2012 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 15 - Domestic Relations
Chapter 15-5 - Divorce and Separation
Chapter 15-5-14 - Return day of petitions – Notice – Issuance of process – Time of hearing.

§ 15-5-14 Return day of petitions – Notice – Issuance of process – Time of hearing. – (a) The court may, by general rule, determine the return day of petitions for divorce and prescribe the notice to be given, within or without the state, on all petitions, and may issue any process that may be necessary to carry into effect all powers conferred upon it in relation to the petitions; and the court may also, by general rule, fix the times, during its session, when all petitions for divorce shall be heard, as they may be filed in Providence, Newport, East Greenwich, or South Kingstown, respectively. These general rules shall, be subject to special orders which the court may make in special cases. Until general rules are made, special order in each case shall be made.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, no petition for divorce or separation shall be in order for hearing until after the expiration of sixty (60) days after the filing of the petition, unless sooner ordered, ex parte, by a justice of the family court. During this period the family counseling service may investigate the circumstances at the discretion of the court, or at the request of either party, counsel the parties, and make recommendations to the court and the parties.

History of Section.
(G.L. 1896, ch. 195, § 12; G.L. 1909, ch. 247, § 12; G.L. 1923, ch. 291, § 12; G.L. 1938, ch. 416, § 12; G.L. 1956, § 15-5-14; P.L. 1961, ch. 73, § 7; P.L. 1987, ch. 134, § 1.)