Blog Posts in 2017

Relocation Cases in Divorce: Who Stays with the Children?

One of the most contentious aspects of a typical divorce is child custody . Most parents want to spend as much time with their children after a divorce as possible and are willing to fight in court to ensure that happens. By the end, even an uncontested divorce can become heated as both spouses do what they can to win their parental rights. However, when a divorce is settled, there is nothing that ...

Relocation Cases in Divorce: Who Stays with the Children?

One of the most contentious aspects of a typical divorce is child custody . Most parents want to spend as much time with their children after a divorce as possible and are willing to fight in court to ensure that happens. By the end, even an uncontested divorce can become heated as both spouses do what they can to win their parental rights. However, when a divorce is settled, there is nothing that ...

Client Buys Dog in China with Now-Ex-Boyfriend, Ownership Issue Arises

Who really owns a dog, a creature with its own free will and decisions to make? How can ownership of anything be established within a couple that never gets married? Does the fact that the dog was bought in a foreign country change anything? All of these questions and more needed to be addressed carefully in a recent dog ownership case in Rhode Island, which highlights just how complex an animal ...

Attorney Stephen M. Prignano Selected to 24th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation

Our firm, McIntyre Tate LLP, is thrilled to announce our very own Attorney Stephen M. Prignano has been selected to the 24 th edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation. This exciting honor highlights Attorney Prignano’s dedication to excellence, service, and advocacy. Chosen by his peers, this selection is all the most prestigious, as only the top legal talents in the ...

Rhode Island Child Custody Laws for Unmarried Parents

Legal issues regarding child custody in Rhode Island are often complicated and stressful. At McIntyre Tate LLP, we are committed to providing diligent representation for clients navigating the RI family court system. If you are a divorced or unmarried parent, what are your rights concerning custody of your child? Here’s what you need to know: Mother’s Custody Rights An unmarried mother has sole ...

Attorney Deborah M. Tate Elected to Bradley Hospital Foundation Board of Governors

Our firm, McIntyre Tate LLP, is thrilled to announce our very own Attorney Deborah M. Tate has been elected to the Bradley Hospital Foundation Board of Governors for the Fiscal Year 2018. This exciting accomplishment highlights Attorney Tate’s sincere dedication to her clients, colleagues, and community, and our legal team is honored to work alongside such a prestigious and driven Rhode Island ...

Do You Need a Divorce Lawyer?

The divorce process is often complicated and emotionally traumatic. Our experienced Rhode Island divorce attorneys can guide you every step of the way. While some divorce cases may be simple and amicable, it is still important to seek the help of a knowledgeable lawyer to protect your interests and uphold your rights. Our firm combines compassionate services with tenacious representation. We can ...

Best Lawyers in America© Recognizes Attorney Deborah Tate for Family Law

Attorney Deborah M. Tate of McIntyre Tate LLP in Providence, Rhode Island has been recognized by the 24 th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© for her work in Family Law. She has been able to receive this honorable distinction every year since 2007, which is an impressive accomplishment not many other legal professionals in the country have been able to complete. Providence Business News , a ...

How Can Wasteful Dissipation Impact Your Divorce?

If spending was a sore spot for you and your spouse during your marriage, it’s not unlikely it will serve as a point of contention during your divorce . When a couple goes about dividing assets, the division of funds can be extremely tricky, especially if one spouse unfairly spent more than another. Courts will make the division as fair as possible, but if there was unfair or unnecessary spending ...

How Can Wasteful Dissipation Impact Your Divorce?

If spending was a sore spot for you and your spouse during your marriage, it’s not unlikely it will serve as a point of contention during your divorce . When a couple goes about dividing assets, the division of funds can be extremely tricky, especially if one spouse unfairly spent more than another. Courts will make the division as fair as possible, but if there was unfair or unnecessary spending ...

Attorney Stephen Prignano Leads Panel at Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting

Stephen Prignano will be leading a panel discussion at the Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 15, 2017. The panel will focus on new cases and legal developments in Rhode Island in the area of family law . The session is entitled, “Rhode Island Family Court: Statutory and Case Law Update” and also features presentations by experienced Rhode Island family law ...

Courts continue to address the definition of "parent" to extend beyond the traditional "normal" gender considerations to now include "tri-custody"

Recent New York cases have maintained an agreed-upon custody arrangement where the mother, father, and the paternal grandparents had joint custody of the children with primary physical custody and decision making authority granted to the grandparents. Such cases involve an investigation into and determination of “extraordinary circumstances” to first determine standing rights as between parents ...

Courts continue to address the definition of "parent" to extend beyond the traditional "normal" gender considerations to now include "tri-custody"

Recent New York cases have maintained an agreed-upon custody arrangement where the mother, father, and the paternal grandparents had joint custody of the children with primary physical custody and decision making authority granted to the grandparents. Such cases involve an investigation into and determination of “extraordinary circumstances” to first determine standing rights as between parents ...

