Rhode Island Real Estate Lawyer Blog

Where the ocean meets private property, disputes are commonplace. Under state law, the ocean itself and portions of the coast and beach are public property, and anyone can use them. However, access to such areas can be problematic, as private property owners often want to restrict or prevent public access to beaches adjacent to their…

Many states including Rhode Island have allowed for the development and civil recognition of various forms of relationships between residents for purposes of asset and debt division, medical care decision making and information access, insurance coverage, as well as for tax and other purposes. In addition to standard marriages, the state of Rhode Island also…

Many child and family psychologists have determined over the years that it is best for a child to have a meaningful and healthy relationship with both their parents. In the event of a divorce or break-up, it can be difficult for children to have such meaningful and healthy relationships with both their parents, especially when…

The explosion of the short-term rental industry in Rhode Island has resulted in many advantages and disadvantages for Rhode Island residents and property owners. The popularity of short-term vacation rental websites and apps, such as Airbnb, have resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in earnings for property owners in Rhode Island. The influx of…

Receiving a new tax assessment of your residential or commercial real estate can be an exciting and stressful experience. Although the tax assessment numbers are nowhere near as accurate as an appraisal or market determination of the value of your property, evaluating the value that the state determines your property to be worth can certainly…

States and municipalities have the authority to use and take title to parcels of private property in Rhode Island using eminent domain powers. For a private property taking to be valid, the state or municipality must follow certain procedures, most importantly offering just compensation to the original property owner. The Rhode Island Supreme Court recently…

Rhode Island property owners are generally allowed to seek damages through state courts from contractors who fail to uphold the terms of a contract for repairs or improvements. Certain claims may not be best suited to be heard by a superior court, and the law has provisions to allow for simplified proceedings in some cases.…

In this case, a builder wanted to build a house on a vacant piece of land in Warwick, Rhode Island. The builder wanted to build a single-family home on the lot. The lot was next to a pond and next to other lots with homes. Under a Warwick Zoning Ordinance, the specific residential lot was…

Rhode Island property owners are required to pay taxes and utility bills to the state and municipality where the property is located. Failure to keep up to date on due tax and utility obligations can ultimately result in a property owner losing possession and ownership of their property. In the event that the state or…

The State of Rhode Island and its municipalities routinely perform widespread property valuations on private property in the state to determine the property tax burdens of property owners. In the tax years after a valuation is completed, property owners are required to pay taxes based on the updated amounts until another valuation is complete. Tax…