Healthcare Feed

Can I stay on my spouse's health insurance after we divorce?

Blood-pressure-1584223_1280QUESTION: My wife is divorcing me in Rhode Island. I can't afford medical insurance on my own.  Is there any way I can stay on her health insurance plan through her employer after we are divorced?

ANSWER:  It all depends on how your wife's employer's has its health insurance plan set up.  

If your wife's employer's health insurance plan is set up pursuant to federal ERISA laws then her employer's insurance carrier may be allowed to exclude coverage for ex-spouses. If this is the case you won't be able to remain on your wife's health insurance coverage once your divorce is finalized.

If your wife's employer's health insurance plan is set up pursuant to Rhode Island state law then as long as the decision of the court states that you shall remain on the plan pursuant to Rhode Island's Insurance Continuation Act then you can remain on your wife's health insurance plan as long as (1) your wife remains a member of that plan or until a date specified in the final judgment of divorce, (2) provided neither of you remarry, and (3) provided further that you do not become eligible to participate in a comparable health insurance plan through your employment. If these conditions are no longer met then the health insurance coverage will cease.

It is always best to check with the human resources department of your wife's employer and obtain written confirmation on the company's letterhead that they do or do not cover ex-spouses. When there is any doubt as to whether coverage for an ex-spouse may exist, it is a good legal practice to include in any settlement agreement and also in the Final Judgment of Divorce that if it is available and allowable, the ex-spouse shall be allowed to continue on the plan pursuant to Rhode Island's Insurance Continuation Act (R.I. General Laws §27-20.4-1). 

 

(Current as of the Writing of the Post 11/21/2024)


Can You Get Out Of a RI Agreement in a Divorce That Wasn't On Paper?

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Authored By:  Christopher Pearsall, RI Divorce Attorney
a.k.a.  " The Rhode Island Divorce Coach ℠ "

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You get into court for your divorce and you're trying to work things out to get the divorce done with, so you agree to something "on the record" which is taken down by a court stenographer as something you agreed to.  It's not in writing though.  Are you stuck with that agreement or can you get out of it"?

A recent case gives us the answer at least about a particular set of circumstances relating to an agreement about keeping an ex-spouse on the health insurance when one spouse claims the agreement wasn't on a written settlement agreement.

Keep in mind that each case is a story about the lives of different people that are thrown out in front of us (sometimes reluctantly and embarrassingly) for everyone to see.  

This is the story of the O'Donnell's.  It's a fairly important story in my estimation because I've seen this happen several times before in family court and it's not uncommon.  It is even something that is suggested by judges in order to bring a long and drawn out case to an end.  Take a look at what happened here.

Welcome to the case of O'Donnell vs. O'Donnell, No. 2012-52-Appeal decided on November 18, 2013 by the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

The body of the case is below but let's summarize the case and what it has to say to us all based upon the facts the RI Supreme Court was presented with.

SUMMARY:

 Plaintiff and Defendant each had their own attorney.  They entered into a Marital Settlement Agreement and the judge had the fundamentals of this agreement spelled out to the court and read into the court record.  

Both parties testified under oath that they understood the terms of the agreement and agreed to the terms.  However, details are things attorneys are always concerned about because you can state the basics of the agreement between the parties, but the details matter significantly.  The husband may be thinking the details will work one way while the wife may be thinking they will work in exactly the opposite way.  Sometimes, because of the details a person will not agree to one of the fundamentals because the details don't provide him or her with any security or reassurance.  Anyway, at the attorneys' request the Court allowed the attorneys to come back at a later time with a written Marital Settlement Agreement (with all the details0 signed by both parties which would later be incorporated by reference but not merged into the decision just as the oral agreement was on the record.  The attorney's returned to court but they did not have a separate Marital Settlement Agreement.  The decision does not state why this happened but my guess from several cases I've had like this is that the parties could not reach agreement on the details.  So all the attorneys could do was agree to submit the transcript of the hearing.  So the attorneys presented the hearing transcript to the court signed by both sides as a Joint Exhibit representing the parties' agreement.  The parties acknowledged that they were aware of the agreement and it's terms as stated in the transcript and they did not object to the transcript being used as the agreement.

One of the terms of the Marital Settlement Agreement was that the Plaintiff Husband had to provide health insurance for the Defendant Wife until she reached age 65 and after that he would provide for a Medicare Supplement.

The Plaintiff husband got remarried and notified that he was taking his ex-wife off the insurance.  The wife was the Defendant and filed a Motion to Enforce the Agreement which she said required her ex-husband to provide her with insurance... plain and simple.  Both sides submitted legal trial memorandum and briefs to the trial judge who decided that the ex-husband was bound by his Oral agreement in the transcript to provide health insurance.  Therefore, the trial judge ordered the ex-husband to arrange for replacement insurance for his ex-wife.

