Blog

Marriage is both a personal commitment and a legal relationship. Along with emotional considerations, couples often bring assets, debts, family responsibilities, and future goals into the conversation. Agreements created before marriage can help couples address these matters openly and thoughtfully.

Adoption is a life-changing decision for both the child and the prospective parents. It involves a variety of legal, emotional, and practical steps that must be carefully managed. Each stage requires attention to detail and adherence to Rhode Island adoption laws. Families who prepare thoroughly can make the process smoother and less stressful for everyone involved.

Marriage is one of life’s most meaningful commitments, but it also creates a powerful legal and financial bond between two people. By establishing clear expectations ahead of time, couples can strengthen their relationship and protect their future.

When aging individuals or those with chronic illnesses consider their future, the possibility of needing long‑term care looms large. In Rhode Island, as elsewhere in the United States, the costs associated with nursing homes, assisted living, or home health care can quickly deplete a person’s savings.

High-asset divorces bring more than just the usual concerns—there may be businesses to divide, investments to evaluate, real estate to assess, and retirement accounts to examine. In these situations, both parties are likely concerned about protecting their financial future, and tensions can escalate quickly.

When families face legal issues such as divorce, custody, or property division, it can be emotionally exhausting and financially draining. Many people want to avoid the courtroom, which is why alternative dispute resolution methods like arbitration and mediation are growing in popularity.

Alimony, also known as spousal support, is designed to provide financial assistance to a lower-earning spouse during or after a divorce. The purpose is to help maintain a standard of living similar to that enjoyed during the marriage while allowing time for financial independence.

When parents separate or divorce, custody issues often become the most sensitive and contested part of the case. In Rhode Island family law, a judge may appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) to help the court decide what's best for the child. The GAL doesn't represent either parent but instead focuses solely on the child's best interests.

Creating a long-term financial plan for a loved one with disabilities requires more than general estate planning. A special needs trust allows individuals with disabilities to benefit from financial support while remaining eligible for government benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

When a marriage ends in divorce, one of the most complicated financial issues that may arise is the division of retirement benefits. For military families, this often includes the fair and lawful distribution of a military pension.