Title 15, Title 15 Relations

A party to a civil union shall be included in any definition or use of any term that denotes the spousal relationship, whether or not gender specific, as those or related terms designating that relationship are used throughout the laws of the State of Rhode Island.

A civil union or registered domestic partnership that extends benefits and responsibilities without the status of marriage and is legally entered into in another jurisdiction shall be recognized in Rhode Island as a civil union; provided, that the relationship meets the eligibili…

The family court, as established by Rhode Island general laws § 8-10-3, shall have jurisdiction over all proceedings regarding dissolution of civil unions. In all relevant respects, the dissolution of civil unions shall follow the procedures and be subject to the substantive righ…

The interstate compact on adoption and medical assistance is enacted into law and entered into by this state with all other states legally joining this compact in the form substantially as follows: The states which are parties to this Compact find that: (a) In order to obtain ado…

The director of the department of children, youth and families is authorized and empowered to designate an officer who shall be the compact administrator and who shall be authorized to carry out all of the powers and duties set forth in the compact.

The compact administrator is authorized and empowered to enter into supplementary agreements with appropriate officials of other states pursuant to the compact. In the event that the supplementary agreement requires or contemplates the provision of any service by this state, the …

The compact administrator, subject to the approval of the chief state fiscal officer, may make or arrange for any payments necessary to discharge any financial obligations imposed upon this state by the compact or by any supplementary agreement entered into under the compact.

As used in this chapter: (1) “Adoptee” means a person who has been adopted in the state of Rhode Island. (2) “Adoption” means the judicial act of creating the relationship of parent and child where it did not exist previously. (3) “Adoptive parent” means an adult who has become a…

(a) Upon receipt of the affidavit under § 15-7.2-7, the court shall review its data base and determine whether there is a match by comparing the dates and place of birth of the adopted person. (b) If a likely match appears, the chief judge of the family court or an associate just…

Any affidavits filed and other information collected by a registry shall be permanently maintained.

(a) A registry shall release only information necessary for identifying a birth parent, adult adoptee or adult genetic sibling of an adult adoptee, and shall not release information of any kind pertaining to: (1) The adoptive parents; (2) The siblings to the adult adoptee who are…

There shall be a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) fee imposed upon persons who register pursuant to this chapter.

Any eligible registrant or any adoptive parent may file with the registry an objection to the release of identifying information. In the event of a verified match where an objection to the release of identifying information has been filed, the court shall hear the objection of th…

The court shall promulgate any rules and procedures that are necessary to establish the operation of the registry consistent with the purpose of this chapter.

The Rhode Island department of health shall provide the public with information regarding the registry, including a link to the information posted by the court, on its website, and in the division of vital records defined in chapter 3 of title 23.

It is the policy of this state that adoption is based upon the legal termination of parental rights and responsibilities of birth parents and the creation of the legal relationship of parents and child between an adoptee and the adoptive parents. These legal and social premises u…

(a) All records of any adoption finalized in this state shall be permanently maintained by the department of children, youth, and families or by the agency arranging the adoption. (b) If an agency which handles adoptions ceases to do business, the agency shall transfer the adopti…

A person or agency shall not disclose any confidential information relating to an adoption except as provided by this chapter or pursuant to a court order.

(a) Notwithstanding another provision of law, the information acquired by any voluntary adoption reunion registry shall not be disclosed under any freedom of information legislation or practice. (b) A class action suit shall not be maintained in any court of this state to require…

A passive voluntary adoption reunion registry shall be established and maintained by the court.

An adult adoptee, each birth parent, any adult genetic sibling of any adoptee, an adoptive parent of a deceased adoptee, and any parent or adult sibling of a deceased birth parent or parents may register by submitting a signed affidavit to the appropriate registry. The affidavit …

(a) Except as provided in this chapter, if a birth parent or an adoptee fails to file an affidavit with the registry for any reason, including disability, but excluding death, identifying information shall not be disclosed to those relevant persons who do register. No registratio…

(a) The affidavit required under § 15-7.2-7 shall contain: (1) The current name and address of the registrant; (2) Any previous name by which the registrant was known; (3) The original or adopted names of the adopted child; (4) The place and date of birth of the adopted child, if…

In applying and construing this chapter, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

This chapter modifies, limits, or supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede Section 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices d…

This chapter applies to a pending proceeding to adjudicate parentage commenced before the effective date of this act [January 1, 2021] for an issue on which a judgment has not been entered.