The Plaintiff husband was not happy with the decision and appealed the trial court's decision to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.  The full case is below.  It can be summarized briefly though.  The husband's primary argument was that because they never reached a formal Written Marital Settlement Agreement between the two parties, which was clearly contemplated by the lawyers and made clear to the court, there was no "meeting of the minds" and therefore there was no written contract between them and so the ex-husband was not bound to the oral statements he made in court.  So the wife could not enforce a contract that didn't exist.

The R.I. Supreme Court looked at it much differently than the ex-husband.  The parties stated that part of the agreement on the record and agreed to it.  They agreed to be bound by it.  Even though the court let the parties come back later with a detailed agreement, they did not do that.  Instead they presented the very same transcript in which the parties had given their testimony.  Not only that, but both sides signed it and agreed that it was their Agreement and they were bound by it.  It was, in fact, made a joint exhibit without any objection by either party.  

The court found that the agreement was clear on the record and the ex-husband was bound by it and even if he were not bound by it, submitting the transcript as a signed joint exhibit confirmed "in writing" that the parties intended to be bound by what they said.

The case was returned to the family court.  

Since the family court judge's decision was affirmed, the family court judge would most likely continue upon the path of enforcing the agreement by requiring the ex-husband to provide insurance for the ex-wife.

Though there are tangential issues present, they are technical to the matter but for the significance of the case over all, the main point to be taken here is that when you make agreement before the court and agree to be bound by it.... expect to be bound by it and held to it by the court and the parties.

If you are interested in reading the entire case, you will find it detailed below:

 

FULL CASE CONTENT:

John C. O'Donnell, III
v.
Anne A. O'Donnell.
No. 2012-52-Appeal
Supreme Court of Rhode Island
November 18, 2013

         Newport County Family Court No. N 99-537 Associate Justice Karen Lynch Bernard

          For Plaintiff: Allen M. Kirshenbaum, Esq.

          For Defendant: Robert S. Parker, Esq.

          Present: Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Flaherty, Robinson, and Indeglia, JJ.

         OPINION

          Maureen McKenna Goldberg Associate Justice

         This case came before the Supreme Court on September 25, 2013, pursuant to an order directing the parties to appear and show cause why the issues raised in this appeal should not summarily be decided. The plaintiff, John C. O'Donnell, III (John or plaintiff), appeals from a Family Court order directing him to comply with a provision in a divorce settlement agreement that requires him to maintain health insurance for the defendant, Anne A. O'Donnell[1] (Anne or defendant). After hearing the arguments of counsel and carefully examining the memoranda filed by the parties, we are of the opinion that cause has not been shown and that the issues raised by this appeal may be decided at this time. For the reasons elucidated below, we affirm the judgment of the Family Court.

         Facts and Travel

         The parties to this appeal were married on September 6, 1980. Two children, now adults, were born of the marriage. On December 15, 1999, plaintiff filed a complaint for divorce based on irreconcilable differences, in response to which defendant filed a similar counterclaim. The case was not reached for trial for almost three years; then, on November 12, 2002, the parties indicated that they had reached a settlement. Counsel for plaintiff stated that he was prepared to read the terms of the parties' agreement into the record, but he also requested that the case be continued so that a written property-settlement agreement could be prepared. The Family Court justice presiding over the hearing stated that

"it is my understanding the parties have in fact settled all of the terms and conditions. I want to continue it to December 6 for the actual divorce to go through for the attorneys in the interim to prepare a written Property Settlement Agreement in which the Court will approve and incorporate, not merge; it will be a separate and independent contract. The outlines of the settlement will be read in the record today and the parties are bound by the outlines of the settlement. They can't come back to court and say, 'Gee, we changed our mind. I thought it over. I don't want to do that.'"

         The plaintiff's attorney then proceeded to relate the terms of the parties' agreement. One provision obligated plaintiff to provide health insurance for defendant until she reached the age of sixty-five, with a Medicare supplement thereafter. This provision was somewhat detailed; specifically, plaintiff was required to maintain coverage for defendant under the health and dental insurance plan in effect at the time of their divorce, or provide coverage under an equivalent plan.[2]

         After the parties' agreement was read into the record, the Family Court justice asked both parties whether they had been afforded a sufficient opportunity to reflect on the terms, whether they were entering into the agreement voluntarily, and whether they understood that they would be bound by those terms. Both parties—who were seated with their lawyers—answered affirmatively to each question posed by the Family Court justice. The case was then continued to allow the attorneys to prepare a written agreement, which was to be incorporated but not merged into the final divorce decree.

         At the scheduled hearing date on December 6, 2002, however, a written agreement had not been consummated.[3] Instead, plaintiff's attorney presented the transcript of the November 12, 2002 hearing as an exhibit evidencing the terms of the parties' agreement. He asked that it be marked as a joint exhibit, and defendant's attorney concurred.

