Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-10-43 (2026)

References to family court — Powers and duties

✓ current as of July 2026
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Wherever in any general or public law the words “juvenile court,” “judge of juvenile court,” or “chief judge of the juvenile court” shall appear, the terms shall mean and include “family court,” “justice of family court,” or “chief judge of the family court.” Wherever in any general or public law the words “domestic relations court,” “court of domestic relations,” or “judge of domestic relations court” shall appear, the terms shall mean and include “family court” or “chief judge or any associate justice of family court.” Wherever in title 15 reference is made to the superior court or the court of domestic relations, that reference shall mean and include the family court. In addition to the powers and authority specifically granted in this chapter, the justices of the family court shall have, insofar as they are applicable, the same obligations and duties as superior court justices, and in all matters within the jurisdiction of the court shall be vested with all of the prerogatives and authority of associate justices of the superior court.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1967–2001 · leading case: Rubano v. DiCenzo, 759 A.2d 959 (R.I. 2000).
Rubano v. DiCenzo, 759 A.2d 959 (R.I. 2000). · cites it 8× “[3] We interpret G.L.1956 § 8-10-43 (vesting Family Court justices with the same prerogatives and authority as Superior Court justices) in conjunction with the certification provisions of G.”
In Re Christopher S., 776 A.2d 1054 (R.I. 2001). · cites it 4× “Three questions of law have been certified to this Court, pursuant to G.L.1956 § 8-10-43 and G.L.1956 § 9-24-27 and Rule 72 of the Family Court Rules of *1055 Procedure for Domestic Relations.”
Pierce v. Pierce, 770 A.2d 867 (R.I. 2001). · cites it 2× “” G.L.1956 § 8-10-43. This Court has found that § 8-10^48 makes § 9-24-27 applicable to the Family Court, and “authorize[s] Family Court justices, like their Superior and District Court counterparts, to certify questions to this Court ‘of such doubt and importance and [that] so…”
In Re Correia, 243 A.2d 759 (R.I. 1968). · cites it 2× “1956, §8-10-43, as amended. 2 The record indicates that the question was certified on the authority of G.”
Berberian v. O'NEIL, 302 A.2d 301 (R.I. 1973). · cites it 2× “1956 (1969 Reenactment) §8-10-43. This is the section which provides that whenever in any of the general or public laws the words “Domestic relations court” or “Court of domestic relations” are used, such terms shall mean “Family Court.”
In Re Jeramie N., 688 A.2d 825 (R.I. 1997). · cites it 2× “Five questions of law have been certified to us by the Family Court pursuant to G.L.1956 §§ 8-10-43 and 9-24-27 and Rule 72 of the Family Court Rules of Procedure for Domestic Relations.”
Stringfellow v. Whichelo, 230 A.2d 858 (R.I. 1967). “1956, §8-10-43, as amended. 2 There is a right of appeal by way of bill of exceptions (chap.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.