RHODE ISLAND STANDARDS FOR RELOCATION/REMOVAL OF CHILDREN       In Rhode Island, child-relocation custody disputes are decided in accordance with the Rhode Island Supreme Court decision of Dupré v. Dupré, 857 A.2d 242, 257-60 (R.I.2004). In Dupré, the Rhode Island Supreme Court identified relevant factors for the Family Court to consider in child-relocation custody disputes, these non-exhaustive factors incorporated, are as follows: The nature, quality, extent of involvement, and duration of the child’s relationship with the parent proposing to relocate and with the non-reloc ..read more

Our New England winter so far has been unseasonably mild, but we know that the inevitable will come: Snow and ice storms. While most residents of Rhode Island and Massachusetts are comfortable driving in our inclement winter weather, accidents happen. Keough + Sweeney offer some tips and ideas that can help you safely navigate the roads and what to do if you are in an accident.  Be Prepared -Check your weather before leaving the house. This can help you avoid black ice. -Be sure your tires are properly inflated and check tread. Also, avoid using cruise control when ice and snow are prese ..read more

As 2019 comes to an end, we are helping you get prepared for 2020 with some law changes that you will need to be aware of when the New Year starts.  Rhode Island The new law that affects you and your family will be the implementation of a penalty for RI residents who don’t have health insurance as of January 1, 2020 will pay a tax penalty. More specifically: “If you (or your dependents) do not have health coverage during the 2020 calendar year, a penalty will be assessed through the Rhode Island personal income tax return that you file in early 2021.” The penalty will be 2.5 % of househo ..read more

In a previous blog that we shared, Attorney Sweeney shared the guidelines that were set by the NCAA pertaining to the amateur status of student athletes. Recently, there has been a change in those guidelines.  Following the passage of a law in California that allows college athletes to receive payment for endorsement deals and to hire agents, the NCAA’s top governing board voted to allow college athletes to earn compensation.  In its press release, the NCAA stipulates that student-athletes must be treated the same as nonathlete students. College athletes also must not be treated lik ..read more

In case you missed the news, in response to the sudden illnesses and deaths some vape users were experiencing across the United States, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued a total ban on vaping products and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo issued an executive order banning the sale of flavored vaping products. Governor Raimondo specifically spoke of these companies marketing flavored vaping products directly to children and teen users. Businesses that sell vaping products protested the ban and recently a Massachusetts judge ruled that Governor Baker and Public Health Commissioner M ..read more

At Keough + Sweeney, we have successfully handled many personal injury claims in our twenty-plus years of practice. We know that when you have been hurt in an accident, you might have questions about hiring an attorney and that everything can seem overwhelming. Whether you have been injured in a car accident, motorcycle accident, are the victim of medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, or falls, we are here to help you answer those questions and advise you throughout your experience.  How do you know when it is time to hire a personal injury attorney?  There are several insta ..read more

Hardship licenses may be issued if your normal driver’s license has been revoked or suspended. A hardship license will allow you to drive under certain circumstances and for approved reasons. Rhode Island and Massachusetts are both states that offer a hardship license. In Rhode Island, a DUI used to mean you lost your right to drive without any ability to seek a hardship license, though this is no longer true. The State of Rhode Island now allows certain individuals convicted of  Driving Under the Influence/drunk driving or Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test the ability to seek a hards ..read more

At Keough + Sweeney, we have a special interest in Rhode Island public utilities. Attorney Joseph Keough has represented many individuals and businesses throughout his career, including numerous Public Utilities and renewable energy developers before the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission and the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. In the past fifteen years, Joe has handled over one hundred cases before these regulatory agencies. For consumers in Rhode Island, there are online resources that can help answer questions, or learn more information about their utility se ..read more

Massachusetts Child Custody and Parenting Guidelines The State of Massachusetts has guidelines and laws regarding the care of children after their parents’ divorce. These laws concern custody and maintenance, child support obligations, and provisions for education and health insurance. In the course of our practice, since we help couples navigate their divorce proceedings, we often must help them concerning child custody, child support, and parental visitation schedules. These custody and visitation cases are determined by the judges in the Probate and Family Court. These family law decisions ..read more

We have answered many questions in our practice. From divorce and child custody to utility law and personal injury, we advise a variety of clients. One of the more common questions we have is regarding DUI/OUI, especially what to do during a DUI stop. Do you know if you have the right to refuse a breathalyzer test? Do you know if you can refuse to submit to a field sobriety test? We found a good resource that may help to answer these questions. This article from the RI Bar Association offers some basic information that you need to know to handle a stop, know your rights, and understand the co ..read more