         Counsel for plaintiff then proceeded to question his client about the terms of the agreement that had been read into the record at the November 12, 2002 hearing. Specifically regarding health insurance coverage, plaintiff affirmed his understanding that he "will provide [his] current Blue Cross Dental II or equivalent for [his] wife until age 65, and after age 65, Medicare supplement[.]" The plaintiff also acknowledged his obligation to pay any copay expenses in the event defendant was offered health insurance by an employer at a reduced cost. When asked whether he had read the transcript that was entered as a joint exhibit, plaintiff stated, "many times." The plaintiff's attorney then asked whether plaintiff understood the terms of the agreement and if he "agreed it will become a binding agreement between you and your wife, " to which he answered, "yes, I do." On cross-examination, defendant similarly stated that the terms of the agreement had been fully explained to her and that she agreed with those terms.

         Having the benefit of the parties' testimony, the Family Court justice determined that the parties had settled all outstanding issues between them by means of the agreement that had been read into the record by plaintiff's counsel at the November 12, 2002 hearing. The trial justice approved the marital settlement agreement, noting that it was presented as a joint exhibit in the form of a transcript, and ordered it incorporated but not merged into the final divorce decree. A decision pending entry of final judgment was entered on December 17, 2002, which reiterated the trial justice's findings of fact that both parties had accepted the agreement that was read into the record at an earlier hearing and presented to the court as a joint exhibit in the form of a transcript. The decision also specified that the agreement was to remain a separate and independent contract between the parties and was to be incorporated by reference but not merged into the final decree of divorce. The final judgment of divorce, which entered on June 5, 2003, also refers to the parties' marital settlement agreement, and provides that it was incorporated by reference but not merged into the judgment, and is to remain a separate and independent contract between the parties.

         On June 21, 2011, defendant filed a motion to enforce the provisions of the parties' agreement respecting plaintiff's obligation to pay for health insurance.[4] The defendant claimed that she had received a certified letter from plaintiff stating that, as of July 1, 2011, he would no longer provide defendant with medical insurance because he had remarried and was enrolling his new spouse in his health insurance plan. By way of answer, plaintiff challenged the validity of the marital settlement agreement, claiming that the mere reading of an agreement's outline on the record, without a written agreement having been executed by the parties that was incorporated but not merged into the final divorce decree, was not binding. Significantly, plaintiff did not move to vacate or amend the agreement nor did he seek any other relief. In essence, plaintiff alleged that because the parties failed to execute a written settlement agreement, there was no real meeting of the minds between the parties. Finally, plaintiff cited L'Heureux v. L'Heureux, 770 A.2d 854 (R.I. 2001), for the proposition that the Insurance Continuation Act, found in G.L. 1956 chapter 20.4 of title 27, required plaintiff to stop providing health insurance to his former spouse once he remarried.[5]

         At the hearing on defendant's motion, the parties rested on their respective memoranda. The Family Court justice issued a bench decision, finding that the parties had stipulated that the November 12, 2002 hearing transcript that was submitted as a joint exhibit was the written agreement. She determined that at the time of the nominal hearing on December 6, 2002, the parties intended that the transcript would serve as the marital settlement agreement. The Family Court justice also found that there was "no mention anywhere" of the Rhode Island Insurance Continuation Act and that it was clear that the "intent and the clear agreement between the parties was that [plaintiff] was to continue to cover [defendant] with her health insurance except for those conditions of her getting employment that allowed health insurance."

         An order reflecting the bench decision was entered on January 6, 2012. That order specifically stated that the L'Heureux case did not apply because there was a property settlement agreement, and "the clear intent of the parties was that [husband] would be responsible for providing [wife] with health insurance, subject to the other provisions or conditions in the agreement." The order required plaintiff "to comply with the terms of the agreement and to obtain and maintain the health insurance pursuant to the parties' agreement." The plaintiff filed a timely appeal.[6]

         Standard of Review

         It is well settled that this Court "will not disturb findings of fact made by a trial justice or magistrate in a divorce action unless he or she has misconceived the relevant evidence or was otherwise clearly wrong." Palin v. Palin, 41 A.3d 248, 253 (R.I. 2012) (quoting Cardinale v. Cardinale, 889 A.2d 210, 217 (R.I. 2006)). Thus, "unless it is shown that the trial justice either improperly exercised his or her discretion or that there was an abuse thereof, this Court will not disturb the trial justice's findings." Id. (quoting Cardinale, 889 A.2d at 217-18). However, this Court reviews all questions of law presented in an appeal from the Family Court de novo. Zharkova v. Gaudreau, 45 A.3d 1282, 1290 (R.I. 2012) (citing Curry v. Curry, 987 A.2d 233, 238 (R.I. 2010)).

