Parental Rights in Rhode Island

Rhode Island Parental Rights News

Parents’ Efforts Around the Country Starting to Pay Off!

By Sheila Roberts • March 17, 2022
Across the nation, some state legislatures are starting to adjourn for the year. Others have reached cross-over day, where bills have to pass from one chamber to another or they’re dead for the year. Still other legislatures remain in full swing. All this year, ordinary moms and dads like you, with your energy and passion,… The post Parents’ Efforts Around the Country Starting to Pay Off! appeared first on Parental Rights.

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Rhode Island State Law

At Risk


Rhode Island does not have a state statute that explicitly defines and protects parental rights as fundamental rights.

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Rhode Island Courts

Unclear


Rhode Island's State Supreme Court has long held that "[n]atural parents have a fundamental liberty interest in the care, custody, and management of their child..." See, e.g., In re Manuel P., 252 A.3d 1211, 1218 (R.I. 2021); In re Indiana M., 230 A.3d 577, 583 (R.I. 2020); In re Antonio G., 657 A.2d 1052, 1057 (R.I. 1995). Because parental rights have been held as "fundamental," the standard of "strict scrutiny" may (or may not) be applied the next time these rights are taken up by the high court.