AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- FAMILY COURT

This bill expands the authority of Rhode Island family court magistrates to hear and decide contested divorce cases, which were previously handled only by judges. Under the new provisions, magistrates can conduct full trials, take testimony, and issue final divorce decrees, while parties dissatisfied with a magistrate's ruling retain the right to have it reviewed by a justice of the family court. The law applies retroactively to all divorce cases that were pending or filed after the bill becomes effective.