best of the Best Family Attorneys 2023

Most people hope that they’ll never have to hire a family law attorney. However, a family law attorney is not only there to support you during a family conflict, they’re also there to help you protect your property, formulate legal contracts, or navigate a variety of other issues involving family law. It’s important to know what to look for in a family law attorney, as well as all of the different services that a Rhode Island Family law attorney can provide.

Lawyer Susan T. Perkins has the experience, assertiveness, and compassion that’s necessary for dealing with family law issues. If you’re facing a divorce or a child custody case, you want to work with someone who’s dependable, accessible, and has an extensive background in Rhode Island family law. Susan T. Perkins is a Rhode Island family law attorney that has consistently produced the best possible outcomes for the some of the most difficult family conflicts. She understands what’s on the line and can create a legal path to resolving any family law issue. Contact the law office of Susan T. Perkins today to learn more about how she can help you.

Rhode Island Family Law Services

While most people assume that a Rhode Island family law attorney only handles divorce cases, they actually deal with a plethora of issues. Below you’ll find a brief summary of each of the reasons why you might need a family law attorney.

  • Prenuptial Agreements – If you’re about to get married, it’s strongly advised to seek out a Rhode Island family law attorney to form a prenuptial agreement. While some believe that prenuptial agreements are only for wealthy people with valuable assets, more and more people of all socioeconomic levels will choose to have a prenuptial agreement. A family law attorney can help you to formulate the terms and conditions of a potential separation and help to protect your financial future. To learn more about how a prenuptial agreement can protect you, contact our law office today. 
  • Divorce – When a couple decides to end a marriage, each spouse will need a family law attorney who specializes in divorce to assist them through the process. Rhode Island is a state in which you are permitted to allege fault (adultery, cruelty, or abandonment). Regardless if your divorce is highly contested and messy, or completely amicable, you’ll need a Rhode Island family law attorney to support you through each step. Contact our law office to discuss the details of your divorce so you can feel more confident about moving forward.
  • Annulments – An annulment is like a divorce, but the marriage is dissolved as if it never happened. In order to obtain an annulment, you have to prove that your marriage shouldn’t have existed in the first place. For instance, in cases of fraud, incest, bigamy, or marriage by force, you qualify for an annulment. Annulments will usually involve religion in some way since you’re also dissolving the marriage in the eyes of the church as well. The annulment procedures can be complex and sometimes difficult to resolve. That’s why you need a Rhode Island family law attorney with experience handling annulment cases. To learn more about annulments and how they’re obtained, contact our law office to speak with a family lawyer. 
  • Alimony – When you divorce, you may be required to pay your ex-spouse alimony. Alimony is the payment(s) that one spouse pays to the other spouse after the divorce is finalized. Alimony can come in a variety of forms, such as permanent, rehabilitative, reimbursement, or temporary. The terms of your alimony payments will depend on if you have a prenuptial agreement and the level of financial dependency of your spouse. If you’re about to divorce and you’re concerned about the potential of having to make alimony payments, it’s important to have a Rhode Island family law attorney at your side. Give our law office a call today to learn more about alimony from an experienced divorce lawyer. 
  • Child Custody – Of course, if a divorce is pending and there are children involved, then a Rhode Island family law attorney can help create the terms and conditions of your child custody. Parents will have to decide where their child will live and how their child will spend their time. In addition, parents will have to agree on arrangements for vacations, weekends, holidays, and where their child’s permanent residence should be. A Rhode Island family law court will always urge parents to reach a compromise when it comes to agreeing on child custody arrangements. Mediation will most likely be recommended by your family law attorney. Parents can work with a mediator to help them reach an agreement for shared child custody. If there’s a high level of conflict between the divorcing parents, and mediation is not successful, the child custody case might have to go to trial. A judge will ultimately determine the conditions of child custody in court. Having proper representation from a family law attorney is absolutely necessary in cases that go to trial. It’s never recommended to handle a child custody case alone. Take advantage of our free consultations and discuss your child custody case with a family law attorney. 
  • Child Support Payments – A Rhode Island family law attorney can assist you if there are issues with child support payments. During the child custody hearing, the amount of child support will be determined. If parents can’t agree on the amount of child support that should be paid, a judge will set the amount for them. In cases where the noncustodial parent refuses to pay or consistently misses payments, a family law attorney can help. To learn more about child support payments or how to enforce child support payments, contact our law office today. 
  • Adoption in Rhode Island – Besides child custody and divorce issues, a Rhode Island family law attorney can also handle adoption cases. If you’re considering an agency adoption, private adoption, or international adoption, a family law attorney can offer extensive legal assistance. The adoption process is well-known for being long, arduous, and expensive. It’s important to work closely with a family law attorney that you trust to assure you that the adoption is handled legally. Call our law office to schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help with your adoption. 