         Discussion

         On appeal, plaintiff claims that the parties never truly reached an agreement.[7] The plaintiff contends that there was no meeting of the minds between the parties and that, if an agreement had in fact been reached, additional provisions would have been included within its terms.[8] The plaintiff argues that the agreement to which defendant points was not a writing signed by the parties and that it is therefore nothing more than stenographic notes. As a result, plaintiff maintains that a stenographic record of an oral agreement reached in open court is not sufficient to form a nonmodifiable marital settlement agreement. The plaintiff's arguments are without merit.

         It is well settled that in order to form an enforceable agreement, "[e]ach party must have and manifest an objective intent to be bound by the agreement." Opella v. Opella, 896 A.2d 714, 720 (R.I. 2006) (citing Weaver v. American Power Conversion Corp., 863 A.2d 193, 198 (R.I. 2004)); Rhode Island Five v. Medical Associates of Bristol County, Inc., 668 A.2d 1250, 1253 (R.I. 1996). Thus, "a litigant must prove mutual assent or a 'meeting of the minds between the parties.'" Opella, 896 A.2d at 720 (quoting Mills v. Rhode Island Hospital, 828 A.2d 526, 528 (R.I. 2003) (mem.)).

         In the present case, the Family Court justice found that the parties intended and agreed that plaintiff was to provide health insurance coverage to defendant, with only limited exceptions concerning employer-provided health insurance. The Family Court justice reached this conclusion after reviewing the transcript from the November 12, 2002 hearing, where plaintiff's counsel—without objection—read this provision into the record. The Family Court justice noted that, after plaintiff's attorney submitted that transcript as a joint exhibit at the December 6, 2002 hearing, both plaintiff and defendant testified under oath and confirmed their assent to its terms. At no time did either party object or voice any disagreement with the health insurance coverage provisions. Accordingly, the parties are bound by the agreement which they affirmed in open court.

         The plaintiff also contends that, because the agreement was neither drafted nor signed by the parties, it is nothing more than stenographic notes and not a binding agreement. The plaintiff suggests that a stenographic record of a judicial proceeding cannot form the basis of a nonmodifiable marital settlement agreement. We reject this contention.

         In pertinent part, Rule 1.4 of the Family Court Rules of Practice, entitled "Agreements, " provides that "[a]ll agreements of parties or attorneys touching the business of the court shall be in writing, unless orally made or assented to by them in the presence of the court when disposing of such business, or they will be considered of no validity." (Emphasis added.)

         In Ruffel v. Ruffel, 900 A.2d 1178 (R.I. 2006), this Court—as a matter of first impression—likened Rule 1.4 of the Family Court Rules of Practice to its "identical" counterpart, Rule 1.4 of the Superior Court Rules of Practice. Ruffel, 900 A.2d at 1185. In Ruffel, we held that although parties to a divorce may enter into an agreement to change the valuation date for equitable distribution, in order to comply with Rule 1.4, that agreement must be evidenced by a writing or placed on the record. Ruffel, 900 A.2d at 1186. In so holding, this Court cited to prior decisions declaring that the only way parties may preserve an agreement within the rules of practice is to place that agreement on the record "in the presence of the court, " or reduce it to an agreed-upon writing. See id. at 1185 (citing E.W.H. & Associates v. Swift, 618 A.2d 1287, 1288-89 (R.I. 1993) (holding unenforceable an alleged oral settlement agreement that was not in writing or placed on the record); DiLuglio v. Providence Auto Body, Inc., 755 A.2d 757, 776-77 (R.I. 2000) (declining to uphold an alleged bifurcation agreement that was not in writing nor placed on the record); Melucci v. Berthod, 687 A.2d 878, 879 (R.I. 1997) (purported settlement agreement not placed on the record or reduced to writing held unenforceable)). These holdings comport with this Court's reasoning that "[r]equiring stipulated agreements either to be placed on the record or to be reduced to an agreed-upon writing ensures that the agreement itself does not become a source of further controversy and litigation." Ruffel, 900 A.2d at 1185 (quoting Swift, 618 A.2d at 1288-89). On the other hand, a stipulation of counsel, whether in writing or made in open court, "is conclusive upon the parties and removes the issue from the controversy." In re McBurney Law Services, Inc., 798 A.2d 877, 881-82 (R.I. 2002).

         Here, plaintiff's efforts to be relieved of the terms of the agreement that was set forth on the record and later introduced as an exhibit are wholly without merit. It is undisputed that plaintiff's attorney recited the terms of the parties' agreement to the Family Court justice in open court. Each party then assented to those terms. At the later nominal hearing, the transcript was admitted as a written exhibit, evidencing the parties' agreement. Each party testified, and once again declared their assent to the terms set forth in the transcript, without objection. Accordingly, plaintiff's argument that the parties' agreement is unenforceable because it was not drafted and signed by the parties is rejected.

