Emergency Family-Law Resources in Rhode Island
Official starting points for immediate safety, interim custody orders, and protection from abuse.
Temporary orders involving children
Rhode Island does not promise same-day rulings on any private interim filing. Emergency hearings are limited. Use the Family Court interim procedure and forms, and confirm the receiving court's local intake and deadlines.
A parent can request an interim custody order through the Family Court procedure. For an immediate threat, a protection from abuse order is a separate, faster route.
Protection from abuse (R.I. Gen. Laws Ch 15-15)
Rhode Island's protection-from-abuse order is filed under R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 15-15 (Complaint for Protection from Abuse). After notice and hearing, relief is for a fixed period not exceeding three years, extendable on motion. Firearms covered by the order must generally be surrendered within 24 hours of notice. Violations with actual notice may be criminal as well as contempt.
Rhode Island child protective (DCYF)
Reports of suspected abuse or neglect go to Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF); call 911 for immediate. The DCYF Child Abuse Hotline is 1-800-RI-CHILD (1-800-742-4453), staffed 24/7. An unsubstantiated report does not prove it was knowingly false and does not by itself end custody or placement.
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-15-3 — protective orders
- RI DCYF — report child abuse or neglect
- Rhode Island Judiciary — Family Court
Always confirm current local forms, fees, and filing procedure with the Family Court clerk handling your case.