Divorce

Divorce and separation is never easy. Attorney Turco fully understands that this is a stressful time and prides himself on being available to answer his clients’ questions or concerns. Our firm will guide you through each step of the divorce process from start to finish. We are here to help.

The legal issues in a divorce can be fairly simple or extremely complex. Attorney Turco has experience helping countless clients through complex divorce matters. No matter what are you facing, he will take the time to learn about your personal goals to ensure that all of your rights are protected. You will feel assured that our firm is committed to providing each client with a brighter future.

Candid Advice. While our firm will diligently advocate for your rights all the way to trial if needed, you are ultimately in charge of your case. Attorney Chris Turco will provide you with candid counsel on the best, cost-effective options you have available, not just the most expensive ones. In support of your goals, Attorney Chris Turco may recommend negotiating a settlement instead of taking a case all the way to trial for the court to decide the outcome. Each step of the way, Attorney Chris Turco will assess your goals and provide you with honest counsel during this emotional time.

How We Approach Divorce and Separation

At your initial consultation, Attorney Turco will learn about your goals and concerns, and guide you through how Rhode Island divorce law applies to your individual situation. He will provide you with an honest assessment on what you can expect from your divorce case, and fully explain what he thinks would be the best legal solution for you.

While our firm will diligently advocate for your rights all the way to trial if needed, you are ultimately in charge of your case. Attorney Turco will provide you with candid counsel on the best, cost-effective options you have available, not just the most expensive ones. In support of your goals, Attorney Turco may recommend negotiating a settlement instead of taking a case all the way to trial for the court to decide the outcome. Each step of the way, Attorney Turco will assess your goals and provide you with honest counsel during this emotional time.

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Restraining Orders

Protect yourself and your rights. Divorce and child custody disputes can be highly emotional and often lead to one party needing protection from another. A restraining order is the legal system’s means for protecting a person suffering from threats, stalking, physical abuse, sexual abuse or harassment. They can be issued to protect a child, an adult, or a parent and his or her children. Restraining orders are not taken lightly under Rhode Island law, as violating one can result in jail time and other severe penalties.

You need an effective advocate. Attorney Turco has countless hours of courtroom experience obtaining and defending against restraining orders. Give our office a call today if you feel like you are in need of protection from abuse or harassment, or if you believe a restraining order was wrongfully issued against you. Attorney Turco will discuss all of your legal rights and how you can best protect yourself going forward.

Served with a Restraining Order? Restraining orders are served on the Defendant in person by a sheriff or state constable, and go into effect the moment the Defendant is served. Give our office a call immediately if you have been served with restraining order paperwork, as your actions can have serious consequences if found to be in violation of the order. Attorney Chris Turco will provide you with a free, informative consultation advising you on how to avoid violating the restraining order and how to get it dismissed.

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Child Support

Put child support laws on your side. Child support is an amount of money one parent pays the other parent for the benefit of their minor children. The parent with whom the child lives is the payee and the other parent is the payor. For this reason, an order for child support is often issued at the same time an order for custody is issued.

How is it calculated? Rhode Island bases the amount of child support to be paid on a formula called the ‘guidelines’. The guidelines are based on a number of factors, which include the parties’ income, the number of children, medical insurance costs, the resources available to each party, and a number of other factors. Since many factors can affect the amount of child support to be paid, it is critical that the calculation is precise and is prepared by an experienced attorney.

You need an effective advocate. Attorney Chris Turco has handled countless child support matters such as establishing an initial child support order, modifying an existing one, registering a child support order from another state, and prosecuting as well as defending contempt actions for failure to pay child support. Our office understands all the nuances surrounding child support, and will aggressively help protect your rights whether you are the payor or the payee.

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DCYF & Juvenile Cases

DCYF is serious. If DCFY has reason to believe that you are abusing or neglecting your children, it will issue a petition against you and summon you into court. DCYF may allow your children to remain with you or may place them in foster care. If DCYF’s allegations of abuse or neglect against you are proven at trial, then your parental rights may be terminated permanently. Our firm understands just how serious a DCYF case can be and works tirelessly everyday to reunite children with their parents.

DCYF Allegations. DCYF cases often start with a former spouse or significant other making allegations of domestic violence, drug abuse or neglect. Often times these allegations are unfounded and in reality are the result of a bitter break-up. Nevertheless, DCYF may launch an investigation into the allegations and may open a case against you.