         Moreover, the claim that plaintiff would have included many more provisions if an agreement had actually been reached similarly is unavailing. Whatever reason the parties failed to execute a separate settlement agreement before the nominal hearing is of no moment. The trial justice noted that the parties had drafted several revisions, but that no written agreement was ever executed by the parties.[9] However, she determined that at the time of the nominal hearing on December 6, 2002, the parties intended that the transcript of the agreement made in open court would serve as the settlement agreement. We refuse to disturb this finding.

         We also reject plaintiff's claim that the stenographic record of an agreement reached in open court does not rise to the level of a nonmodifiable marital settlement agreement. This Court is cognizant that contractual agreements between spouses are entitled to special judicial attention based on equitable concerns arising from the marital relationship. Gorman v. Gorman, 883 A.2d 732, 737 (R.I. 2005). However, the record establishes that the parties freely entered into and agreed to be bound by the terms that were submitted on the record in open court. We do not overlook the fact that it was plaintiff who offered the transcript as written evidence of the parties' stipulated agreement and who then testified that he understood fully that he would be bound by that agreement. He may not retreat from that agreement simply by entering into a new marriage.

         The Family Court justice who presided over the divorce proceedings specified—without objection—that the terms of the parties' agreement would be incorporated but not merged into the final divorce decree. This provision was then included in both the decision pending entry of final divorce and the final judgment of divorce. The record reflects that the parties intended for the terms of their agreement, embodied in the transcript, to remain a separate and binding contract. As such, it is well settled that "a marital settlement agreement * * * that has been 'incorporated by reference, but not merged into the final divorce decree, retain[s] the characteristics of a contract.'" Hazard v. Hazard, 45 A.3d 545, 550 (R.I. 2012) (quoting Zaino v. Zaino, 818 A.2d 630, 637 (R.I. 2003)); see also Esposito v. Esposito, 38 A.3d 1, 5 (R.I. 2012); Paul v. Paul, 986 A.2d 989, 995 (R.I. 2010); Riffenburg v. Riffenburg, 585 A.2d 627, 630 (R.I. 1991). Accordingly, "[i]t is not the function of this Court, or the Family Court, to set aside a property settlement agreement * * * simply because a party no longer wishes to be bound by its terms or is unhappy with the result." Vanderheiden v. Marandola, 994 A.2d 74, 78 (R.I. 2010).

         Conclusion

         For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we affirm the order of the Family Court. The record in this case may be returned to the Family Court.

---------

Notes:

[1] After her divorce from plaintiff, defendant resumed her maiden name and is currently known as Anne Alexandra deBaun Allardt. However, for the sake of clarity throughout this opinion, the Court will refer to defendant as Anne or defendant and plaintiff as John or plaintiff. We intend no disrespect.

[2] Counsel for plaintiff clarified that this obligation would cease if defendant were to receive health insurance from an employer at no cost. Alternatively, if defendant were to be offered comparable health insurance coverage from an employer at a reduced cost, plaintiff could instead provide the copay if it was less expensive than directly providing defendant with health insurance through his existing plan.

[3] At the time of the hearing, no explanation was provided for this lapse.

[4] The defendant's motion was styled as a "complaint after entry of final judgment to enforce." The plaintiff's response to defendant's motion was entitled "answer to complaint/motion for summary judgment and other affirmative relief." On July 28, 2011, defendant replied by filing a "memorandum in support of defendant's motion for continuing health coverage, in reply to plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and in support of her cross motion for summary judgment." The defendant then filed a "motion for relief" on August 24, 2011, which was then followed by "plaintiff's memorandum in support of his defense against defendant's complaint to enforce and her subsequent motion for relief, and in further support of his answer and motion for summary judgment and other affirmative relief." On October 21, 2011, defendant filed another document entitled, "reply memorandum of defendant Anne Alexandra deBraun to plaintiff's memorandum in support of his defense against defendant's complaint to enforce, etc." During the time the parties filed these competing memoranda the case had been continued numerous times. However, when the case finally came before the Family Court on November 4, 2011, the justice treated the motion as defendant's motion to enforce, and plaintiff's objection thereto, and not a motion for summary judgment.

[5] The plaintiff does not raise this argument on appeal to this Court. Accordingly, based on this failure to raise and our conclusion that a contract exists between the parties which was incorporated but not merged into the final divorce decree, we need not analyze this argument.

[6] The plaintiff also filed a petition for certiorari seeking review of the order; however, that petition was denied on the grounds that the Family Court order was properly appealable.

[7] We note that plaintiff's current counsel is not the same attorney who represented plaintiff in the original divorce action.

[8] For example, plaintiff contends that the provisions regarding health insurance and alimony would have been made modifiable, and that consequences relating to the death of either party would have been included.

[9] Notably, each draft of the proposed written settlement agreement—submitted to this Court by plaintiff's attorney—contained the same, unchanged provisions regarding plaintiff's obligation to provide health insurance coverage to defendant, analogous to those read into the record at the November 12, 2002 hearing by plaintiff's attorney.

