Where to File for Divorce in Rhode Island — County-by-County Guide

Rhode Island is small, but venue rules still matter. Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-13, you must file your divorce complaint in the Family Court of the county where you — the plaintiff — reside. File in the wrong county and the clerk rejects your paperwork.

Rhode Island has four Family Court locations. The county you live in determines where you file, attend hearings, and deal with the clerk's office for the duration of your case.

Providence County (Includes Bristol County)

J. Joseph Garrahy Judicial Complex One Dorrance Plaza, Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 458-3200

Providence County handles the largest volume of divorce filings in the state. The Garrahy Complex also serves Bristol County residents — Bristol does not have its own Family Court facility.

If you live in Providence, Cranston, East Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, North Providence, Warwick (note: Warwick is actually in Kent County), Johnston, Smithfield, Lincoln, Cumberland, Central Falls, North Smithfield, Burrillville, Glocester, Foster, Scituate, or any other Providence County municipality, you file here.

Bristol County municipalities (Bristol, Warren, Barrington) also file at the Garrahy Complex.

The Providence courthouse is the busiest, which means hearing dates may be scheduled slightly further out than in smaller counties. Nominal hearings are still typically 65 to 75 days from filing.

Kent County

Philip W. Noel Judicial Complex 222 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886 Phone: (401) 822-6725

Kent County covers Warwick, West Warwick, Coventry, East Greenwich, and West Greenwich. If you live in any of these municipalities, this is your courthouse.

The Noel Complex tends to have lighter dockets than Providence, which sometimes means slightly faster hearing scheduling. The clerk's office follows the same procedures as every other county — same forms, same fees, same filing requirements.

Washington County

J. Howard McGrath Judicial Complex 4800 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879 Phone: (401) 782-4111

Washington County covers Wakefield, Narragansett, South Kingstown, North Kingstown, Westerly, Charlestown, Hopkinton, Richmond, and Exeter.

Washington County is the least populated county with a Family Court, so filing and hearing schedules tend to move efficiently. In-person filing here is straightforward — the clerk's office is smaller and wait times are typically shorter than in Providence.

Newport County

Florence K. Murray Judicial Complex 45 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840 Phone: (401) 841-8340

Newport County covers Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton, and Jamestown.

The Murray Complex serves a relatively small population, which means the clerk's office and courtroom schedules are manageable. For pro se filers, the smaller scale can feel less intimidating than filing in the Garrahy Complex in Providence.

Venue Rules for Special Situations

Plaintiff Lives Out of State

If you do not live in Rhode Island but your spouse does, you can rely on your spouse's one-year residency to establish jurisdiction. In this case, file in either Providence County or the county where the defendant resides — your choice under § 15-5-13.

Both Parties Live Out of State

Rhode Island Family Court does not have jurisdiction unless at least one party has been a domiciled resident of the state for one year immediately before filing. There is no workaround for this requirement.

Spouse Lives in a Different County

The venue is determined by where the plaintiff lives, not the defendant. If you live in Kent County and your spouse lives in Newport County, you file in Kent County. Your spouse may need to travel for the nominal hearing, but the case stays where you filed.

Transfers Between Counties

In rare cases, both parties can consent to a transfer to a different county for convenience, and the chief judge of the Family Court must authorize it. This is uncommon — most people simply file in their home county and proceed normally.

E-Filing Works for All Counties

Regardless of which county you file in, you can submit your paperwork electronically through the EFileRI system. Select the correct county during the online filing process. The clerk in that county reviews and accepts (or rejects) your submission.

In-person filing is still available at every courthouse during business hours. Bring your complete filing package — complaint, DR-6 (notarized), FC-59, marriage certificate, Department of Health divorce record, and any child-related documents — along with payment for the $180.75 filing fee.

The Rhode Island Divorce Filing Process Guide walks through the complete filing sequence for any county, from document assembly through the nisi period and final judgment entry.

See more Rhode Island guides →