Rhode Island Family Attorney Susan T. Perkins

If you or someone in your family is going through any of the legal issues mentioned above, don’t hesitate to contact a trusted family law attorney. Rhode Island family law attorney Susan T. Perkins is equipped with the legal knowledge and communication skills to get you and your family through difficult times. As an experienced family lawyer, she understands how important it is to navigate through legal issues with empathy and an open mind. 

Contact Our Rhode Island Family Law Office

Call (401) 324-2990 to schedule a free consultation with Rhode Island Attorney Susan T. Perkins today to learn more about what they can do for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rhode Island Family Law

As a family law office, we understand that our clients will often have many questions and concerns regarding divorce, child custody, child support, and many other family law issues. Understanding certain terms and conditions of family law can help you feel more comfortable with the process.

Here are some frequently asked questions we often receive from clients, and answers that can help you understand your circumstances. Of course, do not hesitate to reach out to our law office if you have a legal question or concern about Rhode Island family law that’s not mentioned in this list. 

Here are some frequently asked questions about Rhode Island Family Law: 

Who makes child custody decisions in Rhode Island?

The primary goal of a Rhode Island family law court is to provide the opportunity for the parents to decide where their child will live, how their child will spend their time, where they’ll celebrate holidays and spend their vacations. In cases where parents are facing an amicable divorce and they can agree on the arrangements of child custody, they will ultimately be the ones who decide the terms and conditions of child custody.

However, in other cases, where mediation is unsuccessful and there is a highly contested divorce, it can be difficult for parents to agree on even the simplest of terms of child custody. When parents cannot agree on child custody arrangements, their case will likely go to court and a judge be the one to make child custody decisions. A family court judge will base this decision on several different factors and ultimately decide on what’s in the best interest of the child.

A judge will consider the factors such as the age of the child, the willingness of each parent to care for the child, the mental health and physical health of both parents, histories of drug or alcohol abuse in either household, the presence of extended family or siblings, and many other variables that contribute to the overall wellness of the child. If you’re facing a divorce with a child or children involved, it’s vital to contact a Rhode Island family law attorney that specializes in child custody cases.

How is a common law marriage established in Rhode Island?

A common law marriage is when two people behave and live as though they are married. The government recognizes this arrangement, even though they never had a wedding, don’t have a marriage license, or were not married in a traditional sense.

Rhode Island is actually one of the few states that recognize common law marriage, although it can be quite difficult to have a common law marriage established by the state. In order to establish a common-law marriage in Rhode Island, you must prove the following:

  • You and your partner both hold a serious intent to enter a spousal relationship. This means that you both already consider yourself as a married couple.
  • You and your partner must live together for a substantial amount of time. Of course, if you’ve only lived together for a year or two, this will not constitute a common law marriage.
  • You and your partner both live and behave in a way that leads your community to believe that you are indeed married. You may need to collect witness testimony from neighbors or other people in your community to prove this. Doing things like filing joint tax returns and sharing insurance policies will also help establish a common law marriage in the eyes of the court.

If you and your partner are interested in establishing a common law marriage in Rhode Island, it can be tricky. It’s highly recommended to work with a family law attorney to help you with this process.

What is the transmutation of property in Rhode Island?