---------






Women's Rights for Divorce in Rhode Island

Divorce Article:  Women's Rights for Divorce in Rhode Island

By Geoffrey St. Marie, eHow Contributor      
Updated: May 04, 2011

Ehow-womens-rights-divorce-image In Rhode Island, many of the laws are consistent with those of other states in regards to filing divorce, alimony, child custody and child support enforcement. Nonetheless, discrepancies and the unexpected statute may vary your options.

An initial step is to decide if you deem fault to reside in your spouse's behavior or attention to the marriage.

Filing

Women have the right to file for a divorce in Rhode Island. They are entitled to two primary options: filing a fault or no-fault divorce. In the latter case, the women needn't prove significant wrongdoing on the part of their spouse and may cite irreconcilable differences as the motive. In the case they file a fault divorce, they must substantiate one or more criteria for the separation. In Rhode Island, these include but are not limited to consistent substance abuse, extreme cruelty, failure to perform sexually, sustained desertion and/or neglect and adultery.

Alimony & Insurance

Women, in certain circumstances, have the right to collect alimony after a divorce settlement. The court's considerations will include everything from the woman's employment prospects to child care to the length or duration of the marriage. Other assets and property may also be accounted for in the award. In terms of health insurance, Rhode Island entitles neither spouse to a continuation of benefits after the divorce has been completed. The only exception may be when military benefits are involved rather than those private policies typical to most households.

Child Care & Custody

Rhode Island law does not specifically identify the women or mother as the designated guardian by default. It must be established that that is in the child's best interest. The court, after deciding upon the primary guardian or custodial parent, will lay out visitation rights for the other spouse or deny them if the situation merits it. The mother is entitled to court prescribed child support amounts, which can be amended later if circumstances demand it on either side. If you sense or know that child support is being withheld from you, contact your divorce attorney as soon as possible to gain recourse through state authorities.

 

Bizarre Law

In a truly outlandish RI divorce case in 2007, the husband tried invoking an archaic state law that allowed the husband in a divorce trial to act as his wife's counsel. Ostensibly, the law also afforded the wife the reverse right. The husband then attempted, on this basis, to fire his wife's attorney in order to replace him. Such an appeal had no precedent in state history, and the motion to fire the wife's attorney was rejected by the state magistrate. The ultimate reading of the law suggested that only when the wife either desires such an arrangement can it actually be forcefully applied.

References

Photo Credit: Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images;

Read the Original Printing of the Article at eHow at: Women's Rights for Divorce in Rhode Island | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8352037_womens-rights-divorce-rhode-island.html#ixzz1LTQaQFS3

My personal thanks to the eHow Contributor for giving proper credit to my recent article on Rhode Island Health Insurance.  eHow continues to be an excellent and fairly accurate source of helpful information to internet citizens looking for some direction in all areas of society.


Rhode Island Divorce Coaching Article: Are Spouses Entitled to Continued Health Insurance?

A RI HEALTH INSURANCE QUESTION FOR THE RHODE ISLAND DIVORCE COACH

 

QUESTION:  In a Rhode Island Divorce, if you are covered by your spouse's health insurance are you entitled to have that insurance continue?

 

ANSWER:  Excluding a Rhode Island divorce that involves possible military benefits that may be available then generally the answer is, No.  No spouse has a legal right or entitlement to have continued health insurance as a matter of any law applying to people generally in the State of Rhode Island.  Absent an agreement between the parties (preferrably in writing) or an Order of the Court establishing an entitlement or right of one spouse to have health insurance provided by the other spouse, there is no right or entitlement to have health insurance provided by the other spouse.


Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall, Attorney-at-Law

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Note: If this article contains a case scenario with names, dates or amounts, any resemblance any connection to any person or situation now or previously existing is purely accidental, unintentional, and is merely a mistaken creation in the mind of the reader.

* The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.  The court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any particular field of practice.

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Rhode Island Divorce and the Importance of Healthcare Provisions

There is a great concern about medical coverage today.  This is not surprising with the skyrocketing premiums  of medical insurances and increasing deductibles and co-pays.

For these reasons and many others, medical insurances and healthcare expenses should be given serious consideration when settling your Rhode Island Divorce or if you are involved in a Rhode Island Family Court matter involving the establishment of healthcare related provisions.

The Todd & Liz Story - An Illustrative Example of What Could Happen:

Todd and Liz have been living in Cumberland, Rhode Island for six (6) years.  They have been growing apart steadily since the day they got married and have three (3) minor children.  They mutually decide to get a divorce.  They are amicable and civil about it and come to an agreement that addresses splitting their assets, and debts, and also provides for their children's needs. 

In their Rhode Island Divorce both Todd and Liz each had their own attorneys and were pleased with the representation they received. When the divorce was finalized, Todd was awarded placement of the minor children by agreement because he has a good, longstanding income to support himself and the children and Liz felt it was best for Todd to buy out her share of the house to allow their children to remain stable by staying in their existing home.  They both felt the divorce would be hard enough for the children.

