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Not every Rhode Island divorce requires each party, or either party to hire a Rhode Island divorce lawyer to represent them.

I've thought about this divorce concept for more than five (5) years now.  Every week I get calls about Rhode Island divorces.  Most of the time people are shopping to either free advice or an attorneys' rate for a simple uncontested Rhode Island divorce.

Why is that?  It's because money is the big issue with people these days and it doesn't take a Rhode Island lawyer to know that an uncontested divorce is going to cost less than a contested or bitter divorce.  So people just use their common sense and ask for the rate for a simple, uncontested divorce even if they really don't understand what it means for a divorce to be truly "uncontested."

But is asking for a Rhode Island lawyer's rate for their divorce as a simple or uncontested divorce just about the money?  Possibly not.

Some attorneys in Rhode Island find this kind of phone lawyer shopping offensive.  I can understand that.  After all, divorces aren't a one size fits all thing.  Or at least they shouldn't be.  After all, since no two people are EXACTLY alike in the world then it makes sense that now two divorces which involve two people are never EXACTLY alike, right?  Isn't it only common sense?  

Yet let's remove the Rhode Island divorce cost factor from the picture.  Let's assume it doesn't exist at all.  What is another reason for asking any question about a simple, uncontested or amicable Rhode Island divorce?  Could it be because the person wants to be amicable, or simple, or uncontested?  Sure.

So imagine you are an attorney.  A person calls you with questions about a simple, amicable, uncontested Rhode Island divorce.  If you leave out the cost of the divorce, you might actually have a person on the phone who wants to be amicable and not have a contested divorce.  Consider it for a moment.

You are an attorney and you may now have 1/2 of the divorcing couple in a friendly position who wants to be agreeable and resolve the divorce.  Is it possible that basically 50% of the job of getting to friendly/nominal divorce hearing is already present?  It is absolutely possible.  In fact, if the person doesn't have that much money and he or she is attorney shopping for the most affordable lawyer on an amicable Rhode Island divorce, doesn't it make sense that the cost factor is also pushing the person to be amicable and keep the divorce uncontested? It not only makes sense, it is highly probable.

So why do I see our Rhode Island Family Court divorce calendars filled with cases that people aren't resolving by the Friendly Court Hearing Date (aka Nominal Hearing Date)?

I've watched and considered this interesting Rhode Island divorce phenomenon for over a year now. Now while I do represent people with more complicated cases, I coach even more people to manage their own divorces, represent themselves, work out agreements with their own spouses, and even co-parent better.

There are two factors I have identified.  

One factor is when one spouse who can't or won't come to terms with a divorce.  This could be due to the spouse being unreasonable, mental health issues, or pure bitterness and anger.  

The other factor is the involvement of one or more attorneys involved in the case who create conflict in the divorce sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly. 

To be sure divorces can be emotional.  They are too susceptible of tipping from a simple uncontested divorce to a contested, drawn out divorce.  Too much of it is seen these days.  Some days it literally pervades the atmosphere in the courtroom.

In short, I created coaching to help people and not to put anything even remotely amounting to a substantial amount of money in my pocket.  Certainly I'm no saint, I still have to charge for what I do or frankly I won't be eating or I'll be freezing during the winter.

Yet, divorce in our economy right now appears to be on the rise and while I certainly won't profess that in any way I stop it from happening, I felt I had to do something with my skills to make it easier.

So Rhode Island Divorce Coaching was created by me as a solo practicing Rhode Island lawyer.  I focus my entire practice on divorce and family law but I will certainly tell you that my mother raised me well.  She raised me to help others when I can, to fight against what's wrong without violence, and to do what is right when I can.

So here I am doing what I can. I'm not in a position to represent people or coach for free but I'm doing what I can.  When people come to me for representation I may do so, but if I feel that there is any chance that they can properly make it through their divorce using my coaching sessions, then I explain the difference and recommend the coaching when appropriate.

One Rhode Island Divorce Coaching session is only $135.  I provide a full hour of time.  During your session I learn about you, your marriage, your family, your assets, your debts, your income, your education and factors in your family that may be considered in a divorce.  I also the take time to explain to you important aspects of Rhode Island Divorce Process and it's Procedures, important Rhode Island Divorce laws (aka RI Domestic Relations Laws); uncontested divorce proceedings, contested divorce proceedings, the different things the Family Court will want to hear about and what you should discuss with your spouse and answers to your most important questions and concerns.  Lastly, I help you determine whether you truly need a lawyer to represent you or not and discover what might work best for you based upon your personality and what we have discussed during our confidential coaching session.

That's quite a bit to cover for only $135.  One kind woman came to me for a single session after going through three (3) lawyers, over an eight (8) month period of time to the tune of about $7,500 and had this nice statement to make about my service.

