Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 15-5 - Divorce and Separation
Section 15-5-24.4. - Sibling visitation rights.

§ 15-5-24.4. Sibling visitation rights.
(a) The family court, upon miscellaneous petition of a brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or on behalf of any of those persons by his or her legal guardian, for visitation rights for the petitioner’s sibling, half-sibling or stepsibling and upon notice to both parents of the child and notice to the child, and after a hearing on the petition, may grant reasonable rights of visitation of the sibling to the petitioner. The court, in order to grant reasonable rights of visitation, must find and set forth in writing the following findings of fact:
(1) That it is in the best interests of the child that the petitioner is granted visitation rights with the child;
(2) That the petitioner is a fit and proper person to have visitation rights with the child;
(3) That the petitioner has repeatedly attempted to visit his or her sibling, half-sibling or stepsibling during the thirty (30) days immediately preceding the date the petition was filed and was not allowed to visit the child during the thirty (30) day period as a direct result of the actions of either, or both, parents of the child;
(4) There is no other way that the petitioner is able to visit his or her sibling, half-sibling or stepsibling without court intervention; and
(5) That the petitioner, by clear and convincing evidence, has successfully rebutted the presumption that the parent’s decision to refuse the petitioner’s visitation with the child was reasonable.
(b) The court may issue all necessary orders relative to the visitation rights granted to the petitioner. Once the petitioner has been granted reasonable visitation rights, notice of any petition seeking a change in custody or visitation shall be served on the petitioner.
History of Section.P.L. 1996, ch. 186, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 190, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 200, § 1.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 15 - Domestic Relations

Chapter 15-5 - Divorce and Separation

Section 15-5-1. - Marriages void or voidable — Civil death or presumption of death.

Section 15-5-2. - Additional grounds for divorce.

Section 15-5-3. - Separation of parties as ground for dissolution — Appeal.

Section 15-5-3.1. - Divorce on grounds of irreconcilable differences.

Section 15-5-4. - Collusion of parties.

Section 15-5-5. - Uncorroborated testimony of complainant.

Section 15-5-6 - — 15-5-8. Repealed.

Section 15-5-9. - Divorce from bed and board.

Section 15-5-10. - Disposal of certain real estate after filing of complaint.

Section 15-5-11. - Verification of complaint.

Section 15-5-12. - Domicile and residence requirements.

Section 15-5-13. - Venue.

Section 15-5-14. - Return day of complaints — Notice — Issuance of process — Time of hearing.

Section 15-5-14.1. - Automatic orders in divorce cases.

Section 15-5-15. - Orders as to notice.

Section 15-5-16. - Alimony and counsel fees — Custody of children.

Section 15-5-16.1. - Assignment of property.

Section 15-5-16.1.1. - Deferment of sale of home.

Section 15-5-16.2. - Child support.

Section 15-5-16.2.1. - Credit rating.

Section 15-5-16.2.2. - Service of court papers at work.

Section 15-5-16.2.3. - Continuances — Compensation for lost wages.

Section 15-5-16.2.4. - Retroactive modification of child support.

Section 15-5-16.2.5. - Repealed.

Section 15-5-16.3. - Allowance regarded as judgment for debt.

Section 15-5-16.4. - Judgment assigning real property — Effect.

Section 15-5-16.5. - Interest on arrearages.

Section 15-5-16.6. - Security, bond, or guarantee to secure payment of overdue support.

Section 15-5-16.7. - Review of child support orders.

Section 15-5-17. - Change of name.

Section 15-5-18. - Interlocutory decrees and injunctions.

Section 15-5-19. - Restraining orders — Treatment for harmed or menaced spouse — Custody of children — Allowances — Alimony and counsel fees.

Section 15-5-19.1. - Restraining orders — Notification of local authorities — Notice of penalty.

Section 15-5-20. - Service on or notice to defendant.

Section 15-5-21. - Service by publication — Jurisdiction acquired.

Section 15-5-22. - Trial required — Collusion.

Section 15-5-23. - Final judgment — Remarriage.

Section 15-5-24. - Support — Wage assignment procedures.

Section 15-5-24.1. - Visitation rights of grandparents.

Section 15-5-24.2. - Visitation rights of grandparents whose child is denied or has failed to exercise rights.

Section 15-5-24.3. - Visitation rights — Grandparents and siblings.

Section 15-5-24.4. - Sibling visitation rights.

Section 15-5-24.5. - Court ordered visitation rights to certain persons convicted of first degree murder — Prohibited.

Section 15-5-25. - Application for wage withholding — Obligor in arrears.

Section 15-5-26. - Duties and liabilities of employer under income assignment order or order for wage withholding.

Section 15-5-27. - Order for wage withholding — Duration.

Section 15-5-28. - Judgment or order as lien on property — Duration — Effect.

Section 15-5-29. - Mediation proceedings involving custody and/or visitation.