Several years later two of the children visit with their mother and they have braces.  Liz wasn't consulted by Todd about the braces, who would provide them, why they needed them or what it might cost.  Todd tells Liz she has to pay him $4,000 for 1/2 the cost of the braces.  Liz isn't given a bill and is surprised that she has to pay for braces and wasn't even consulted about them.  Liz looks at her Final Judgment of Divorce. 

Paragraph 6 reads,

Husband and wife shall each be responsible for one-half of all costs for the medical and dental expenses of the minor children.

Liz does not find anything else in her Final Judgment stating that she has to pay for one-half of any orthodontic expenses. 

Liz calls a local dentist and asks him if orthodontic is the same as dental.  The dentist assures her that they require different degrees and are two separate areas of medicine dealing with teeth so they shouldn't be considered the same.  Liz has a boyfriend Tom who is concerned because Liz is so upset.  Tom has dental insurance and calls Blue Cross Dental to see if it covered braces.  Blue Cross confirms for Tom that dental coverage does not cover orthodontia because it is not considered a dental expense.  Tom decides to call Delta Dental of Rhode Island and asks them if their plan would cover children's braces.  Delta Dental tells Tom that dental plans do not cover braces because orthodontia is not dental because it could not be performed by a dentist and only work performed by a dentist or dental hygenist is considered dental.

When Liz divorced Todd she said she had no problem with Paragraph 6 because she believed "dental" meant the "services performed by dentists".  Liz and Todd were divorced during a nominal proceeding in which all the terms were reached by agreement to by the parties.  Yet Liz never believed that dental included braces otherwise she would not have agreed to it.

Liz does not pay for the braces and Todd takes her to court by filing a Motion to Adjudge in Willful Contempt asking that she pay the entire bill in full plus other medical expenses that Liz is unaware of. 

The matter goes to a hearing before the court.  The court does not find Liz in Willful Contempt but orders Todd to produce the bills for the braces and the medical expenses as well as the payments he made on them.  The judge also orders Liz to pay 1/2 of the braces and medical expenses that Todd can produce the bills and proof that he paid the bills for the minor children.

The court makes a finding that in Paragraph 6 Liz was ordered to pay one-half of dental expenses for the minor children and that braces and orthodontia fall are "dental" and though she is not in contempt because she did not realize it, she is being ordered to pay it because it falls within the court's order in Paragraph 6.

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Authored by:

Christopher A. Pearsall, Esquire
PEARSALL LAW ASSOCIATES
571 Pontiac Avenue
Cranston, RI  02910
Phone:  (401) 354-2369

Attorney Pearsall's practice is focused almost exclusively in the areas of Divorce and Family law.

NOTE:  The postings on this website are NOT legal advice, DO NOT create an attorney/client relationship and are NOT a substitute for a detailed consultation with an attorney experienced in the state where you have your legal issue.  This site is based on Rhode Island and is presented for the convenience of the internet public.

* The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law and has no procedure for recognition of specialty in any area of law.


Issues Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers Face.

The Rhode Island Family Court deals with numerous issues in divorces. There are primary issues that judge's handle on a daily basis that everyone should be aware of.

In understanding these issues it is good to know that the area of Family Law grew out of Contract law. It's fairly easy to see how this occurred. Generally speaking, a man makes an offer to a woman to marry him and be his one and only wife. A woman accepts that offer and promises to marry the man from the offer that he has made her. Traditionally an engagement ring is given to the woman by the man to seal that promise and make it known to others. Later, sometimes with or without a ceremony, formal promises are exchanged between the man and the woman before an officiant. Wedding rings and vows (promises) are exchanged and a marriage certificate is signed by both parties and filed with the State.

It's not hard to see how family law, particularly divorce, grew out of contract law. Though contract law is very diverse and has taken on great depth, it's foundations mirror the marriage process. In a contract there are at least two parties. One party makes an offer. The other party accepts the offer. Usually a document memorializing the promises is signed by both parties, sometimes before witnesses.

Just as there are issues when one of the parties does not live up to their part of a contract. There are also issues that must be addressed when a divorce occurs because it is the division of a marriage contract.

Legal Issues in Rhode Island Divorces

1.  Jurisdiction - Jurisdiction is the power of the court to decide a case based on its authority over the subject matter and the person's involved. The court must make a finding that it has the power over a cause of action, in this case a divorce. Subject matter jurisdiction for divorce is defined by statute in Rhode Island, namely that the Rhode Island Family Court has the jurisdiction to hear divorce cases. The court must also make a finding that it has authority over the persons involved in the action. Personal Jurisdiction is also defined by the Rhode Island Statutes in two ways. Assuming that we're dealing with a divorce based on Irreconcilable Differences, the court must find that one of the parties has been a continuously domiciled resident and inhabitant for the period of at least one year immediately prior to the filing of his or her Complaint or Counterclaim for Divorce, Additionally, the non-filing party must be served by a person authorized by law with the Divorce Complaint and any extraneous documents required by law.

