Blog

Finding the Right Divorce Lawyer in Rhode Island

No matter how agreeable, divorce is never a pleasant experience. Whether you live in Rhode Island, or anywhere else for that matter, finding the right divorce lawyer can be difficult. You want to be fair, but on the other hand, you don’t want to give away the store to maintain your nice guy image. When hiring an attorney, you need someone who understands what you’re going through plus what you need to survive. If children are involved, it’s even more complicated. No-fault divorces sound like a civilized option, but any attorney will tell you this: if it’s not in writing, there’s a better than even chance that issues will arise in the future.

The Role of Divorce Lawyers

A good divorce attorney will:

• Negotiate with the opposing attorney to reach a realistic and satisfactory settlement
• Advocate on your behalf for child custody, child support, and spousal support
• Uncover any assets your spouse may be attempting to hide
• Evaluate offers for settlement
• Resolve any additional disputes that may arise during the divorce process

Unfortunately, there are instances where attorneys do not operate in the best interests of their clients. If you suspect your attorney is not completely working on your behalf, you have every right to question their decisions. Remember, you are not obliged to accept your attorney’s advice. You should never feel pressured to sign off on anything.

What Does a Divorce Cost

The cost of your divorce is a function of how contested your divorce is. Filing and service fees are about $200. If there are no disputes about child custody, child support, visitation, alimony, or the division of assets, your divorce could cost as little as $1,500. Assuming you use an attorney, the most uncomplicated cases cost around $1,500. Contested divorces, depending upon their complexity, can cost as much as $15,000 from each party. This money comes from the marital estate.

How to Pick a Good Divorce Lawyer

The notion of the “best” divorce attorneys is subjective. Each case is different, with its particular requirements. No one wants their divorce to be contentious. A good lawyer is equal parts appropriately firm on your behalf without creating unnecessary unpleasantness and conflict. They listen to your concerns and are honest with you if what you want is unrealistic. You’re looking for someone with the following qualities:

• Experience
• Respected by Their Peers
• Honesty
• Appropriately Aggressive on Your Behalf
• Forthright About Fees
• A Good Negotiator
• Committed to Your Case
• Compassionate

A good divorce has A+ communication skills; experience with cases similar to yours; people skills; willingness to research the facts of the case. Do not be reluctant to ask how cases similar to yours have turned out. If you sense that the attorney seems unduly negative regarding your situation, you may want to move on to someone with whom you feel better connected.

The Calvino Law Associates Promise

The legal team at Calvino Law Associates handles a wide range of divorce cases in Rhode Island and Southern Mass each year. Some of them are straightforward, some are unavoidably complex. Our attorneys always strive for amicable conclusions that keep cases out of court.

If you are contemplating divorce, call us at (401) 205-3733 or use our online contact form. We serve Providence, North Kingstown, and the surrounding areas in Rhode Island.

Calvino Law Associates

373 Elmwood Ave.

Providence, RI 02907

(401) 205-3733

The Best Way to Confront Your Divorce in Providence

“I’m getting a divorce,” you tell yourself, almost in disbelief. “Where do I start? Will I be able to get custody of my own children?” As you start going through the complexities of divorce, it can be difficult to find the right answers in the midst of the emotional turmoil.

Courts in Providence strive for an equitable division, but this does not necessarily mean that you will be able to split everything 50/50. Much of this depends on certain factors such as pre-marital and marital agreements, child custody, child support, assets, alimony, etc. With all this at play, hiring a considerate and a strategically minded divorce lawyer is essential for a beneficial divorce settlement.

Although you may feel anger, betrayal, even rage – it is essential that you remain civil, yet cautious of your spouse. Gather all financial documentation, medical documentation, etc. This includes keeping documentation of all your correspondence with your spouse.  If they provide you with a written agreement, have it looked over thoroughly by a lawyer. Not only will you protect yourself, but a strategic Providence divorce lawyer will be able to use the language of the agreement to work in your favor.

