If you've received a DUI charge and now have to go to court, you may be worried that life as you know it will change forever. The truth is that minor DUI charges have a minimal impact on your ability to drive, but they can impact your life for a significant amount of...
Most Rhode Island residents equate boating mishaps with summer and sunshine. However, our lovely state offers both winter and summer activities on the water. Seal and lighthouse tours are two of the most common boating activities that take place during winter...
Newport, Rhode Island is often referred to as " the sailing capital of the world." So it is not a surprise many savvy yacht buyers come to Rhode Island to make their purchases. If you are looking to buy a yacht, you may want to look into the advantages of...
You've been living in the United States on a visa, and you met someone you like a lot. You know your visa is running out, and you haven't found a way to stay in the country. What happens if you decide to overstay your visa to be with the person you want a relationship...
When you go out on your boat, you are there to enjoy friends and the freedom of the open water. One of the last things you or other Rhode Island boaters would expect is to fall overboard. Unfortunately, many people fall off boats or ships each year, resulting in one...
It wasn't ever your intention to fall in love out of the country, but now that you have, there's a problem you need to overcome. You want to go to the United States to be married, but there are regulations that require you to obtain a visa first. If you can obtain...
If you begin the process of applying for a green card based on marriage to a United States citizen, you will have to complete several important steps. These typically include submitting your application, compiling comprehensive evidence of your...
If you've been convicted of a crime in the past, one of the things you might be interested in is expunction. Expunction is a process in which your arrest or criminal conviction is sealed from the public. Once that expunction occurs, employers, landlords and others...
Rhode Island is home to many beautiful lakes and resort areas. Many might say that sailing is the state's unofficial pastime, and indeed, many residents enjoy yachting regularly. The surrounding industry employs many individuals, and a significant portion of the...
A contested divorce is definitely a divorce that you want to avoid if you can. When there are things you can't agree on, it can make the divorce drag on for months or years longer than it needs to. To prevent that from happening, there are a few things you can do. For...
The summer is a great time to go boating, but only if you know how to stay safe. You should never go out onto the water without knowing how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Most boating accidents can be avoided with a few simple tips. Here are a...
As someone who has been a victim of domestic violence, it's important that you feel protected. That's what some state laws attempt to do for you. The Rhode Island House has approved a bill that will help disarm those involved in domestic abuse situations. The bill,...
It is important to have someone help you defend yourself if you're accused of a crime. Why? Your attorney can help you protect your rights. Imagine being in your home and not knowing what your name is, where you are or what you're doing. Maybe the trees look like...
There is no doubt that boating in Rhode Island is a fun experience. Whether this is your first summer out on the water or you have boated here your entire life, it is important to remember that boating accidents can easily happen. There are various hazards that...
You went out to eat with friends and made sure you didn't drink, because you had to be the one to drive home sober. Not long after you started your trek home, you noticed that you weren't feeling quite right. Shortly thereafter, a police officer pulled you over to the...
A family has decided to pursue a lawsuit against its local school district after their child suffered a serious injury and now suffers from a seizure disorder. According to the story from June 28, the girl went to Chariho High School when she was attacked by other...
If you're new to law or just starting to understand your rights as someone injured or working on the open ocean, admiralty law is important to you. This field of law applies only to navigable waters, and it helps keep people safe while offshore. What is Admiralty Law?...
When you're out on the water, it's time to enjoy being with your friends and family. As the fall and winter approach, it's an important time to talk about boating safety. Waters can get rough quickly, so you need to understand the laws, what to do in an emergency and...
"Mens rea" is the legal term that refers to the mental status, or "guilty mind," of the defendant at the time the crime was committed. It's what ultimately helps determine exactly what crime a person should be convicted of having committed, if at all. For example,...
Drug recognition experts are specifically trained law officers used to identify drivers who are impaired by drugs, not alcohol. If you're pulled over for suspected inebriation and the Breathalyzer is normal, you may find yourself subject to an exam by a DRE next. Drug...
Could your national origin and a foreign-sounding last name leave you exposed to a civil rights violation that you can do nothing about? It seems like someone should be held accountable when a United States citizen is illegally detained not just once, but twice, over...
It's time for Rhode Island's undocumented immigrants to seek legal assistance to try to resolve their situation or get into a better position with immigration. In a previous post, we've discussed the reluctance of Newport's public officials to declare Newport a...