Family Law

Newport, RI Family Law & Divorce Attorneys

Leading Divorce and Family Law Attorneys in Rhode Island

The Law Offices of Howe and Garside, LTD are staffed by Rhode Island Family Law Attorneys serving clients in RI towns surrounding Newport, RI such as Middletown, Portsmouth, Jamestown, North Kingston, South Kingston, Wakefield, Tiverton, and beyond.

We handle family law matters in the following areas:

Contact a Divorce Attorney of the Law
Offices of Howe & Garside, LTD. at:

divorce family law

What is Family Law ?

“Family Law” can be a confusing term. Most people refer to Family Law as the branch of law that deals with intra-family relations and this includes extended family legal matters. This area of law encompasses such areas as civilian and military divorce, adoption, domestic violence, restraining orders, paternity cases, juvenile law, same-sex agreements, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support (alimony), grandparent’s rights, legal separation, Property Settlement Agreements, Prenuptial Agreements and enforcement of court orders. In Rhode Island these matters are adjudicated in the Family Court.

But there is more to Family Law. Family Law also encompasses “Elder Law”. Elder Law involves estate planning including revocable (living) trusts, irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, wills, durable powers of attorney, advance medical directives, life estates, family businesses and gift planning. Family planning also includes a knowledge of Social Security law, tax law, Medicaid planning and Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefits. Each city and town has a Probate Court to establish, manage and conclude guardianships, conservatorships, custodianships, decedent’s estates and to oversee adoptions and name changes.

Probate Court appeals and other non-Family Court matters are adjudicated in the Superior Court in Rhode Island.

Family matters and issues are often resolved with the guidance of a mediator, often specifically referred to as a divorce or Family Court mediator or an “elder law” mediator.

Because Family Law covers so many topics, it is vitally important to seek experienced legal counsel when you have a family issue or dispute and make certain that your attorney has experience and training to meet your needs. It is always wise to “Counsel First.” “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Often, a skilled mediator can assist two or more people to avoid the emotional and dollar costs of litigation.

Contact a Divorce Attorney of the Law
Offices of Howe & Garside, LTD. at:

divorce family law

Why Are The Divorce Lawyers
Here Different?

When our RI divorce attorney represents a party in a divorce action, we often are met with unrealistic offers from opposing counsel or we are not provided the information to put forth a fair and realistic offer grounded on facts, instead of emotion. Our willingness to think ahead and the tools at our disposal, assist us to do that. For example, we use something called Family Law Software, which allows us to present clear projections of the current and future budgets of the parties with accurate future tax computations. The result can provide a more accurate picture of the possible economic consequences of an offer or counter-offer, into the future.

When Jeremy Howe and Kristy Garside represent a party in a divorce action, we often are met with unrealistic offers from opposing counsel or we want to put forth a fair and realistic offer grounded on facts and not emotion. Our use of Family Law software allows us in cases to present clear projections of the current and future budgets of the persons with accurate future tax computations. The result is a more accurate picture of the possible economic consequences of an offer or counter-offer.

Similarly, when Nancy Johnson-Gallagher and Jeremy Howe of “Partners In Mediation” mediate cases, they use Family Law Software in most of the mediations. The software serves the important purpose of pointing out the true and complete economic position of the couple. Most often, one or both of the mediating couple do not have a clear picture of their economic reality. If the other party or the mediator(s) show that reality, they can be seen as “siding” with the other person (who does understand their reality) or as trying to defeat the desire of the other to be divorced.

More importantly, the software allows your mediators or your lawyer to manipulate all variables to determine which solution is the best solution:

  • What is the effect of alimony on their taxes?
  • Can we convert some property division into alimony within the IRS rules?
  • What difference does it make if mother or father takes the dependency exemption(s)?
  • Is the proposed property division fair?
  • Did the division of the assets take into account the tax consequences of the asset division?
  • What long-term financial effect will the offers have on the individuals?

All of these questions can be answered through use of the software and in many divorces and mediations, the software information has been the key to showing our clients the “bottom” line regarding their future budget and their future estates.

Another distinction between our attorneys and others is our “goal-oriented” approach. Much like mediating, we assist our clients to understand their rights, but we also help them consider their long term goals in order to improve their lives after divorce.

In our cases, we bring our legal knowledge (Jeremy Howe, Kristy J. Garside, and Susan E. Brassard) and our therapy experience (Nancy Johnson-Gallagher, LICSW when mediating) into the room with our Family Law Software, and we have found that our method is cost-effective and that the parties are in a better position to negotiate or mediate, if they are not working in a vacuum. Similarly, a divorcing client can accept a solution if he or she can see the present and future effect of an offer on them personally. In all cases, we offer our clients or the mediating parties the option of validating the data with their own accountant. We submit that we can help clients through the difficult divorce process better through our use of Family Law Software and how we approach the issues.

Contact a Divorce Attorney of the Law
Offices of Howe & Garside, LTD. at:

Testimonials

what a few of our clients have to say about us.

Contact Info.

Contact us

55 Memorial Blvd. Suite 5
Newport, RI 02840
Phone: (401) 841-5700
Fax: 401-367-0192

By Appointment

640 George Washington Hwy
Building B, Suite 103
Lincoln, RI 02865
Phone: (401) 841-5700

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Free Phone Consultation

    We also make ElderLaw housecalls!