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Legal Information: Rhode Island

Custody

Laws current as of July 19, 2024

Can a parent who physically or sexually abused the child get custody or visitation?

If a child is physically or sexually abused by a parent, the judge can deny visitation. However, the judge could review the case annually to see if the parent has taken any actions to rehabilitate him/herself to then determine if denying visitation is still in the best interest of the child.1 The judge could also order the abusive parent to attend counseling and not doing so would be enough to deny visitation.2

1 RI Gen. Laws § 15-5-16(d)(3)
2 RI Gen. Laws § 15-5-16(d)(5)

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