Home Rhode Island Uncontested Divorce Kit
2026 edition • Nominal-Track Filing RoadmapRhode Island Nominal Divorce Kit
File an Uncontested (Nominal) Divorce in Rhode Island without a lawyer — a plain-English roadmap to the Family Court's own required packet, including the confusing FC-5/DR-6 Financial Statement.
- Full Nominal Track packet — Complaint, Cover Sheet (FC-75) & FC-5/DR-6
- Line-by-line help with the confusing FC-5/DR-6 Financial Statement
- Free eligibility check before you pay anything
- Instant PDF download — $129 one-time, no subscription
Takes 2 minutes to check · no commitment
“Professional quality documents. Looked exactly like what a law firm produces.”
Travis Z. · Warwick, Rhode Island
Do You Qualify for a Nominal Divorce?
Rhode Island's nominal track works well for genuinely no-contest cases, but it has real residency, service, and disclosure requirements. Check below to see if it fits.
Use this kit if:
- You've been domiciled and resident in RI for the year immediately before filing — or your spouse has, and can be properly served (military/merchant-marine service can also preserve a prior RI residence).
- You're filing on the no-fault ground of irreconcilable differences causing an irremediable breakdown.
- Your spouse will not contest the case, and you're not asking the court to referee a dispute over property, debt, custody, or support.
- You're willing to be served (or sign a waiver/acceptance of service) and to attend the Nominal Hearing once the court schedules it.
Talk to a lawyer if:
- Neither spouse meets RI's residency/domicile rule and no statutory exception clearly applies.
- Your spouse contests the divorce, or can't be located (service by publication).
- There is domestic violence, coercion, or safety concerns.
- You have real property, retirement accounts or pensions, a business, significant debt, minor-children issues, or a prior court order still in effect that needs to be worked out.
"Nominal" describes the court's calendar track for no-contest cases — it doesn't replace service, financial disclosure, or the court's own review of any children's issues.
What "Nominal Track" Actually Means
It's the right track for genuinely agreed cases — but it's a calendar designation, not a guaranteed shortcut. Here's exactly what it does and doesn't do.
Puts your case on the faster calendar
Under the Family Court's two-track system, selecting the Nominal Track puts your case in line for disposition in about 9-11 weeks from filing, instead of the 15-37 weeks (105-259 days) the Contested Track can take. That's a target set by the court's own administrative order, not a promise for your specific case.
What it doesn't do
It doesn't waive service, financial disclosure, or the court's review of any custody, support, or safety issue. It doesn't make you divorced the day of the hearing, either — finalizing takes two more filings and a mandatory wait (see how it works below). And "agreement" doesn't replace the court's own discretion at the hearing.
We can't promise your specific hearing date, whether the judge asks follow-up questions, or your total timeline — no honest DIY product can. Our roadmap shows you how to file the correct, complete packet the first time, since missing documents are what actually cause delays.
Why Choose a Nominal Divorce Kit?
Rhode Island's nominal-track packet has more moving pieces than most people expect — a cover sheet, a financial statement, a children's statement, automatic orders, and two separate finalization filings. Missing or misfiling any one of them is what actually slows a case down.
Save Thousands
You keep the difference between typical lawyer pricing and a one-time kit fee — see the breakdown alongside.
The FC-5/DR-6 Financial Statement
This mandatory, confusing financial-disclosure form trips up most self-represented filers. We provide a line-by-line guide so it's filled out correctly the first time.
Your Total Out-of-Pocket
*The $120 figure is the statutory Family Court entry fee for a complaint; the court also applies a technology surcharge, and service or other case-specific costs can add to the total. Confirm the current amount with the Clerk before filing. Attorney figure is an illustrative estimate, not a quote.
What's Inside the Kit
A plain-English guide to the Family Court's actual Nominal Track document set, not a simplified three-form summary.
Nominal Hearing Roadmap
- Filing the Nominal Divorce Complaint
- Serving your spouse, or using a waiver/acceptance of service
- What the automatic orders mean
- What to expect at your Nominal Hearing
Core Filing Packet
The documents the Family Court's own e-filing rules require:
Finishing the Case
What happens after the hearing, explained step by step:
If your spouse won't agree, can't be located, or your case involves children, real property, or retirement assets, our roadmap flags that this kit isn't the right fit on its own.
What this kit does not include
- Your certified marriage certificate — you'll need to obtain that yourself from the town/city or state where you were married
- Legal advice on dividing specific property, retirement accounts, or a specific custody/support arrangement
- A guarantee that your spouse won't contest the case, that the court will hold to any particular hearing date, or that your case finalizes within a set number of days
- The $120 Family Court entry fee (plus technology surcharge), service fees, or certified-copy fees
- Coverage for contested cases, domestic violence situations, a spouse who can't be located, or complex assets/debts — those need a different approach and often an attorney
- Certified-translation services for a non-English marriage certificate (the court requires one if applicable; we tell you what's needed)
PlainDivorce is a private publisher, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Rhode Island Judiciary or the Family Court. Always confirm current forms, fees, and local requirements with the Clerk before filing.
Built around the Family Court's current Nominal Track document set, applicable statewide.
How It Works
A roadmap to your Final Judgment — not a promised timeline, since the court's calendar and paperwork accuracy both affect how long it takes.
