Timothy J. Robenhymer, lawyers in Providence, RI, Rhode Island

Child Abuse

Child abuse consists of any act or omission of an act that endangers or impairs a child's physical or emotional health and development. The severity of the abuse can range from mild to severe in nature. Millions of children are the victims of child abuse each year. There are various people who commit child abuse; most often it is the child's parent, caregiver, or family member. There are several different types of child abuse. More...

Legal Issues That May Arise With In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization is defined as a method of assisted reproduction in which a man's sperm and a woman's egg oocyte are combined in a laboratory dish, where fertilization occurs. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the uterus to develop naturally. More...

Post-Adoption Contact with Biological Parents

Traditionally, once an adoption is final, the child's biological relatives are excluded from any continuing personal or legal role in the child's life. The adoptive parents have exclusive responsibility for the child, including the right to determine the extent of the child's contacts with individuals outside the immediate adoptive family. More...

International Adoption - Overview

The process of adopting a child from a foreign country is far more complicated than adopting a child who is a United States citizen. Prospective parents who wish to adopt a foreign child must comply with the laws of the child's home country, the laws of the United States, and the laws of the prospective parents' state of residence. Due to the legal complications inherent in international adoptions, persons who wish to adopt a foreign child should consult an experienced attorney or an adoption agency that specializes in international adoptions.More...

Dependency Proceedings

There are several circumstances that may lead to the removal of a child from his or her parents to become placed as a dependent of the juvenile court. Some of these grounds are the removal of children who have suffered or are likely to suffer neglect or abuse. Other situations include the inability of the parent or guardian to provide regular care for the child due to mental illness, developmental disability, or substance abuse. A child may also become a dependent of the court if the child's parent has become incarcerated or institutionalized and has been unable to arrange for care of the child during that time. More...