Jeremiah and Pamela Rhodes have been married for 23 years. They own a home in East Providence, Rhode Island and have decided to divorce amicably. They agree that Jeremiah will file the Petition for Divorce as the Plaintiff in the Providence County Family Court as opposed to the Washington County Family Court which covers Westerly, Rhode Island where Pamela Rhodes is now residing.
Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes expect the divorce to go relatively easily because they have no minor children and they have agreed to the manner in which they will divide all the assets and debts they have accumulated during the course of their marriage.
The terms of the settlement seem very simple to Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes but to be on the safe side they agree that they will each hire experienced Rhode Island divorce attorneys to protect their respective interests because they personally know very little about divorce law.
The Rhodes and their attorneys meet at the office of Mrs. Rhodes' divorce attorney, Jessica Cranston. Mr. Rhodes and his attorney, Tim Kent arrive on time and they sit together to work out the formalities of the settlement.
By the end of the meeting they resolve their Rhode Island divorce holdings and the parties each have a bulleted list of how they have agreed to divide their marital assets and debts.
Within the next two weeks, the Rhode Island divorce attorneys for both parties draft a detailed Marital Settlement Agreement to be offered to the family court judge as a full joint exhibit at the time of the parties' divorce hearing. The Marital Settlement Agreement outlines all the foreseeable aspects of the division of marital assets and debts between the parties, including the benefits and consequences for each party in the event of a default in any of the terms by the other party.
** The Jeremiah and Pamela Rhodes Marital Settlement **
On the date scheduled for their uncontested Rhode Island divorce hearing, the Marital Settlement Agreement is offered to and approved by the Rhode Island family court and the Rhodes' divorce hearing goes through without any difficulty.
Jeremiah and Pamela are both pleased with the results. After the hearing they decide to meet for lunch. During their lunch conversation they each mention what made them each feel better about the divorce process.
The conversation goes something like this:
Pamela: Thanks for being so good about our agreement Jerry. I know I was a bit picky in some spots and my attorney was a bit picky in others.
Jeremiah: Well, that's why we got the lawyers right? We each wanted to make sure our interests were protected legally and its no secret that neither of us know about this legal stuff.
Pamela: Well, thanks anyway. My attorney said that this Marital Settlement Agreement was the key to a good hearing. Frankly if that would make the hearing easier then I'm all for it. I was a nervous wreck about this whole idea of having a hearing and testifying under oath with god knows who in the courtroom.
Jeremiah: It worked out pretty good though don't you think?
Pamela: It went great. If I knew our Marital Settlement Agreement was going to make it that easy then I wouldn't have been nervous at all. I could have saved a mint on all the coffee I drank. I was a nervous wreck over this damn hearing.
Jeremiah: Would you rather have testified first? [ Jerry gently laughs and shakes his head ]
Pamela: No way! Just the few questions I was asked seemed to last forever and they were just a minute or two. You had the tough stuff.
Jeremiah: Tough stuff? I don't even think we had any tough stuff because of that agreement. Did you see that couple that the judge took before us? Geez, they didn't have a Marital Settlement Agreement worked out at all and they had the judge fuming because they were all over the place.
Pamela: Yeah, I think that made me even more nervous because they had lawyers too. I was thinking that the judge was going to chew us up and spit us out for brunch after telling them to go out into the hallway and figure out what they were doing and then they could come back in. [ Pam laughs nervously . . ]
Jeremiah: Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm just glad we had that Marital Settlement Agreement done.
Pamela: What do you think made things easier for you?
Jeremiah: Well, without trying to sound to cheap, it was having that Marital Settlement Agreement done. My lawyer charges a lot more per hour for court time and because we had that Marital Settlement Agreement did you notice we didn't have to talk about [ counting on his fingers ] First, the sale of the house, Second the Division of the Equitable Proceeds, Third, the payment of the sale expenses, Fourth the time we had to get our stuff out, Fifth, what happens if either of us doesn't abide by the agreement, and. . . ah hell you know all that stuff [ Jerry is laughing, shaking his head in his hands with elbows on the table]
Pamela: Yeah I know. [ Chuckling . . .] We would have been there answering questions for two weeks if we tried to explain all that to the judge.
Jeremiah: Instead, we just had to confirm that we both made an agreement about all our debts and assets and the lawyers asked the judge to approve it. Like I said before, I don't want to sound cheap but that agreement shortened our hearing from . . . . I don't know . . . several hours at least . . . to a measly 10 minutes or so. That might have saved me more than $800.
Pamela: Oh I'm with you there. My attorney charges more for court time too so I didn't mind at all that our court time was only 10 minutes. That agreement was definitely the way to go.
Jeremiah: So do we actually agree on two more things without our lawyers, Pam?
Pamela: What do you mean?
[The waitress brings their luncheon drinks. They each take their own drink.]
Jeremiah: We actually agree that our Marital Settlement Agreement saved us tremendous time and aggravation in court and saved us both money. Am I right?
