Rhode Island Divorce Online: Get Cheap Divorce Papers in RI

How to get an online divorce

Step1

Check If You Qualify

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Step2

Complete Questionnaire

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Step3

Review Completed Forms

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Step4

File for Divorce

Disclaimer: OnlineDivorce is not a law firm and its services, website, forms or templates are not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney. OnlineDivorce provides access to computer-aided self-help services at your specific direction. OnlineDivorce's website and written instructions provide general information about the divorce process only; we cannot give you any specific advice, opinions or recommendations as to your selection or completion of forms or your particular legal rights, remedies or options. OnlineDivorce.com is a website that provides access to self-guided online questionnaires. OnlineDivorce does not sell blank forms. You may be able to download blank forms from a government website depending on your state.

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Online Divorce in Rhode Island

divorce in Rhode Island

For those seeking an inexpensive divorce in the state of Rhode Island, online divorce is an easy, affordable, and fast solution to prepare legal forms. Online divorce may be appropriate for couples who have an uncontested case.

The step-by-step process of preparing divorce documents at Onlinedivorce.com makes it easy for you. We help organize all the necessary divorce forms and provide detailed instructions on filing your divorce in Rhode Island.

Our divorce documents preparation service can be a perfect solution for those who want to complete their divorce papers quickly and without stress.

Even though Rhode Island has unique divorce forms and filing requirements, our online system can provide you with exactly what you need and provide instructions on how to file. We have helped thousands of people prepare their divorce documents for filing.

If you and your spouse agree on the terms of the divorce and want an amicable dissolution to your marriage, why should the process get drawn out, and why should you spend money on lawyers? Online divorce is often cheaper, quicker, and easier.

Online divorce can be a perfect option if you want to save money or hope to have your divorce finalized quickly to get on with your life. Preparing documents for divorce online in Rhode Island is fast becoming very popular because you can complete the documents in the comfort of your home.

Even if you think your case is too complex because you have children, own your own home, or have other assets, you may still be able to prepare your documents online. Just start with our simple questionnaire, and we’ll provide you instructions for each step of the way.

The process at OnlineDivorce.com is 100% secure. We protect your information, and nothing is filed until you submit the divorce papers to the courthouse yourself. Filing for divorce in Rhode Island with the Onlinedivorce.com system can be a simple solution to a difficult situation.

Filing:

When you use OnlineDivorce.com, we help you fill out your divorce paperwork using a simple online questionnaire. You can fill it out alone or with the assistance of your spouse.

Then, after getting the other spouse’s signature, the divorce forms may be filed at the local court. In Rhode Island, you will typically file with the courthouse in the county where you currently reside. If a petitioner is not currently a resident but a defendant is, divorce is typically filed in the county where the defendant resides.

The actual filing process is explained in our detailed court-filing instructions that we provide, along with your completed divorce forms. You can also obtain assistance from your local courthouse by calling or stopping by.

After the initial filing, you may need to follow up if there are any issues with your documents. When you use OnlineDivorce.com, we allow you to make minor adjustments to your forms as requested by the court at no additional charge.

Our goal is to help you obtain your divorce with as little hassle and stress as possible using our online divorce documents preparation service.

Residency:

Every state has specific requirements where divorcing couples must establish residency before filing for divorce. Rhode Island is no exception.

Either spouse must have been a resident of Rhode Island for at least one year before filing for divorce. The divorce may be filed in the county where the plaintiff resides unless the one-year residency requirement has been satisfied by the defendant’s residence. In such a case, the divorce must be filed in the county residence of the defendant. [General Laws of Rhode Island; Title 15, Chapter 15-5-12]

There are many ways to prove that residency has been established. The easiest way is if one or both spouses have a valid and current Rhode Island driver’s license, ID card, or voter’s registration card issued at least 12 months before filing for divorce.

If this is not the case, it may be possible to establish residency by having someone who knows you or your spouse testify that you have lived in the state for at least one year. Additionally, it may be possible to use an Affidavit of Corroborating Witness form to serve as proof you’ve lived in the state for a minimum of 12 months.

As for proving residency within a specific county, it varies from county to county in Rhode Island. More information will be provided as you work through the process of filling out your questionnaire on OnlineDivorce.com.

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Check if you qualify for an online divorce in Rhode Island

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Valid grounds to get divorce in Rhode Island

Rhode Island flag

Grounds for an online divorce using OnlineDivorce.com are the same as they would be for any divorce within the State of Rhode Island. Grounds are merely the reason for divorce, and the state must approve them.

 

Establishing grounds is an important step in the filing process. Both spouses should agree to do it together unless one spouse plans to prove otherwise in a court of law in a contested divorce.