Courts continue to address the definition of "parent" to extend beyond the traditional "normal" gender considerations to now include "tri-custody"

Recent New York cases have maintained an agreed-upon custody arrangement where the mother, father, and the paternal grandparents had joint custody of the children with primary physical custody and decision making authority granted to the grandparents. Such cases involve an investigation into and determination of “extraordinary circumstances” to first determine standing rights as between parents ...

Robert J. Sgroi Lectures at National Business Institute Seminar

Robert J. Sgroi recently lectured at a seminar, sponsored by the National Business Institute, addressing “Advanced Custody and Support Issues”. Attendees included Judge Karen Lynch Bernard of the Rhode Island Family Court, as well as area attorneys and psychologists. The topics Bob specifically spoke on were “Negotiating and Drafting Parenting Plans” and “Alienation and Abuse Allegations in ...

Attorney Tate Discusses Joint Custody Concerns with Super Lawyers®

Super Lawyers® , a prominent association that rates and reviews attorneys across the country, recently spoke with Rhode Island Divorce Attorney Deborah Miller Tate of McIntyre Tate LLP to discuss the many nuances of joint custody agreements in the state. Within the article, which you can view in full by clicking here and visiting the Super Lawyers® website, Deborah explained that the starting ...

Attorney Tate Discusses Joint Custody Concerns with Super Lawyers®

Super Lawyers® , a prominent association that rates and reviews attorneys across the country, recently spoke with Rhode Island Divorce Attorney Deborah Miller Tate of McIntyre Tate LLP to discuss the many nuances of joint custody agreements in the state. Within the article, which you can view in full by clicking here and visiting the Super Lawyers® website, Deborah explained that the starting ...

South Carolina Rules on Same-Sex Common Law Marriage

In a recent South Carolina trial court decision, a family court justice found that a same-sex couple who had separated after thirty (30) years of being together had a common law marriage. South Carolina is one of eight (8) states that recognize common law marriage, including Rhode Island. In so finding, the family court justice determined that the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 landmark decision - ...

South Carolina Rules on Same-Sex Common Law Marriage

In a recent South Carolina trial court decision, a family court justice found that a same-sex couple who had separated after thirty (30) years of being together had a common law marriage. South Carolina is one of eight (8) states that recognize common law marriage, including Rhode Island. In so finding, the family court justice determined that the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 landmark decision - ...

South Carolina Rules on Same-Sex Common Law Marriage

In a recent South Carolina trial court decision, a family court justice found that a same-sex couple who had separated after thirty (30) years of being together had a common law marriage. South Carolina is one of eight (8) states that recognize common law marriage, including Rhode Island. In so finding, the family court justice determined that the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 landmark decision - ...

Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules in Glassie v. Doucette

The Rhode Island Supreme Court recently decided an appeal from a Superior Court ruling that interpreted a Family Court marital settlement agreement. The case is one of the first impressions in Rhode Island and has significant precedential value for those divorcing in Rhode Island. In Glassie v. Doucette the daughter of the formerly married couple sued her father’s estate to enforce the marital ...

Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules in Glassie v. Doucette

The Rhode Island Supreme Court recently decided an appeal from a Superior Court ruling that interpreted a Family Court marital settlement agreement. The case is one of the first impressions in Rhode Island and has significant precedential value for those divorcing in Rhode Island. In Glassie v. Doucette the daughter of the formerly married couple sued her father’s estate to enforce the marital ...

Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules in Glassie v. Doucette

The Rhode Island Supreme Court recently decided an appeal from a Superior Court ruling that interpreted a Family Court marital settlement agreement. The case is one of the first impressions in Rhode Island and has significant precedential value for those divorcing in Rhode Island. In Glassie v. Doucette the daughter of the formerly married couple sued her father’s estate to enforce the marital ...

Former Spouse Cannot Seek Modification of Divorce Agreement in Rhode Island Federal Court

A federal magistrate judge in Rhode Island has ruled that a former spouse cannot file suit in federal court to seek a modification of her divorce agreement. Federal Magistrate Judge Patricia Sullivan ruled that the former spouse’s complaint, “boiled to its essence,” sought to modify the parties’ marital settlement agreement by changing the alimony provisions “potentially to a lifetime alimony ...

Rhode Island Legislator Proposes Family Court Custody Jurisdiction for Pets in Divorce and Separation Proceedings

Animal law is a growing area throughout the United States. The lawyers at McIntyre Tate are members of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and are involved in protecting the interest of owners and their pets and animals. Recently a Rhode Island legislator, Charlene Lima, proposed a bill to expand the division of property in divorce actions to address the custody of pets. Under current law, all animals ...