Pamela: [ Tilting her head slightly and smiling. ] We are in definite agreement Mr. Rhodes!
Jeremiah: [ Jerry raises his glass to toast. ] To US then!
Pamela: [ Clinking her glass to Jerry's while pausing and smiling ] . . . But it will still cost you lunch, Jerry.
Jeremiah: Deal!
[. . . They both break into laughter as lunch is delivered. ]
Disclaimer: This is a hypothetical scenario. Any resemblance in the names of the parties, attorneys or circumstances contained herein to any persons known or otherwise thought to exist in reality is purely coincidental is merely in the imagination of the reader has no relationship to any persons, litigants, attorneys or circumstances in actual existence.
Authored By:
Christopher A. Pearsall, Attorney-at-Law
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A Lawyer who Hates Lawyers? What is this RI Divorce Lawyer Really Saying?
Today, I am a Rhode Island lawyer focusing my practice on divorce and divorce coaching. Looking back decades ago I remember another lawyer who had been practicing in another state for some 40+ years who said something that perplexed me.
The lawyer was about as true, honorable, and generous a gentleman as I have ever met. He had all the qualities I envisioned a good lawyer would have. He truly cared about each of his clients. He fought for each one within the bounds of the law, within his professional code of ethics, and with a high degree of morality. The lawyer knew that I greatly admired him as both a person and as a lawyer.
One extremely hot summer afternoon this lawyer returned to his office after losing a district court hearing. He plopped himself down in the chair at the opposite end of the short conference room table I was sitting at in his office law library. His secretary nervously brought him a lemonade and napkin then quickly skirted out of the room. There was an endless silence.
Finally, I spoke,
The lawyer lifted his head, wiped his brow with a napkin, grabbed a nearby law book and flung it across his law library breaking the law book's spine.
It was one of the first times I had ever seen this man so upset.
I was quiet until the lawyer spoke.
This time the pause was endless yet I was just too puzzled not to speak.The lawyer was quiet again, so I asked it as a question.
The lawyer waited quite awhile before speaking.
The conversation ended.
I've been working in the legal field now for more than 20 years since that conversation.
As a Rhode Island lawyer, I am bound by a Professional Code of Ethical Conduct among other things. There are things that I shouldn't say or do and there are things that I can't say or do despite the right to Free Speech guaranteed to all of us by the United States Constitution. The layperson would be amazed.
* * * A Message for Roger * * *
For a point of reference only, the lawyer's name was Roger.
Hopefully he's still alive and hopefully he is in tune enough with today's "internet" that he reads this article.
First, to this great lawyer.
Now, to my readers I offer this.
You may not understand this statement until you meet with me.
With that said, I can tell you that as a Rhode Island Lawyer who has focused my practice exclusively in the area of divorce and family law, I cannot make your problems go away. No lawyer can! Yet some lawyers may tell you they can to get you as a client.
Lawyers can't make your problems go away because fundamentally they are your problems. Only you can take responsibility for those challenges in your life. Only you truly have the power to resolve those challenges by your decisions.
However, I can tell you that I can help you understand and get through your Rhode Island divorce or family law challenges by working with you either as your Coach or as your Representative.
* * * Your Divorce Coaching Program * * *
Roger's words were invaluable. Today, they are the powerful force motivating the continued growth of your Family Law Coaching program.
I call it Your Program because it is designed specifically for you. It is designed to teach you, train you, advise you, inform you, and save you time and money in the areas of divorce and family law.
As Your Coaching Program continues to evolve, it will continue to work faster for you, become more economical for you, and become more helpful for you.
Whatever you choose to believe, there is one thing you can know with certainty. I am one lawyer trying to make a difference for YOU with a new and innovative way of practice designed by hard work, my belief that you can do more than you believe you can at this moment, and your willingness to be open to something new that works.
What can Your Coaching Program help you with? Here is a brief list . . .
Rhode Island Divorces & Legal Separations, Rhode Island Child Support Establishment, Modifications, Collections and Terminations, Rhode Island Child Custody Matters and Child Custody Modifications, Rhode Island Petitions to Enforced Marital Settlement Agreements and Property Settlement Agreements, Preparing Pre-Nuptual Agreements and Ante-Nuptual Agreements in Rhode Island, RI Petitions to Move Out of State with Minor Children, Petitions to Establish Paternity in Rhode Island, Rhode Island Motions to Adjudge In Contempt and Defense of those Contempt Motions, Protection from Abuse Petitions and Defense Against Such Petitions, Rhode Island Motions and Petitions to Establish, Modify or Terminate Visitation, RI Common Law Divorces and their Defense, Rhode Island Legal Rights, Rhode Island Family Court Procedures, 2nd Opinions about your Attorney on Rhode Island Divorce Cases, Pro Se Representation (i.e. Representing Yourself Appropriately in Family Court), and many more . . .
Look for the Testimonials Section about Your Coaching Program which is coming soon. Feel Free to Call Me for a low-cost Coaching Session!
Attorney Christopher A. Pearsall - Phone: (401) 632-6976
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