 

No-fault grounds for a divorce in Rhode Island include:

 

  • Irreconcilable differences which have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage or

Living separate and apart without cohabitation for three years. [General Laws of Rhode Island; Title 15, Chapters 15-5-3, 15-5-3.1, and 15-5-5]

 

General reasons for divorce in Rhode Island include:

 

  • Impotence;
  • Adultery;
  • Abandonment and presumed dead;
  • Alcoholism and/or drug ad­diction;
  • Willful desertion for five years [potentially less at the discretion of the court];
  • Cruel or inhuman treatment;
  • Bigamy; and
  • Gross neglect. [General Laws of Rhode Island; Title 15, Chapter 15-5-2]. Law]

OnlineDivorce reviews

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James V., Texas

I had a very successful business at the time. So, making sure I had the right forms was very very important during my divorce. I was so surprised at how easy and smooth this process was.

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Chloe J., Florida

After years of a tumultuous marriage, I finally decided that I needed to reclaim my life. I was looking for how to go about it and came across this site and they simplified and made the process of divorce easy for me. I never thought it would’ve been possible.

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Will S., Colorado

Stress-free and easy! I was initially gonna hire a lawyer but I found online divorce the next best option. No muss, no fuss divorce. No big legal words that I’d have to have read 10 times to understand!

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Marco P., California

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Custody of the child in Rhode Island

Custody of the child

Child custody is determined according to what would be in the best interests of the child or children. Reasonable visi­tation should always be granted to the non-custodial parent unless there is a reason that it would be harmful to the child.

There are no additional factors for consideration set out by statute in the State of Rhode Island. There is no specific provision for joint custody in Rhode Island, though it can be adopted at the agreement of the divorcing spouses.

When making decisions regarding child custody and visitation, the court will consider evidence of past or present domestic violence, if any. When domestic violence is proven, any visitation must be arranged to protect the child and the abused parent from further harm. [General Laws of Rhode Island; Title 15, Chapter 15-5-16]

Rules for child support in Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s standard child support rules and regulations will apply in almost every divorce case, barring extraordinary circumstances. Both parents’ gross incomes and some child-related expenses will be considered as the child support is calculated. Child support continues until the child reaches age 18 and may extend until the completion of secondary school.

Either parent may be ordered to provide child support, after a consideration of the follow­ing factors:

  • The financial resources of the child;
  • The standard of living the child would have enjoyed if the marriage had not been dissolved;
  • The physical and emotional, and educational needs of the child;
  • The needs of the noncustodial parent;
  • The financial resources of both the noncustodial and the custodial parent; and
  • Any other factors.

Rhode Island Family Court child support guidelines should be followed. To guarantee child support payments, the court can and will at times require:

  • Income or property assignments;
  • Posting of bond; or
  • Wage withholding.

An official Child Support Guidelines form must be filed in all cases involving minor children. [General Laws of Rhode Island; Title 15, Chapters 15-5-16.2, 15-5-16.6, 15-5-22, and 15-9-1 and Rhode Island Rules of Procedure for Domestic Relations; Appendix of Forms]

Uncontested Rhode Island divorce with children

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Rules for spousal support in Rhode Island

Rules for spousal support

Alimony, sometimes referred to as spousal support, may be ordered by the court to help a spouse live and comfortably exist in a manner established during the marriage after the divorce. Assistance may be decided upon by the couple before filing, or the court may award it in a contested divorce case.

Either spouse can be awarded spousal support after a divorce or legal separation. In determining the amount of spousal support, these factors must be considered:

  • The extent to which either spouse would be unable to support himself or herself properly because of his or her position as a primary caretaker of a child whose age, condition, or circumstances make it appropriate the parent not work outside of the home;
  • The extent to which either party cannot support himself or herself;
  • The time to which a spouse did not seek employment while fulfilling homemak­ing responsibilities;
  • The period to which a spouse’s education became outdated and his or her earning capacity diminished;
  • The time and expense required for a supported spouse to earn appropriate education and training to develop marketable skills and become employed;
  • The probability, given a spouse’s age and skills, of completing education and training to become self-supporting;
  • The standard of living enjoyed during the marriage;
  • The opportunity for either spouse for the future acquisition of capital assets and income;
  • The ability of the supporting spouse to pay, taking into consideration the sup­porting spouse’s earning capacity, earned and unearned income, assets, debts, and standard of living;
  • The duration of the marriage;
  • The behavior of the spouses during the marriage;
  • The health, age, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, and employability of the spouses;
  • The liability and needs of the spouses; and
  • Any other factors which are just and proper. [General Laws of Rhode Island; Title 15, Chapters 15-5-16 and 15-5-16.1]

