In the trial of every civil cause, the husband or wife of either party shall be deemed a competent witness; provided, that neither shall be permitted to give any testimony tending to criminate the other or to disclose any communication made to him or her, by the other, during their marriage, except on trials of petitions for divorce between them, trials between them involving their respective property rights, and under the provisions of § 11-34.1-9.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-17-13
Spouses of parties
Applied in 2 court decisions — leading case State v. Christian (2004)
Most recently applied in State v. Gutierrez (August 2019)
C.P.A. 1905, § 391; G.L. 1909, ch. 292, § 39; G.L. 1923, ch. 342, § 39; G.L. 1938, ch. 537, § 15; G.L. 1956, § 9-17-13; P.L. 2010, ch. 239, § 16.
Official source: Rhode Island General Assembly. Reproduced from public-domain Rhode Island statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.