If any provision of this chapter or its application to any individual or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the prov…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Rhode Island Uniform Parentage Act.”

As used in this chapter: (1) “Acknowledged parent” means an individual who has established a parent-child relationship pursuant to article 3 of this chapter. (2) “Adjudicated parent” means an individual who has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a parent …

(a) This chapter applies to an adjudication and determination of parentage in the state of Rhode Island. (b) The court shall apply the law of the state of Rhode Island to adjudicate parentage. (c) This chapter does not create, enlarge, or diminish parental rights or responsibilit…

(a) A proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a child shall be maintained in accordance with this chapter and with the family court rules of domestic relations procedure and/or the rules of juvenile proceedings, except that proceedings for orders of parentage, pursuant to § 15-…

(a) Subject to other provisions of this chapter, a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may be maintained by: (1) The child; (2) The individual who gave birth to the child unless a court has adjudicated that the individual is not a parent or the individual is a gestational carrier …

(a) Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, an individual filing a proceeding to adjudicate parentage pursuant to this chapter shall give notice of the proceeding to adjudicate parentage to the following: (1) The individual who gave birth to the child unles…

(a) An individual shall not be adjudicated a parent unless the court has personal jurisdiction over the individual. (b) A court having jurisdiction to adjudicate parentage may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual, or the guardian or conservator of the indi…

Venue for a proceeding to adjudicate parentage shall be in the county in which: (1) The child resides or is present or, for purposes of article 7 or 8 of this chapter, is or will be born; (2) Any parent or intended parent resides; (3) The respondent resides or is present if the c…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may be joined with a proceeding for parental rights and responsibilities, parent-child contact, child support, child protection, termination of parental rights, divorce, annul…

(a) In a proceeding under this chapter, the court may issue an interim order for support of a child in accordance with the child support guidelines under § 15-5-16.2 and as established by the family court with respect to an individual who is: (1) A presumed, acknowledged, or adju…

(a) A respondent in a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may admit parentage of a child when making an appearance or during a hearing in a proceeding involving the child or by filing a pleading to such effect. An admission of parentage pursuant to this section is different from a…

The court may issue an order adjudicating the parentage of an individual who is in default, provided that: (1) The individual was served with notice of the proceeding; and (2) The individual is found by the court to be the parent of the child based on a preponderance of the evide…

(a) In a proceeding under this chapter, the court shall issue a final order adjudicating whether a person alleged or claiming to be a parent is the parent of a child. (b) A final order under subsection (a) of this section, shall identify the child by name and date of birth. (c) O…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, a determination of parentage shall be binding on: (1) All signatories to an acknowledgment form of parentage or denial of parentage, as provided in article 3 of this chapter; and (2) All parties to an adjudicatio…

This state shall give full faith and credit to a determination of parentage and to an acknowledgment of parentage from another state if the determination or acknowledgment is valid and effective in accordance with the law of the other state.

A person may establish parentage by any of the following: (1) Giving birth to the child, except as otherwise provided in article 8 of this chapter; (2) Adoption of the child pursuant to chapter 7 of title 15; (3) An effective voluntary acknowledgment of parentage under article 3 …

Every child has the same rights under law as any other child without regard to the marital status or gender of the parents or the circumstances of the birth of the child.

Unless parentage has been terminated by a court order or an exception has been stated explicitly in this chapter, parentage established under this chapter applies for all purposes, including the rights and duties of parentage under the law.

Provisions of this chapter relating to determination of paternity may apply to determination of maternity as needed to determine parentage consistent with this chapter.