Title 15
Domestic Relations

Chapter 5
Divorce and Separation

R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-19.1

§ 15-5-19.1. Restraining orders — Notification of local authorities — Notice of penalty.

(a)(1) The clerk of the family court may, if requested by the prevailing party’s attorney, immediately forward a certified copy of any restraining order issued pursuant to § 15-5-19(a) to the police department of the municipality in which the prevailing party is domiciled, and the police department shall retain the restraining order on file for at least one year.

(2) The clerk shall also provide the prevailing party and/or his or her attorney with two (2) certified copies of any restraining order issued pursuant to § 15-5-19.

(b) Each restraining order issued under this chapter, including a temporary ex parte order, shall be set out on a separate piece of paper and shall have the following statement printed in bold faced type or in capital letters:

A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS ORDER MAY BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND MAY BE PUNISHED BY A FINE OF AS MUCH AS ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000) OR BY CONFINEMENT IN JAIL FOR AS LONG AS ONE YEAR AND MAY BE ORDERED TO ATTEND COUNSELING.

(c) The clerk of the family court may have a certified copy of any order issued under this chapter forwarded immediately to the law enforcement agency designated by the plaintiff. The clerk shall also provide the plaintiff with two (2) certified copies of any order issued under this chapter.

History of Section.
P.L. 1982, ch. 401, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 433, § 2; P.L. 1988, ch. 539, § 5; P.L. 1997, ch. 308, § 2.