When a couple gets a divorce, marital property is often divided while their non-marital property is not. The non-marital property could be an inheritance or gift from a family member or a third party that only belongs to one spouse. In most cases, the non-marital property is not divided and automatically belongs to the predetermined party. However, in some cases, it is possible to split up non-marital property, which is a process referred to as “transmutation of property”.

This can happen in a variety of different circumstances. For instance, let’s say that you have a joint account with your soon-to-be-ex-spouse. Throughout your marriage, your inheritance was placed in this account and your spouse used this money for various reasons.

This can raise issues of non-marital property vs marital property and possibly lead to a transmutation case. If you’re concerned about how your property will be divided if you decide to get a divorce, an experienced Rhode Island family law attorney can help. Call our law office today to learn more.

Should I hire a lawyer if my fiancé’s attorney has already drawn up a prenuptial agreement?

In the state of Rhode Island, it’s not required to have two separate attorneys for a prenuptial agreement. However, if you’re engaged and your fiancé has already hired his or her own attorney to draw up a prenuptial agreement contract, it’s highly advised to also hire your own attorney before you sign anything. This is simply for your own protection.

Even if your fiancé has more assets than you and you don’t feel as though you have any property or assets to protect, it’s still important to have a family law attorney on your side who holds your best interest in mind. While couples never hope to have to rely on a prenuptial agreement, it’s still a necessary legal step, especially if your soon-to-be spouse has already hired an attorney to design a contract on their behalf.

If you’re getting married and you have any questions or concerns about a prenuptial agreement, contact our Rhode Island family law office as soon as possible. An experienced family law attorney can help you understand what a prenuptial agreement is and how the contract should be formulated to assure you that you’re protected.

Why should you choose mediation in Rhode Island?

Mediation is when a divorcing couple meets with a third party, also known as a mediator, to help them decide on the terms and conditions of their divorce, child custody, and child support. In most cases, your family law attorney will recommend that you choose the path of mediation. There are some key benefits to choosing mediation in Rhode Island. First, working with a neutral third party (mediator) helps you reach a compromise. When emotions are high, it can be difficult to be objective.

A mediator’s perspective can be incredibly helpful in a divorce because they can help you see solutions that you wouldn’t have originally considered. Second, those who choose mediation will often arrive at a resolution much quicker than those who don’t work with a mediator. We often say in our family law office, if you’re more interested in being divorced than going through a divorce, choose mediation. It can make the process much more efficient.

Lastly, statistics show that divorcing couples that choose to go through mediation are much more likely to show compliance with the terms and conditions of the divorce, child custody, or child support arrangements. Because it’s considered a mutual decision where both parties have a slice of control, it’s common for both parties to feel more empowered and committed to the agreement.

If you’re considering the path of mediation for your divorce, contact our law office to speak with a Rhode Island family law attorney who can help guide you through the process and answer any of your mediation questions.

Does fault matter in a Rhode Island divorce?

Even though Rhode Island doesn’t require fault in order to get a divorce, you can file for a “fault-based” divorce based on issues such as adultery, cruelty, or abandonment. In many situations, a couple will file for a no-fault divorce based on irreconcilable differences but involve fault or other marital issues when determining the division of property, alimony, child custody, or other issues associated with divorce in a family law court.

In these cases, it’s highly recommended to work with an experienced Rhode Island family law attorney. Fault-based divorce cases can be emotional, messy, and stressful for everyone involved. It’s essential to work with a family law attorney that understands the weight of these circumstances and can provide the knowledge, support, and guidance that you need at this time.

If you’re considering filing for a fault-based divorce and you’d like to speak with an attorney, contact our Rhode Island family law office today. We can discuss the specifics of your divorce and the best options available to you.

How can you change a child support order?

Changing a child support order is possible, but it’s not always easy. If both parents agree on the proposed change and the change is in the best interest of the child, it can make an adjustment of a child support order a lot easier. However, if one parent is proposing a change in a child support order and the other disagrees with it, it can make adjusting the child support order a lot more difficult.

Regardless if both parents agree or disagree on the change in a child support order, it’s highly recommended to work with a family law attorney that specializes in child support cases. If you’re thinking about filing for a change in a child support order, contact our law office to discuss your case.

What happens to child custody if a parent relocates?

