Will a judge of the Rhode Island Family Court allow overnight (romantic) visitors of the opposite sex when children are home? The answer is that it depends.
Here are is a bright line general rule in this confusing minefield:
When the RI divorce is pending and final judgment has not entered, almost all Providence Family Court Judges will restrain overnight visitors of the opposite sex when the children are home. In addition, most judges will restrain an introduction to a new boyfriend/ girlfriend with the minor children while the divorce is pending.
Rhode Island Judges usually take the position that it is not in the best interest of the children for a person to introduce a child to a romantic partner when a divorce is pending. All the standard excuses will not work in Rhode Island Family Court. The Judges have heard it a million times before.
After Divorce in Rhode Island can a person have an unrelated overnight visitor of the opposite sex when the children are home?
Almost all judges are not opposed to overnights after divorce or when the parents were never married unless it can be proved that it is not in the best interest of the child to allow such visitors.
If the Boyfriend or Girlfriend has a drug or alcohol problem or a serious criminal history, then the judge may restrain the person from overnights when the children are home. There could be a Myriad of other reason that could cause a judge to issue a restraining order such as domestic abuse / violence history, child abuse and conflicts between the child /children and the boyfriend and girlfriend. The judge has to look at the best interest of the child in making this determination.
Legal Notice per Rhode Island Rules of Professional Responsibility:
The Rhode Island (RI) Supreme Court licenses all lawyers and attorneys in the general practice of law, but does not license or certify any lawyer / attorney as an expert or specialist in any field of practice