| (For your convenience, I have prepared this list of | | | | communication or invites you over, you could still be |
| "Post Divorce Do's and Don'ts". Some may be | | | | arrested for violating the restraining order. Any type |
| applicable to your case and many will not be | | | | of communication is a violation of the restraining |
| applicable. Please take a few minutes to read this. If | | | | order including e-mails, letters, faxes or voice mail |
| you have any questions about this article or need | | | | messages. Do not rely on your ex-spouse's insistence |
| any legal help please contact Rhode Island divorce | | | | that a restraining order has been dismissed. You need |
| and family law lawyer David Slepkow at | | | | to verify with the Clerk of the Family Court that the |
| 401-437-1100) | | | | restraining order has been dismissed. Important |
| Do's | | | | Information |
| Keep accurate records of child support, alimony, or | | | | If your circumstances change look into filing a motion |
| other property settlement payment(s). In the event | | | | to modify alimony immediatly. This only applies if |
| that there is a dispute as to whether or not you | | | | there is no property settlemnt agreement that is |
| have made payments, accurate records are | | | | incoporated into the final judgement which makes the |
| important for proof of payment. | | | | alimony non modifiable. If there is no property |
| If you have a property settlement agreement in | | | | settlemt in your case and you have not waived |
| your case, any changes to the property settlement | | | | alimony permanently then you can apply for an |
| agreement must be in writing and signed by both | | | | increase of alimony if you can show a substantial |
| parties. | | | | change in circumstances such as a loss of income, |
| In the event that you do not have a property | | | | loss of a job or a disability. |
| settlement agreement and there is only a final | | | | If you are ordered to pay alimony and the alimony is |
| judgment in your case, changes can only be made by | | | | modifiable or if there is no property settlement which |
| application to the court for a modification of the final | | | | makes the alimony non modifiable then you can apply |
| judgment based on a substantial change of | | | | to decrease the alimony or teminate the alimony |
| circumstances. | | | | based on a substanstial change of circumstances such |
| If visitation of your children is in dispute, keep | | | | as a disability or loss of a job |
| accurate records of your visitations documenting | | | | A. Child Support |
| dates, times, activities and/or confrontations with | | | | Child support does not automatically terminate when |
| your ex-spouse. | | | | your child reaches eighteen (18) years of age. Child |
| Do not pay child support directly to your ex-spouse if | | | | support will automatically accrue unless a Motion to |
| your ex-spouse is on welfare! You must make the | | | | Terminate Child Support is filed. |
| payment to the State of Rhode Island. In the event | | | | If you are the parent with physical placement of |
| that your ex-spouse is on welfare and you make | | | | your child/children and your income significantly |
| payments directly to her/him, then these payments | | | | decreases or your ex-spouse's income significantly |
| will be considered a gift and the State of Rhode | | | | increases, then you should contact a lawyer to file a |
| Island will still pursue you for the child support | | | | Motion to increase your child support payments. |
| payments, despite the fact that you have made the | | | | If you are the parent without physical placement of |
| payments to your ex-spouse. This will mean that you | | | | your child and your income decreases significantly or |
| will have to make a double payment of child support. | | | | your ex-spouse's income significantly increases, then |
| Do not modify the property settlement agreement | | | | you should contact a lawyer to file a Motion to lower |
| by an oral agreement. ALL changes to a property | | | | your child support obligation. If you cannot pay your |
| settlement agreement must be in writing, signed by | | | | child support because of a change in circumstances |
| both parties. | | | | you need to file a motion to modify child support |
| Do not make cash payments of alimony or child | | | | immediately otherwise you can be subjected to a |
| support without a signed receipt from your | | | | contempt proceeding for failure to pay child support. |
| ex-spouse. | | | | David Slepkow is a Rhode Island lawyer |
| If you make payments directly to your child or buy | | | | concentrating in divorce, family law, child support, |
| anything for your child, these payments will be | | | | custody and visitation. David has been practicing for |
| considered gifts to your child and will not be a credit | | | | over 9 years and is licensed in rhode Island , |
| towards child support. Therefore, if you want these | | | | Massachusetts and Federal Court. David is a partner |
| types of payments to be considered child support, | | | | at Slepkow Slepkow and Associates inc. The firm has |
| they must be given directly to your spouse as child | | | | been in existence for 75 years. You can contact |
| support. | | | | David Slepkow by going to and using the convenient |
| If there is a restraining order in your case, do not | | | | contact form or calling him. There is also more helpful |
| contact your ex-spouse without the restraining order | | | | information concerning Rhode Island divorce and |
| being dismissed. Even if your ex-spouse initiates the | | | | family law on the website. |