Rhode Island Real Estate Lawyer Blog

In June, the state’s high court issued a written opinion in a Rhode Island landlord-tenant case discussing whether an out-of-state landlord’s failure to comply with a statutory requirement that she maintain an in-state agent entitled the tenant to all rents paid during periods of non-compliance. Ultimately, the court concluded that the statutory text and the…

The Rhode Island Supreme Court recently issued a decision in a family law case discussing the calculation of child support. According to the court’s opinion, the couple in the case married in 1990 and began divorce proceedings in 2014. The mother subsequently petitioned the court for child support. After a hearing, the family court ordered…

Buying a home is likely the biggest purchase most people make in their lifetime. However, purchasing a home in Rhode Island is not without its risks. There are, however, certain steps prospective homeowners can take to reduce their exposure. Title insurance offers prospective homeowners a way to mitigate many of the risks of buying a…

Not just any person can file a claim in court. In order to bring a lawsuit, the plaintiff must have the legal ability to bring the claim. This is referred to as “standing.” The state’s high court recently heard a Rhode Island real estate case in which the court decided that a plaintiff did not…

In a real estate case before Rhode Island’s Supreme Court, the court considered the validity of the assignment of a mortgage in a foreclosure action. Evidently, in 1984, the defendants obtained title to a house in Cranston, Rhode Island. In 2006, the defendants executed a promissory note to a mortgage company, Zurich Mortgage Solutions, for…

The Rhode Island Supreme Court recently decided a case involving an extended Rhode Island probate dispute. According to the court’s opinion, in 2005, the plaintiff was involved in a dispute over the designation of guardianship of her aunt before her aunt passed away. After the plaintiff’s aunt passed, the dispute was over the administration of…

One of the most fundamental rights of Rhode Island property ownership is the ability to exclude trespassers from your property. However, if a landowner is not careful, continuous trespassers may be able to claim an ownership right in the property if they can meet the elements of a Rhode Island adverse possession claim. The adverse…

The laws and regulations that apply to subdivisions of land vary by the locality and the specifications of the property, making some Rhode Island real estate disputes quite complex. The high court in neighboring Massachusetts confronted these complexities when it decided a case involving the subdivision of land that took place in 1964. Evidently, in…

In May 2019, a state appellate court issued a written opinion in a Rhode Island real estate case discussing the plaintiff’s claim that a tax levied against the plaintiff’s property was illegal. However, the court determined that the tax was not illegal, but technically an “overassessment,” and that the plaintiff failed to timely file a…

Last month, the state’s high court issued an opinion in a Rhode Island family law case discussing a marital settlement agreement and whether Husband was entitled to visitation with two dogs. While at first glance the case may seem narrowly focused, it provides valuable insight regarding Rhode Island marital settlement agreements and how courts interpret…