How are Divorce Records Generated in Rhode Island?

Divorce records are court documents that comprise details of divorce proceedings and the final order for a divorce case. They include information such as the date of the divorce, child custody, financial responsibilities, and division of assets and debts. They may also be classified as vital records, like birth, marriage, and death. There are 4.9 divorces per 1,000 women above 15 in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island is a no-fault divorce state that allows divorce without a fault ground. However, irreconcilable differences must have caused the marriage to deteriorate beyond repair. Fault-based divorce grounds, according to the Rhode Island Divorce law, include:

• Extreme cruelty
• Adultery
• Impotence
• Continued drunkenness
• Intentional abandonment for five years of either of the parties, or intentional abandonment for a shorter period of time, in the discretion of the court
• The habitual, excessive, and intemperate use of morphine, opium, or choral
• Neglect and refusal, for the period of at least one year on the part of the husband to provide necessaries for the subsistence of his wife, the husband being of sufficient ability.
• Any other gross misconduct and wickedness, in either of the parties, repugnant to and in violation of the marriage covenant.

In Rhode Island, a marriage may end in any of these ways:

• Divorce (Dissolution of marriage)
• Legal separation
• Annulment

A Legal separation and divorce follow the same process in Rhode Island. However, in a legal separation, both parties receive a court order that legalises their separation, but a final divorce decree is not obtained. A final divorce decree is only obtained in a divorce case, and it implies that the marriage bond is broken and each party may remarry or start dating other people after a specified period. In both legal separation and divorce proceedings, the court decides child custody (if there are any children) and also divides marital property and debts.

In an annulment, the court declares the marriage null and void as though it never happened. Usually, annulment is permitted if the marriage consent was not willfully given or if one of the parties is not yet an adult.

A divorce is finalized when the judge signs the final order for judgment establishing the date the marriage ends. The couple is also required to submit certain documents, which the court will process. These include a “Decision Pending Entry of Final Judgment” and a “Final Judgment”. Divorce records are documented in the court’s records management office or the office of the Clerk of Family Court.

Typically, a divorce takes 30 to 90 days to finalize, depending on the court's caseload and the judge's availability to sign the final Judgment of Divorce.

Are Divorce Records Public in Rhode Island?

Divorce records are only available to eligible people in Rhode Island. They are classified as court records, which makes them accessible. The Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act (APRA) authorizes eligible persons to obtain divorce records, although certain confidential information may not be disclosed.

The details of the divorce proceedings of all divorce cases are documented and maintained at the court’s management office by the Clerk of Family Court. As with other court case information, divorce case information may be obtained by eligible persons in the county where the divorce was finalized. However, sealed divorce records are not accessible.

What are the types of Divorce Records available in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island offers divorce records, including certificates and decrees. Divorce court case files, which include information on the divorce case, are also available.

Generally, a divorce record may be an informational or certified copy. Informational copies are available to the general public but do not contain detailed information on the divorce. Certified copies contain comprehensive information on divorce proceedings but are generally only accessible to the parties involved and other authorized individuals. Such records may be used as a legal document.

A divorce decree is a certified court document that contains the final Judgment of Divorce, which is signed by a judge, thereby authorizing a divorce. It provides a comprehensive summary of the judge's verdict regarding financial responsibilities, child support, division of assets and debts, child custody, and alimony. Divorce decrees are available to the separated couple and the attorneys involved in the divorce process. The Clerk of Family Court preserves them in the county where the divorce was filed.

A divorce certificate is a face sheet document showing limited information on the divorce action. It is an informational copy because it does not carry details of divorce proceedings and information on how the divorce was finalized. The information found on a divorce certificate includes; the names of each divorced party, filing date, the county where the divorce was filed, and the court case number.

How Do I Get Divorce Records in Rhode Island?

Divorce records in Rhode Island are available at the family court where the divorce was granted. To obtain a divorce certificate, interested persons must visit the county where divorce was filed. For divorce records before 1962, contact the Providence College Archives. The contact address of the family courts in the five counties in Rhode Island includes:

Washington County
Washington County
Courthouse 4800
Tower Hill Road Wakefield, RI 02879–2239
Phone: (401) 841–8330

Providence County
Providence County
Courthouse 250 Benefit Street Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 222–3250

Newport County
Newport County Courthouse
8 Washington Square Newport, RI 02840–7199
Phone: (401) 841–8350

Kent County
Kent County Courthouse
222 Quaker Lane; West Warwick, RI 02893
Phone: (401) 841–8350

Bristol County
Bristol County Courthouse
1 Dorrance Plaza; Warren, RI 02885–4369
Phone: (508) 823–6588

Request for divorce records may be made with all required information and fees through any of these means:

• By mail-in request to the Clerk of Family Court where the divorce was granted
• In-person request at the Clerk of Family Court where the divorce was granted

Eligible persons are required to provide the following information when requesting divorce records:

• Names of both parties involved in the divorce
• Place of decree
• Date of decree
• Requestor’s phone number
• Requestor’s name and address
• The relationship of the requestor to the registrant
• Purpose for certificate request
• Requestor’s signature
• Photocopy of Government-Issued ID

Divorce records are provided at $3.00 per copy. The fees are payable by check or money order and are nonrefundable.

Note that sending cash via mail is not acceptable.

While divorce and marriage records may be searched through government sources and organizations, the availability of these documents cannot be guaranteed. This is also true of their availability through third-party websites and companies, as these entities are not government-sponsored; therefore, record availability may vary further. Also note that marriage and divorce records are considered extremely private due to the information they contain and are often sealed. Hence, bearing in mind that these factors determine the availability of any marriage or divorce record.

Who Can Obtain Divorce Records in Rhode Island?

The law permits only eligible persons to obtain divorce records in Rhode Island. Eligible persons have a “direct and tangible interest” in the divorce records. They include:

• The person whose name is written on the divorce certificate, an immediate family member, or a legal agent of these individuals.
• Individuals who require the information on the record to determine or protect a personal or property right.
• Members of legally incorporated genealogical societies, title examiners, or Attorneys-at-law, in their official duties.
• An individual who has been granted a court order instructing the registrar to provide the record.

Are Rhode Island Divorce Records Available Online?

Rhode Island has no central portal where eligible persons can access divorce records online. Instead, divorce records are available at the office of the Clerk of Family Court in each county. Requests are generally made at the family court where divorce proceedings occur, either in person or by mail.

How Do I Seal My Divorce Records in Rhode Island?

To seal divorce records in Rhode Island, it is necessary to petition the court where the proceedings took place and provide convincing reasons for the court to approve sealing the divorce record. In most cases, people appeal for sealing their divorce records because their reputation may be at stake if they are released to the public. Others may wish to have the records sealed due to certain sensitive information included in the divorce records.

Examples of sensitive information in divorce records that may warrant sealing include information on the total net worth of the persons involved, information on minors that may jeopardize their safety, intellectual property ownership, etc. The service of a legal solicitor may be required to make the process seamless.