What is the youngest age a child can testify in a Rhode Island family court?

Answer 1

No age definedThere is no legally mandated minimum age.

The general guidelines a judge uses to determine if a child should be allowed to testify are: the ability of the child to understand what truth is and the importance of the telling the truth, and if the child is able to recall and relate events or thoughts clearly and specifically to the issue at hand.

A child will not be allowed to testify against a parent when it is an issue of custody or other such domestic matters. If a child has witnessed domestic violence or been the victim of abuse it is done through video tape testimony or in a closed courtroom.

Answer 2

Why put your child through that? It is a hard thing even for adults. If a decision is to be made, let the child talk with an independent third party to decide and then follow that decision. Sometimes the choice is painful.

If it is a criminal case, it would make sense for the testimony to be video taped and then be done with it.

Answer 3

13