3970 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886
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Rhode Island's Affordable Divorce Lawyer / Attorney Exclusively Serving RI Divorce and Family Law Clients since 2000
Assets are many times the most problematic issues within a divorce. It's not surprising that this causes issues in the
Rhode Island divorce process. You and your spouse have both contributed to your relationship, you've have made purchases and built a life and a home together. When you have equally invested part of yourselves in your accumulated possessions and have received many things as gifts as a couple, it is all too eye opening when you reflect on the dramatic affect the termination of your relationship causes. As you make plans to go your separate ways in life the reality that two can live more cheaply than one truly hits home. Both parties begin to re-evaluate
their needs, their spouse's needs, the children's needs and the resources that
each haw available to continue on with their lives. The costs of living alone and possibly providing a home for the minor children can be financially crippling
as well as emotionally overwhelming.
All too often what has been described to a Rhode Island attorney as an easy and amicable divorce quickly leads to feelings of anger, distrust and betrayal as one or both of you make requests, demands, or voice expectations regarding your share of the assets only to find that the other spouse has completely different expectations and is resistant or otherwise refuses to acknowledge the other spouse's request(s).
The Rhode Island Divorce/ Family Court judge is charged with weighing the information presented and ordering an equitable distribution of the marital assets. The question then becomes, what assets exist that you have legitimate legal right to that can be asserted in your Rhode Island divorce proceeding.
Consider this example. William and Margaret are getting divorced. They have a home that they purchased together twelve (12) years ago. William put down $20,000 on the house from money that he personally inherited when his father died prior to their marriage. Margaret works part-time and makes about $18,000 per year. The remainder of her time is spent caring for their 5 year old son, Jonathan. The house deed is only in William's name as are all the taxes and utilities for the property. William is paid by direct deposit into a joint bank account that William and Margaret have together. The mortgage, taxes and insurance on their home are paid each month by William via a check drawn on that joint bank account.
All too often what has been described to a Rhode Island attorney as an easy and amicable divorce quickly leads to feelings of anger, distrust and betrayal as one or both of you make requests, demands, or voice expectations regarding your share of the assets only to find that the other spouse has completely different expectations and is resistant or otherwise refuses to acknowledge the other spouse's request(s).
The Rhode Island Divorce/ Family Court judge is charged with weighing the information presented and ordering an equitable distribution of the marital assets. The question then becomes, what assets exist that you have legitimate legal right to that can be asserted in your Rhode Island divorce proceeding.
Consider this example. William and Margaret are getting divorced. They have a home that they purchased together twelve (12) years ago. William put down $20,000 on the house from money that he personally inherited when his father died prior to their marriage. Margaret works part-time and makes about $18,000 per year. The remainder of her time is spent caring for their 5 year old son, Jonathan. The house deed is only in William's name as are all the taxes and utilities for the property. William is paid by direct deposit into a joint bank account that William and Margaret have together. The mortgage, taxes and insurance on their home are paid each month by William via a check drawn on that joint bank account.