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Legal Information: Rhode Island

Custody

Laws current as of July 19, 2024

If a custody order is already in place, how can I get it changed?

Generally, when there’s a final custody order, you can only petition the judge to make changes to it if there has been a significant change in circumstances since the custody order was issued. The judge may change (modify) the custody order if, based on these new circumstances, s/he feels that the modification would be in the child’s best interests. 

Rhode Island law says that a domestic violence incident that happened after the order was issued is enough for the judge to determine that there was a change in circumstances.1  

1 RI Gen. Laws § 15-5-16(g)(5)

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