If you wish to get alimony for reasons concerning salary, medical issues, or other legitimate reasons; keep in mind that there is a distinction between rehabilitative alimony and indefinite alimony. Since the court is trying to be as equitable as possible for both parties, alimony may only be provided only for a short amount of time as you get accustomed to your new lifestyle. Only in special medical cases can the alimony be indefinite.

If your main concern is child custody, which can affect your future relationship with you children, understand that the courts will determine the best possible situation for your child based on standard of living. If the initial decision is unfavorable, you will be able to apply for child custody modification after three years.

Despite the difficulties of a divorce, using the right strategies while remaining composed will allow you to leave the divorce better off than you were before.

Rhode Island track system determines how long a divorce will take

Rhode Island residents seeking out a divorce usually want to know exactly how long it takes before they are single and no longer married. The simple answer is that there is no simple answer. It all depends on certain factors that have led to the development of Rhode Island’s ‘track system.’

There are two separate tracks that divorces can fall under in Rhode Island. The person filing for divorce can decide from either a ‘nominal’ track or ‘contested’ track.  In a nominal track divorce, a couple is pretty much splitting up on amicable terms.

In a nominal track divorce, a hearing date is usually set about 11 weeks from the time the petition for divorce is filed. Nominal track divorces lead to nominal track hearings and in these cases, defendants are not disputing the terms of the divorce.

Nominal track divorces filed under irreconcilable differences have a 90-day wait period before the Final Decree of divorce, which declares the parties no longer married. But there is even a quicker way, if the couple has lived separately for a time of at least three years. In those cases, couples only need to wait 20 days after the nominal hearing to get their Final Decree.

A contested track divorce takes a bit longer as those hearing dates usually fall 13 to 16 weeks after the petition for divorce has been filed. A divorce is classified on this track when there is a minimum of one issue that cannot be resolved by the couple. This then puts the final decisions in the hands of the court.

This is the part of the process that could elongate a divorce. There is a need to produce witnesses, testimony and proof. Timetables could be as short as a day but could also extend  to several months.

While the divorce process is unfolding, there may also be a need to appear in court regarding temporary orders in the areas of child support, child custody, visitation rights and even contempt. These temporary orders are upheld until the divorce can be final.

No matter which track you take, divorce is never an easy time for families. A Providence divorce lawyer at Calvino Law Associates can help you through what can be a complex process. Lean on our years of experience as we strive to get North Kingston and Providence couples through their divorce as quickly and productively as possible.

Hiring a Reliable Divorce Attorney from North Kingstown

It is a sad fact that half of all marriages end in divorce. This can be a very emotional time and it can be difficult or even impossible to make the right decisions without independent advice. It is important that you engage a reliable divorce attorney in North Kingstown to make sure that you are making the right financial and custodial decisions. It can be tempting to get things sorted out quickly and even when it is done in a cordial atmosphere you may be agreeing to things that have long term implications that you have not thought about.

A Divorce Attorney Can Advise On Custody
One of the areas which can cause the most problems is with child custody. It often elicits unreasonable demands that can escalate on both sides make progress difficult. An attorney will help you look at all the options and will also give you realistic advice so that you can hear what your chances are of being grant each option if you force the matter to a court judgment.

Be Open and Honest With Your Attorney
It is in your best interests to be completely honest with your lawyer. You are protected under the seal of privilege and by having all the facts your case can be seen in its true light. There is nothing more devastating to a case than when information is held back and then it derails a case. When the information is known then it can be explained and countered no matter how embarrassing or negative it may be.

Divorce Attorney Costs
The majority of divorces are not contested and if it is at all possible then having a fair agreement taking into account custodial and financial arrangements is the preferred outcome. The fees involved for this will be very minor. If there is no agreement possible then costs can rapidly escalate for both sides. It is important that you listen to the advice of your divorce attorney from North Kingstown.

In this difficult time a costly legal battle that ruins the finances of both parties can be the worst possible outcome. When you are confident in your representative and trust their advice then you can obtain the best possible outcome.