In many cases after a divorce involving a child, one parent will decide to relocate. This can spark a lot of problems with the child custody arrangements. Since every child custody arrangement is unique, what happens next will depend on a variety of factors.

Rhode Island has two kinds of custody: legal custody and physical custody. These can be broken down into two types of custody: sole custody and shared custody. If a parent has sole physical and legal custody, they can relocate without any legal conflicts with the other parent.

However, if both parents share legal and physical custody, and one parent wants to relocate, this can create a lot of legal issues for both parties.

If you have joint or shared custody and you wish to relocate or if your ex-spouse wants to relocate, it’s important to speak with a Rhode Island family law attorney right away. There will be a lot of details to discuss, understand, and attempt to collaborate on before any decisions can be made before a family court. Schedule a free consultation with our family law office today and we can discuss your options.

How much does it cost to hire a family law attorney?

The cost of a family law attorney will vary according to your needs. For instance, drawing up a prenuptial agreement contract will be less costly than dealing with a highly contested divorce case. Because there are a plethora of family law issues that a lawyer deals with, and since every case is unique, it can be difficult to determine an exact cost of a Rhode Island family law attorney.

When considering how much you’re willing to spend on a family law attorney, it’s also important to consider your legal goals, desired results, and potential consequences. For instance, if you’re facing a child custody battle and a messy divorce, you want to hire the best Rhode Island family law attorney, no matter what the cost is. When your family unit and your rights are being jeopardized, you only want to work with the best legal minds.

To discuss potential legal fees and the average cost of hiring a Rhode Island family law attorney, contact our law office today to learn more.

How do you choose a good family law attorney?

There are a few key things to keep in mind when choosing a family law attorney for your case. First, you want to make sure that they’re not only familiar with Rhode Island family law, but they also have extensive experience working on a variety of family law cases. Don’t hesitate to ask your potential family law attorney as many questions as possible about their experience in court, working with families, or handling child custody cases. Second, be sure that you hire a family law attorney who is accessible.

It’s very common for parents or divorcing couples to have questions and concerns throughout the divorce or child custody procedures. Not being able to reach your family law attorney can emphasize feelings of helplessness, anxiety, stress, and frustration. Make sure that you’re working with someone who isn’t only dedicated to your case, but is also available and accessible to you.

Lastly, because family law cases can be emotional and intense, it’s absolutely necessary to work with a family law attorney that has excellent communication skills and an ability to empathize. You want your lawyer to be able to understand your circumstances, listen to you when you’re expressing concerns, and be able to act appropriately when conflicts or obstacles arise.

Susan T. Perkins is a Rhode Island family law attorney that possesses all of these characteristics. She has years of experience in family law and has an extensive legal background in divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, and other family law issues. She’s always been committed to her clients and makes it a priority to create time for them to answer their questions and address their concerns.

She’s also an effective communicator and negotiator. She holds a deep understanding of family law conflicts and knows what kind of pain a family goes through when a divorce takes place or a custody battle emerges. Susan T. Perkins approaches every family law case with patience, understanding, and dedication.

Contact Rhode Island Family Law Attorney Susan T. Perkins

If you or someone in your family is facing a divorce, child custody battle, child support problem, or any other family law issue, don’t hesitate to contact a trusted family law attorney. Susan T. Perkins is a family law attorney that’s equipped with the legal knowledge and communication skills to get you and your family through these difficult times. 

Call (401) 324-2990 to schedule a free consultation with Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer Susan T. Perkins today to learn more about what she can do for you. Our law firm is open 24 hours and ready to provide you with legal advice on your family law matter, divorce proceedings, divorce law, restraining order, divorce mediation, joint custody, marital assets as well as domestic violence and more.

Rhode Island Family Lawyer Susan T. Perkins

The Law Office of Rhode Island Family Attorney Susan T. Perkins is open 24 Hours a day and ready to take on your case. Choosing an experienced attorney, who is familiar with the area is essential for great results. To schedule a free consultation call (401) 324-2990 and start your defense today. Don’t leave your future to chance, call one of our Rhode Island Family Attorneys today.