Property division in Rhode Island

Property division

Rhode Island is an “equitable distribution” state. Separate property, which includes property owned by one spouse before the marriage and property received by one spouse as a gift or inheritance, is not subject to division. Any other property (which includes any income from separate property earned during the marriage) can and will be divided by the court. The following factors are con­sidered:

  • The contribution of each spouse to the acquisition, preservation, or appreciation in the value of the marital property, including the contribution of each spouse as homemaker;
  • The duration of the marriage;
  • The behavior of the spouses during the marriage and at the time of divorce;
  • The wellness and ages of the spouses;
  • The amount and sources of income of the spouses;
  • The occupation and overall employability of each of the spouses;
  • The contribution by one spouse towards the education, training, licensure, business, or increased earning power of the other spouse;
  • The need of the custodial parent to occupy or own the marital residence and use or own the household property to provide for the best interests of any children;
  • Either spouse’s wasteful destruction, use, or unfair transfer of any assets in contemplation of divorce;
  • The opportunity of each spouse for the acquisition of assets and income; and
  • Any other factor which is just and proper. [General Laws of Rhode Island; Title 15, Chapter 15-5-16.1]

Why us?

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Contested Divorce

Hourly Billing - Driving the Average Cost of Divorce to $15,000+

Contested divorces can be lengthy and costly due to spouses being unable to agree on one or more key issues, including child custody, property division, or spousal support.

  • Offline and inconvenient process in which both parties often hire attorneys to represent their interests.
  • The adversarial nature of a contested divorce can lead to heightened emotional stress and strain for both spouses and their families.
  • Absent a settlement, the final divorce judgment and terms are determined by the court, which may not fully align with the preferences of either spouse.
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The premier uncontested divorce tool

Fast, affordable, and simple process using our fully-guided divorce questionnaire and filing service.

  • Online process to be completed at your own pace, can get documents as quickly as same day.
  • Receive ready-to-file forms specific to your jurisdiction and situation.
  • Easy online access for both spouses, free revisions for 30 days, and the ability to save your data longer term. Experienced customer support via chat and phone.
  • Ancillary services to ensure optimal outcomes, including name changes, co-parenting support, and getting started with your life after divorce.
  • Detailed instructions on how to file with the court or the option to purchase our filing service.

Mediation support in Rhode Island

In cases involving child custody or visitation, the court can direct the parents to participate in mediation and work to resolve any differences. There is an official Family Court counseling form that must be filed with the Complaint for Divorce. [General Laws of Rhode Island; Title 15, Chapter 15-5-29]

For those seeking to prepare their divorce papers using OnlineDivorce.com, utilizing divorce mediation can be a great tool to smooth out disagreements and prevent the case from going to court. It can be the simplest way to assure a fast, easy and affordable online divorce.

Divorce forms in Rhode Island

Rhode Island forms produced by OnlineDivorce.com are court-approved divorce forms. We have automated filling out paperwork to simplify matters and avoid any difficulties that may occur with filling out paperwork alone. By utilizing OnlineDivorce.com, you can streamline the process of preparing divorce documents and help both parties move forward with their lives.

Divorce in Rhode Island online

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Filing fees for divorce in Rhode Island

When you file your divorce papers, the court will charge filing fees that may vary by county. These costs are in addition to the cost of using OnlineDivorce.com. Please check with your local courthouse to determine the exact amount.

How long it will take

Using the OnlineDivorce.com service usually takes between 30 minutes and two hours or more, depending on the complexity of your case. Start by filling out the questionnaire. You can do it in one sitting or save your progress and complete it at a later date. Whatever is most convenient for you.

Once you’ve received the completed documents, you will need to file them and get your spouse’s signature. You’ll receive more information regarding the finalization of the divorce case once the paperwork has been completed and submitted to the court.

Here is how OnlineDivorce.com makes completing divorce papers easier:

  • We provide the full divorce packet required by the local court - clients do not need to drive to their local courthouse to get the blank forms or search for the right divorce forms online. In rare cases, local county forms can vary in color, paper material, size, or bar code, so they may need to be obtained directly from the county clerk's office.
  • We complete the necessary forms for clients based on their answers given in a simple guided online interview - clients do not need to understand family law or read through complicated instructions to figure out how to fill out the forms themselves.
  • We give detailed, easy to follow step-by-step instructions for filing a divorce with the court - so the client knows exactly what to do to get his/her divorce finalized.
  • We provide unlimited technical support - if a client needs assistance through the online process, he/she can always reach out to us via phone, email, or live chat, and we'll do our best to help.
  • We save our clients time and money - if divorcing spouses agree regarding the terms of their divorce, they typically don’t have to pay thousands to a lawyer to handle their divorce forms and don't need to spend hours trying to do it all by themselves.