Providence Rhode Island Child Custody and Visitation Lawyers

RI Child Custody and Visitation Lawyers

The Law Offices of John E. MacDonald, Inc. has years of experience helping clients achieve the results they desire in all domestic law issues. As Providence Rhode Island Child Custody and Visitation Lawyers, The Law Offices of John E. MacDonald, Inc. has successfully represented clients with different types of family legal matters: some victories have come in complicated cases wherein we successfully changed custody from the in-state mother to an out-of-state father and have accomplished excellent results with complicated child visitation issues.We recognize that in simple matters, our clients want their legal problems solved promptly, efficiently, and at a reasonable price.

Last year, The Law Office of John E. MacDonald successfully litigated numerous custody issues, twice involving changing the placement of minor children from an in-state Rhode Island mother to an out-of-state father. In each of these cases, the father contacted The Law Office of John E. MacDonald, and we immediately filed the appropriate documents, got the matters before a judge and persuaded the judge to rule in our client’s favor.

Call the Rhode Island Divorce and Child Custody Attorneys at The Law Offices of John E. MacDonald, Inc. at 401.421.1440 or EMAIL us today.

Recent Results achieved by the Rhode Island Divorce and Child Custody Attorneys of The Law Offices of John E. MacDonald, Inc.:

• Client signs over guardianship of children to children’s grandmother. Grandmother immediately moves out of state with the children; after hearing, grandmother ordered to return to Rhode Island so that client may continue to exercise visitation rights with child.
• Children placed in DCYF custody/foster care after ongoing custody dispute. Appealed magistrate’s decision, reversed. Children returned to father immediately.
• Father granted joint custody of minor child even though not biological relative. After mother relocates out of state with child, she is ordered to return to Rhode Island with the child.
• Father has placement of the children, mother testifies falsely about being unemployed, inability to pay child support. After hearing, mother adjudged in contempt, father awarded arrears, support, and attorney fees.
• Mother has sole custody of child. Father claims he has been unemployed for over two years. After hearing, the Court finds that father has the ability to pay and mother is awarded support.

The Law Office of John E. MacDonald guarantees that our custody and visitation lawyers will take the time necessary to completely explain why we are pursuing a legal avenue on your behalf. We will explain the strengths and weaknesses of your custody case from the very beginning. We keep you informed throughout your case and discuss every development with you so that you understand the process completely. You will never complete a discussion with one of our attorneys and not have the answer to your question or a plan and timeframe in which we will obtain the answer for you.

Call the Providence Rhode Island Child Custody and Visitation Lawyers at The Law Offices of John E. MacDonald, Inc. at 401.421.1440 or EMAIL us today.

Rhode Island Child Custody Law

Under Rhode Island law, child custody is determined according to the best interests of the child. As leading Rhode Island child custody lawyers we represent both mothers and fathers in issues involving sole custody and joint custody/shared custody of children.

The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, CHAPTER 15-14.1 of Rhode Island General Laws governs how the courts determine custody. We have extensive experience with complex child custody cases and will provide you the most aggressive representation.

Call the Rhode Island Child Custody Attorneys at The Law Offices of John E. MacDonald, Inc. at 401.421.1440 or EMAIL us today.

Rhode Island Visitation Law

Rhode Island law specifies that reasonable visitation should be granted to the non-custodial parent in almost all circumstances. Generally, parents are free to visit with their children at times that are mutually agreed to by both parents. Unfortunately, some parents’ communication is so poor, or animosity so high, that resolving visitation issues is impossible. In other instances, the conduct of one of the parents is so disruptive that limited or supervised visitation is required to protect a child.

The guiding principle of visitation is the best interest of the child. In determining visitation, the court will consider a number of factors, including but not limited to:

• The age of the child;
• geographical proximity between the child and the non-custodial parent;
• the work schedules of both parents;
• any special difficulties that require special consideration

We can assist you in negotiating visitation arrangements that work for all parties. In the event that such arrangements cannot be resolved between you and the other parent, we can assist in presenting the facts to the Court, so that the Court is aware of the special circumstances relating to your child.

Once custody and visitation have been established either through agreement or court order, parents may seek court involvement to modify the established arrangement if they cannot agree to a change. In order to support a request for a change, the parent seeking the modification must show a substantial change in circumstances. A custodial parent’s failure to comply with a visitation schedule may result in a change in custody. Courts often give modification requests motivated by the relocation of one parent special consideration.

Call the Rhode Island Child Custody Attorneys at The Law Offices of John E. MacDonald, Inc. at 401.421.1440 or EMAIL us today.

Results achieved by the Divorce and Custody Lawyers of The Law Offices of John E. MacDonald, Inc.:

• Client signs over guardianship of children to children’s grandmother. Grandmother immediately moves out of state with the children; after hearing, grandmother ordered to return to Rhode Island so that client may continue to exercise visitation rights with child.
• Children placed in DCYF custody/foster care after ongoing custody dispute. Appealed magistrate’s decision, reversed. Children returned to father immediately.
• Father granted joint custody of minor child even though not biological relative. After mother relocates out of state with child, she is ordered to return to Rhode Island with the child.
• Father has placement of the children, mother testifies falsely about being unemployed, inability to pay child support. After hearing, mother adjudged in contempt, father awarded arrears, support, and attorney fees.
• Mother has sole custody of child. Father claims he has been unemployed for over two years. After hearing, the Court finds that father has the ability to pay and mother is awarded support.
• Father complained ex-wife was preventing him from visiting with his two daughters in Rhode Island. After full hearing, father returned to Texas with his two children; ex-wife now must travel to Texas if she wishes to visit with her children. Supreme Court stayed the move of the daughters, who remained in Rhode Island with mother. Conducted a second hearing within four weeks: at conclusion of second hearing, judge again orders that the daughters live with father in Texas; ex-wife now must travel to Texas if she wishes to visit with her children. Daughters are permanently residing in Texas with their father.
• Father complained that ex-wife prevented his son from having unfettered communication with him. On day of hearing, father wins; son moves with his father to Michigan that day.
• Mother complains that father is uninvolved in his teenage son’s life. After several hearings, mother granted sole custody.
• Parties divorced out-of-state, relocate to Rhode Island. Two minor children alternating visitation with parents week to week. Children refuse to visit with mother despite strict visitation schedule. Placement successfully changed to father.
• Termination of child support for father wherein child had reached age of majority and graduated high school, but mother insisted that an out-of-state decree provided for additional support and that child had special medical needs. After hearing, child support terminated.
• Divorce wherein parties cannot agree on holiday visitation with the minor child. Successfully represented mother, who will now have her daughter with her each Christmas Eve to Christmas Day.
• After years of child living with father, successfully modified placement so that mother has physical possession.
• Divorce wherein one party is uncertain whether the child his ex-spouse is carrying is his. After paternity tests, determined that child is his and court grants him joint custody with visitation rights.

Call the Rhode Island Child Custody Attorneys at The Law Offices of John E. MacDonald, Inc. at 401.421.1440 or EMAIL us today.