If a spouse is pregnant during the divorce process the court may make orders for how health care costs will be paid and health insurance provided for the mother and child. In most states a child born during marriage or for some prescribed period following termination of the marriage or cohabitation (living together)—300 days, for example—is presumed to be the child of the spouses or cohabiting persons. This is known as the marital paternity presumption and is usually located in a state’s statutes (family code or domestic relations code) or in its court opinions (common law).

In Rhode Island, if a spouse is pregnant during the divorce process, the court has the authority to issue orders regarding the payment of healthcare costs and the provision of health insurance for the mother and the unborn child. Rhode Island law adheres to the marital paternity presumption, which means that a child born during a marriage or within a certain period after the marriage ends is presumed to be the child of the married couple. This presumption is typically found within the state's family law statutes. The presumption can be rebutted by presenting evidence to the contrary, but unless it is challenged, the husband is presumed to be the legal father of the child. This has implications for issues such as child support, custody, and visitation rights. The specific period during which the presumption applies after the termination of marriage in Rhode Island is consistent with the common period of 300 days as mentioned.