Gather & File
File your Nominal Divorce Complaint with the Cover Sheet (FC-75), FC-5/DR-6, Statement Listing Children (if any), and marriage certificate, plus the entry fee and technology surcharge (confirm the current amount with the Clerk).
Serve & Await Answer
Serve your spouse with the summons, complaint, and automatic orders (or use a waiver/acceptance of service). They generally have 20 days to answer.
Nominal Hearing
Attend the scheduled Nominal Hearing and testify that the marriage is irretrievably broken. If the judge is satisfied, the court enters its Decision.
Decision to Final Judgment
File the Decision Pending Entry within 30 days of the decision, wait the mandatory 3-month period, then file for Final Judgment (needed within 270 days, or a motion/consent is required).
Simple Pricing vs. Lawyer Fees
| Feature | PlainDivorce Kit | Typical Lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cost | $129 | $2,500+ |
| Process Control | You set the pace (DIY) | Lawyer's schedule |
| Full Packet Guidance? | Yes (Complaint, FC-75, FC-5/DR-6, FC-59, Judgment forms) | Yes |
Secure One-Time Payment · No Subscriptions
If Your Case Isn't Eligible, You Get Your Money Back
If you buy the kit and then discover you don't meet the residency rule, your spouse will contest the case, there's a domestic-violence situation, or another circumstance the nominal track isn't built for, email us within 30 days and we will refund you in full. We would rather lose the sale than have you file something that doesn't fit your situation.
Refunds are handled by our support team. See our Terms of Use for full details.
What Our Clients Say
Real stories from people who used PlainDivorce to complete their own filing.
4.7 out of 5 based on 300+ customer reviews
Customer reviews are collected from purchasers and support conversations. Names may be shortened for privacy, and individual results vary by court, case facts, and filing requirements.
“The instructions were clear and easy to follow. I filed my complete packet with confidence, without guessing at what the FC-5 was asking for.”
Sophie P.
East Providence
“The line-by-line financial statement guide made the confusing part of the process actually make sense before I walked into court.”
Cecilia J.
Cranston
“Professional quality documents. Looked exactly like what a law firm produces.”
Travis Z.
Warwick
“Having a clear checklist for every form we needed took so much of the guesswork out of the process.”
Andrew O.
East Providence
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Nominal Divorce?
"Nominal" is the Family Court's name for its no-contest calendar track. It puts genuinely agreed cases on a faster disposition target than the Contested Track — but it's a calendar designation, not a substitute for service, financial disclosure, or the court's own review of your case.
What is the FC-5/DR-6 Form?
It's the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, Income, and Expenses — a mandatory, confidential financial-disclosure form required with every Nominal Track filing (and again for certain later motions). Our kit includes a line-by-line guide to completing it correctly.
Do I have to go to court?
Generally, yes. The Plaintiff typically must attend the Nominal Hearing to testify that the marriage is irretrievably broken. We can't promise how long that hearing will be or what the judge will ask.
How long does it take?
The Family Court's own administrative order puts a Nominal Track case in line for disposition in roughly 9-11 weeks from filing — a target set by the court, not a guarantee, and it depends on the court's calendar. After the decision, there's a mandatory 3-month wait before you can file for Final Judgment, so total time is typically several months.
What if I've lived in Rhode Island less than a year?
You may still qualify if your spouse has been RI-domiciled and resident for the past year and can be properly served, or if military/merchant-marine service preserved your prior RI residence. If neither applies, talk to an attorney about your options.
What if we have children, property, or debt to divide?
Agreeing on everything doesn't remove the court's role. You'll still need the Statement Listing Children (FC-59) for any minor children, and the court can require additional documents or resolve outstanding property, support, custody, or parenting-time issues even in a nominal case.
What does it cost to file?
The Family Court charges a $120 entry fee for the complaint, plus a technology surcharge the court sets. That's paid to the court, separate from the $129 price of our kit. Confirm the current amount with the Clerk before filing.
What if it turns out my case isn't right for this kit?
Email support within 30 days and we will refund you in full. See our Terms of Use for details. We are not a law firm, cannot give legal advice, and cannot appear or file on your behalf — you file with the court yourself.
Find out in 60 seconds whether a nominal filing fits your situation.
Answer a few questions about your residency, agreement, and any property or custody issues. If it fits, you can download the kit immediately. If it doesn't, we'll tell you that instead.
Check Eligibility & Get the Kit$129 one-time · Instant PDF download · 30-day refund if it doesn't fit
Important Legal Disclaimer
PlainDivorce is not a law firm and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Rhode Island Judiciary or the Family Court. We do not provide legal advice, do not represent you in court, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using this site or the kit. The Rhode Island Nominal Divorce Kit is a self-help information product explaining the Family Court's own Nominal Track filing requirements and statutes; it is not a certification that any document or process is court-approved.
We do not guarantee that your spouse will not contest the case, that a hearing will be waived or held on any particular date, that a judge will enter your Decision as submitted, or that your case will finalize within any particular timeframe. The current published Family Court entry fee is $120 plus a technology surcharge and may change; you are responsible for verifying current requirements and fees with the Clerk before filing.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, coercion, or feel unsafe, do not rely on a nominal filing in place of legal advice or protective measures. Contact a family law attorney or your local domestic violence resources.
Content last reviewed: September 2026.