You need an effective advocate. . If DCYF is attempting to take your children away or already has, then you will need an experienced and competent attorney to help resolve the situation and ensure your children remain with you. Attorney Chris Turco has handled countless DCYF cases, and will aggressively defend against DCYF’s efforts to take your children away or terminate your parental rights.

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Child Relocation

Relocating your child out of Rhode Island. A child custody dispute or a divorce can often involve one parent’s desire to move their child or children out of Rhode Island. Moving the child may benefit one of the parents by allowing them to be closer to a new job, family, or other opportunities. At the same time, this move may significantly harm the important relationship the child has with the nonmoving parent. Attorney Turco has a vast amount of experience handling child relocation matters, both advocating for and against relocation, and will fight to protect your parental rights.

Hire an Attorney Who Will Fight to Protect Your Rights

A parent cannot move a child out of Rhode Island without a court order. Such an order may be part of an on-going child custody dispute, a divorce case, or a stand-along child relocation case. Child relocation litigation can be complex and have a lasting impact on the parents’ life and their relationship with their children. Whether you are seeking to relocate out of Rhode Island, or are trying to prevent your child from leaving the state, you will need the assistance of a family law attorney who is familiar with the common issues in such cases. The issues include:

• The underlying reasons for the move
• The underlying reason for objecting to the move
• The distance of the proposed move
• The children’s adjustment to their present home and school
• The location of the children’s extended family
• The visitation schedule for the nonmoving parent if the move does occur
• Who will be responsible for transporting the children for visitation if the move occurs

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Interstate Custody & Support

Family litigation can involve parents in different states. You may find yourself involved in a divorce, custody, visitation, or child support dispute with someone who lives in a different state. Our firm is highly experienced in such interstate matters, and will provide you with effective representation in Rhode Island courts even though you or the other party lives in a different part of the country.

Knowing which state has jurisdiction.When the parents of a child live in different states the issue of which state has jurisdiction to make custody, visitation, and child support determinations becomes an issue. In Rhode Island, interstate jurisdiction is governed by Rhode Island’s version of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). The UCCJEA contains rules and procedures for determining which state has jurisdiction to make child custody determinations when one of the parents lives outside of Rhode Island. The most important factor in determining which state has jurisdiction in a custody dispute is the “home state” of the child. Generally, the home state is the state where the child has lived for the most recent six months.

Enforcing out of state orders. The UCCJEA contains rules and procedures for enforcing or modifying here in Rhode Island a custody, visitation, or child support order from a different state. Generally, if a different state issues such an order and the child or children have lived in Rhode Island for the most recent six months, then Rhode Island can enforce or modify the order as if it issued it in the first place.

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Asset Division

Equitable division of property. Rhode Island is an equitable division state, meaning that a family court will divide the parties’ martial assets and debts in a way that is fair and equitable. The court will employ a number of factors for determining how to equitably divide the marital assets, including the length of the marriage, each party’s conduct during the marriage, and each party’s contribution to the marriage.

This can be a simply or a very complex process. It takes an experienced family law attorney to know which assets and debts are marital and which are separate assets not subject to division. Our firm will aggressively fight to ensure your financial future is protected and that you receive all the marital assets to which are entitled.

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Alimony

Spousal Support. If you are concerned about how you will financially support yourself following a divorce, then it is possible you will be awarded alimony, otherwise known as ‘spousal support’. Under Rhode Island alimony laws, a spouse may be ordered to make cash payments to the other spouse following their divorce. Alimony payments can last years, and are intended to provide a recently divorced spouse with supplementary income so that he or she can eventually become self-sufficient. Generally, a spouse will be ordered to pay alimony if he or she has the ability to pay and the other spouse proves a legitimate need for it.

An experienced divorce attorney is required to determine whether your personal financial situation justifies alimony payments. Whether you are interested in receiving alimony from your spouse, or would like to avoid having to pay alimony, give our office a call for free consultation about how you can best protect your rights.

Protect your financial future. Alimony payments can be vital for a recently divorced spouse who needs financial support to pay bills at a new residence, go back to school, or sustain their standard of living. On the other hand, an order to make alimony payments can have a lasting and profound impact on a person’s finances. Often times, a carefully structured division of marital assets and liabilities can offset the need for alimony. Either way, you will need a skilled divorce attorney to fight for your financial future when it comes to alimony.

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