2.  Legal Custody - Legal custody is the legal right of a parent or guardian to make decisions for a child in major areas of the child's life including health, education, religion, and the child's general welfare. The court must make a finding as to whether the parents of any minor children born of the marriage are fit and proper persons to have legal custody of the minor children. Then the court must make a ruling as to who should be awarded legal custody of the minor child or children.

3.  Placement - Placement is the right of a parent or guardian to have a minor child physically living with him or her. The court must make a ruling as to who a child should be placed with/live with. Underlying that court's ruling is the finding that the court's ruling regarding the placement of the minor child(ren) is in the best interests of the minor child(ren).

4.  Child Support - Child Support is the right of a child to be supported by his legal parents or guardians. It is calculated using the Gross Incomes of the parents or guardians of the minor child(ren) and applying them to the Rhode Island Child Support Guidelines. The placement parent is typically the recipient of the child support while the non-placement parent is the payer or the child support. The court must determine the number of children, the gross income of the parties and the amount of child support that is due to the children and must be paid by the non-placement parent.

5.  Equitable Distribution - Equitable Distribution is the family court's equitable division of the assets of the marriage (marital assets) and who should be entitled to what asset or what portion of an asset; and equitable division of all the debts of the marriage (marital debts) and who should be responsible for which debts or what portion of what debt. When apportioning the marital assets and debts of a couple, the family court looks a various factors, including, but not limited to, the length of the marriage, the contribution of each of the parties, and the conduct of the parties during the course of the marriage, to name a few.

6.  Alimony - Alimony is support that one spouse may be ordered to pay to the other spouse. In Rhode Island, alimony is rehabilitative in nature. Alimony is therefore only to be awarded to a person who needs to rehabilitate his or her skills in order to be able to enter or re-enter the workplace at a level of income that can allow him or her to survive. In awarding alimony the court will look at the job history, age, education, skills and the current marketplace to determine if the spouse is in need of rehabilitation. The courts will also look to the contribution of the former spouse to the needs of the person seeking alimony as well as the actual monetary needs of the person seeking alimony and may take into consideration the cost of the rehabilitation.

7.  Health Coverage - This issue is self-explanatory. Health coverage is a major issue these days not only for adults but especially for children. If none is made, the Rhode Island Family Court will make inquiry as to who has provided medical coverage for the couple (or family) in the past and endeavor to make provisions for how medical coverage will continue in the future for both spouses, if possible. The court has particular concern for the continued coverage of minor children and is uniquely aware that not all healthcare costs are covered by insurance, and therefore if it is not brought up by the parties during a divorce proceeding then the court will order provisions in its decree for how the uncovered, uninsured or unreimbursed medical expenses of the minor children will be paid. Generally speaking the court will order each parent to pay a portion of each expense incurred.

8.  Visitation - Visitation is the right of the non-placement parent to have physical placement of the minor child or children, usually for a specified amount of time, or under specified conditions in more extreme cases, before returning the child(ren) to the non-placement parent. When the family court determines visitation for the non-placement parent, the judge will usually consider the age of the child(ren), the amount of prior involvement of the parent, the suitability of the home environment the child(ren) would be spending their visitation in, and any history of violence or criminal conduct relevant to the children or the other spouse. The court encourages spouses to work together to positively reinforce minor children that their place in the family unit is still in tact, it is simply that the parents could not live together happily anymore. Visitation is encouraged by the court as long as it is conducive to productive behavior and reinforces a healthy attitude in the minor children. However, the court will step in and make appropriate orders if it becomes apparent that the visitation is doing more harm than good.

9.  Irreconcilable Differences - This is the basis used by the vast majority of people who file for divorce. The full basis is that there have arisen between the parties irreconcilable differences which have led to the irremediable breakdown of the marriage. This is a fundamental determination made my the court. The court must find, through the testimony, that the parties had differences, that those differences were irreconcilable, that the marriage has broken down, that the cause of the breakdown was these differences, and finally that the marriage is irremediably broken such that the spouses can no longer live as husband and wife. Naturally there are other basis for divorce, however since this is the most frequently used, it is included here for your information.

Authored by:

Christopher A. Pearsall, Esquire
PEARSALL LAW ASSOCIATES
571 Pontiac Avenue
Cranston, RI  02910
Phone:  (401) 354-2369

Attorney Pearsall's practice is focused almost exclusively in the areas of Divorce and Family law.

NOTE:  The postings on this website are NOT legal advice, DO NOT create an attorney/client relationship and are NOT a substitute for a detailed consultation with an attorney experienced in the state where you have your legal issue.  This site is based on Rhode Island and is presented for the convenience of the internet public.

* The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law and has no procedure for recognition of specialty in any area of law.