Best Divorce Lawyers in Warwick, RI

The Settlement Agreement (SA) is at the center of each divorce resolved by the parties. An SA can be stated orally before the judge in which case it becomes an order of the family court. Or an SA can be a written contract signed by both parties. If you represent yourself in your divorce, the words you use in an SA are critical. If your words lack detail or clarity in your SA then one or all of the terms in your may be unenforceable or worthless. For example, John and Sue include in their written SA "Sue will stay in the' apartment and she will be responsible for everything relating to it." The judge approves the SA. A week later, Sue puts John's mountain bike in the hallway of their apartment building while she cleans the apartment. A neighbor trips on the bike and is injured. The neighbor expects John to pay his medical bills. John tells Sue that she needs to pay the man's medical bills. Sue refuses and tells John it was his bike and he should have remove it from the apartment. John reminds Sue that she is responsible for "everything" relating to the apartment. Does John's bike "relate" to the apartment? Did "everything" just mean the costs like rent and electricity? If the court is limited to the plain meaning of the words are those words enforceable or are they too vague? Does "everything" include costs and liabilities? Does the bike or the neighbor's injuries "relate" to the apartment? What words could have been used to make sure there weren't any issues?