Tools for Providence Guardians ad Litem, Therapists and Mediators

A co-parenting app and case tools you can recommend to the Providence families you work with, whether you serve as a guardian ad litem, a therapist, or a mediator. Messaging between co-parents is free for both parents, and every message is time-stamped and tamper-evident.

Families in Providence who end up in the Rhode Island Family Court, Garrahy Judicial Complex rarely arrive at a mediation, a therapy session, or a home visit with their records in order. FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform built for those parents. Below is what it does for them, what it means for you as a guardian ad litem, therapist, or mediator, and what to know about family court in Providence.

Area covered: Providence County.

Court for custody cases: Rhode Island Family Court, Garrahy Judicial Complex.

Appointed for the child: Guardian ad litem.

Custody mediation: Often ordered by the judge (Family Court Mediation Program).

State family law: Rhode Island General Laws Title 15 - Domestic Relations.

Co-parent messaging (Free): One time-stamped, tamper-evident thread, free for both parents, with a Tone Meter that offers calmer rewrites.

Invite a professional into the conversation (Free): A parent can add a guardian ad litem or mediator to the co-parent conversation with a single-use link.

Parenting plan, built and shared (Free to build): Parents draft a parenting plan and can share it with you to read and comment on.

Verify a chat export (Free): Check that an exported message record (the JSON file) has not been changed. No account needed.

Court-Grade Journal (Paid plan): A dated, no-delete journal; a parent can send you a packet of chosen entries.

Expense Tracker (Paid plan): Shared child costs with receipts; a parent can give you a view-only look.

Parents can create an account and message their co-parent for free, with no credit card. Building a parenting plan is free; sharing, downloading, and printing it, and the tools marked as a paid plan, are part of a monthly plan a parent can start and stop.

For guardians ad litem in Providence

In Rhode Island, the court can appoint a guardian ad litem in a custody case. What the role involves is in the FAQ below.

On FamilyCourtHelp.com you see what a parent chooses to share. A parent can invite you into the co-parent conversation with a single-use link, which you accept with your own free account; from there you can read the thread, post in it, and review the shared calendar's requests and approvals. A parent can also share the parenting plan with you to read and comment on.

For therapists and counselors in Providence

Court-involved and reunification therapists, co-parenting counselors, and custody evaluators in Providence do not get an account view here, and that is deliberate: each parent keeps their own record and chooses what to bring you. The free messenger keeps the week's facts in one time-stamped thread, and its Tone Meter flags a heated message and suggests a calmer one before it is sent.

For mediators and parenting coordinators in Providence

In Rhode Island, custody mediation is often ordered by the judge. The court program is the Family Court Mediation Program. The details are in the FAQ below.

Sessions in Providence start further along when the draft is already on the table. Parents can share their parenting plan with you to read and comment on, and invite you into their conversation with a single-use link. Agreements then live in one time-stamped thread, and every schedule change is a request on the shared calendar that the other parent approves or declines.

Family court in Providence: what to know

Custody cases in Providence are heard in the Rhode Island Family Court, Garrahy Judicial Complex.

If you searched for a guardian ad litem, a family therapist, or a custody mediator in Providence, the court that has your case, the order in it, or your lawyer is the place to find who is appointed or approved. This site does not appoint professionals or refer you to one. What you can do here is come prepared: keep every message with your co-parent in one time-stamped thread, write down what happened with dates while it is fresh, and work on a parenting plan before the meeting.

Free help for parents in Providence: the court help desks and legal aid offices below were checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

Providence: Rhode Island Judiciary Self-Help Center. Free guides on going to court, courthouse rules and case lookup for people representing themselves.

Providence legal aid: Rhode Island Legal Services, (401) 274-2652.

FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform, not a law firm and not a court, and nothing on this page is legal, clinical, or mediation advice. Court rules and local programs change, so confirm anything that matters for a case with the court, the order that appointed you, or the program itself.

Frequently asked questions

Where are custody cases heard in Providence?

Rhode Island has one statewide Family Court that hears divorce and custody cases. Its Domestic Relations Clerk's Office is at the Garrahy Judicial Complex in Providence.

Where can parents in Providence get free help with a family court case?

Free court help for parents without a lawyer: Rhode Island Judiciary Self-Help Center. Free legal aid: Rhode Island Legal Services. Phone numbers and links are in the parents section above, checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

How can parents prepare for custody mediation in Providence?

Bring the family calendar, a draft parenting plan, a list of the issues still open, and a list of shared costs with receipts. Parents can put all of that together on FamilyCourtHelp.com before the first session.

What does a guardian ad litem do in a Providence custody case?

The Family Court may appoint a lawyer or a guardian ad litem to look after a child's interests on custody, visitation and support. The judge weighs things like the child's age, how contested the case is, and any claims of abuse or domestic violence when deciding whether to appoint one. You may also see "attorney for the child". The rule is in R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-16.2. This is general information, not legal advice; the order in the case controls.

Is custody mediation required in Rhode Island?

The Family Court runs a free mediation program for cases about divorce, custody, child placement and parenting time. Parents meet privately with a neutral mediator who helps them try to reach their own agreement.