"I wish I had found you sooner Chris.  It's sad to find out that what I learned from you in one hour was more than I learned from all my the other attorneys I hired for the past 8 months."  

This was perhaps the best unsolicited testimonial I could have ever received.  For sake of confidentiality and privacy I do not reveal the names of my clients with testimonials because I work with them in the background and I respect their privacy.  However, I can state without hesitation that this is a verbatim quote from an actual client.

Many clients have represented similar sentiments, compliments and testimonials.  

Imagine how much help I can be to you and the damage I might prevent if you met with me just one time.  Isn't it worth $135.00 to be informed about what happens, be prepared for what might come, and peal away the veil of mystery that causes the fear and anxiety associated with divorce proceedings.

I'm just a call away and I look forward to helping you! 


Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall, Attorney-at-Law

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

Discover the Tremendous Benefits You Receive by 

Participating in Family Law Coaching Sessions!

Visit the RhodeIslandDivorceCoach.com

Call (401) 632-6976 Now
to
Schedule Your Low-Cost Rhode Island Divorce* or Family Law* Coaching Session!

Experience the Difference!

Copyright 2000 to Present.  Christopher A. Pearsall, Esquire
 Offering Rhode Island Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Coaching for a New Millenium!

Note: If this article contains a case scenario with names, dates or amounts, any resemblance any connection to any person or situation now or previously existing is purely accidental, unintentional, and is merely a mistaken creation in the mind of the reader.

* The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.  The court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any particular field of practice.

- - Recommended Websites - -

Pearsall.net | AttorneyPearsall.com | Rhode Island Divorce Tips | ChristopherPearsall.com | GuaranteedWealth.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorney | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer | ChrisPearsall.com | LegalScholar.com | Pearsall-Law-Associates.comRhode Island Divorce Attorneys | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers | Rhode Island Divorce Coach  |  RI Divorce Coach | RI Divorce Lawyer on Twitter | Rhode Island Divorce Coach on Twitter | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer on Facebook.com| Attorney Chris Pearsall at LawGuru.com | Rhode Island Family Law Lawyer - RI Consumer Tips

RI Child Support Question for The Rhode Island Divorce Coaching Lawyer!

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Question: I just got served child support paperwork for a child I haven't seen in 10 years. I paid about $50/week between 2001 and 2002 and then she just up and moved without letting me know. I had no idea where she went and she left no forwarding address. Can she legally ask me for back child support when she left town? I will pay child support going forward (a paternity test will be established first), but I don't think I should pay 10 years worth from the past when she took him away from me.


Reply: If you had an existing child support order through the Rhode Island Family Court you had an obligation to keep paying it. There is virtually always a way to find the mother and the child if you do some investigation. In the very least you should have paid it to the Rhode Island Family Court Child Support Enforcement Department so you would not be in contempt of the court's order to pay continuing support for your child. 

If there was, in fact, a child support Order from the Rhode Island Family Court in effect then your child support debt would accumulate interest at a rate of 12%. If you did not have a child support Order issued by the Rhode Island Family Court then the mother of the child is only legally entitled to ask for the court to award her child support retroactive to the date she filed the Motion to Adjudge You In Contempt or to otherwise require you to pay your Rhode Island Child Support Order from the date her Motion for Payment of Child Support was filed. The retroactive part of the court's award, with or without the 12% interest per annum is in the discretion of the judge. Ultimately the obligation to insure you pay court ordered child support is on you and not the mother of the child. 

It does not matter if the mother took off with the child or not. Your Rhode Island visitation rights and your obligation to pay child support for the support of your child are completely separate and distinct. A parent does not pay money for child support in order to have the right to see their child. Also, the money for child support is to support the child, it does not entitle you to see your child. In other words, child support payments and visitation are completely separate. 

If there was no Rhode Island Child Support Order that says you have to pay a certain amount of money each week, month, etc . . . then the mother of the child may only ask the judge to award her Rhode Island child support retroactive to the date her motion was filed and that should be specifically requested in her Motion if she is requesting retroactive child support when no Child Support Order was ever established by the Court. If there was an actual Child Support Order in place and you have not paid child support in 10 years then you should get a lawyer. If a judge were to find you in contempt of an existing Child Support Order it is always possible that you could be sentenced to the Adult Correctional Institution for failure to abide by the court's order among other things. 

Unfortunately, whether the woman left with your child or not, if there is Rhode Island Child Support in place then it is your job to protect yourself by, in the least, paying the child support that was ordered to the Rhode Island Child Support Enforcement Division of the Rhode Island Family Court. 

If you need further assistance and/or advice, I offer legal advice and coaching sessions relating to each person's specific facts and situation for an affordable rate. Whatever you decide to do, 

I wish you the very best in this difficult situation no matter what you decide to do.


Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall, Attorney-at-Law

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

Discover the Tremendous Benefits You Receive by 

Participating in Family Law Coaching Sessions!

Visit the RhodeIslandDivorceCoach.com

Call (401) 632-6976 Now
to
Schedule Your Low-Cost Rhode Island Divorce* or Family Law* Coaching Session!

Experience the Difference!

Copyright 2000 to Present.  Christopher A. Pearsall, Esquire
 Offering Rhode Island Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Coaching for a New Millenium!

Note: If this article contains a case scenario with names, dates or amounts, any resemblance any connection to any person or situation now or previously existing is purely accidental, unintentional, and is merely a mistaken creation in the mind of the reader.

* The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.  The court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any particular field of practice.

- - Recommended Websites - -

Pearsall.net | AttorneyPearsall.com | Rhode Island Divorce Tips | ChristopherPearsall.com | GuaranteedWealth.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorney | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer | ChrisPearsall.com | LegalScholar.com | Pearsall-Law-Associates.comRhode Island Divorce Attorneys | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers | Rhode Island Divorce Coach  |  RI Divorce Coach | RI Divorce Lawyer on Twitter | Rhode Island Divorce Coach on Twitter | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer on Facebook.com| Attorney Chris Pearsall at LawGuru.com | Rhode Island Family Law Lawyer - RI Consumer Tips

Rhode Island Divorce Coach Pro Se Quick Tip - The Narrated Nominal

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Can't afford a Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer for your uncontested Rhode Island Divorce proceeding?

Here's a quick tip to help you.  

On your Divorce Summons you are assigned a Nominal Date by the Rhode Island Family Court Clerk when you file your divorce papers.  Generally speaking you can think of this as your "Friendly hearing date."  

If you have everything worked out with your spouse before that date, but have to represent yourself, then it's a good idea to look at the sample questions the court gives you with your divorce packet so you'll know the kinds of questions the court may want answers to depending upon your particular circumstances.

However, the Rhode Island Family Court judge certainly doesn't expect you to ask yourself a question, then jump back on the witness stand and answer it, then jump back down and ask yourself another question and then jump back up on the witness stand and answer your own question.  Clearly that would be absurd.  

It's a good idea to prepare a narrative for the judge making a very brief statement that recites the answers to the courts questions by including them in your statement.  

When you are prepared with this kind of statement, your Rhode Island judge knows exactly the information you are giving him or her.  The more directly you can provide the needed information to the judge so you do not waste the court's time but still get the job done, the better you've done as your own lawyer.

Therefore, if the court needs to know the answer to whether it has control of the case because you or your spouse have been a resident for at least one year then don't use a question and answer form.

In your uncontested divorce hearing on the Nominal date you might start by saying.

I have been a continuous resident and domiciled inhabitant living in Rhode Island for at least one year before I filed my complaint for divorce in this case.

If your Rhode Island divorce is based upon your residency in Rhode Island then you have just told the Court that residency is based upon you and not your spouse and that you have met the one year Rhode Island residency requirement.   Best of all you've done it all in one brief sentence.

When you represent yourself in your own divorce you are acting as your own divorce lawyer.  Be professional, be as brief as you can, yet give the judge the information that is needed.

If you want to save the cost of hiring a Rhode Island divorce lawyer then you are going to need to make up that expertise by your own preparation. 

Remember folks, you are going into a Rhode Island Family Court of law.  You are not ordering a jelly donut at Dunkin Donuts.  But you can do it if you can't afford a Rhode Island divorce lawyer.

My best to you!


Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall, Attorney-at-Law

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

Discover the Tremendous Benefits You Receive by 

Participating in Family Law Coaching Sessions!

Visit the RhodeIslandDivorceCoach.com

Call (401) 632-6976 Now
to
Schedule Your Low-Cost Rhode Island Divorce* or Family Law* Coaching Session!

Experience the Difference!

Copyright 2000 to Present.  Christopher A. Pearsall, Esquire
 Offering Rhode Island Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Coaching for a New Millenium!

Note: If this article contains a case scenario with names, dates or amounts, any resemblance any connection to any person or situation now or previously existing is purely accidental, unintentional, and is merely a mistaken creation in the mind of the reader.

* The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.  The court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any particular field of practice.

- - Recommended Websites - -

Pearsall.net | AttorneyPearsall.com | Rhode Island Divorce Tips | ChristopherPearsall.com | GuaranteedWealth.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorney | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer | ChrisPearsall.com | LegalScholar.com | Pearsall-Law-Associates.comRhode Island Divorce Attorneys | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers | Rhode Island Divorce Coach  |  RI Divorce Coach | RI Divorce Lawyer on Twitter | Rhode Island Divorce Coach on Twitter | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer on Facebook.com| Attorney Chris Pearsall at LawGuru.com | Rhode Island Family Law Lawyer - RI Consumer Tips

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