Jane F. Howlett

The founder of Howlett Law Offices, Jane F. Howlett, focuses her practice primarily on family law matters such as divorce, contested child custody, child support and juvenile cases. She also has extensive experience in estate planning and administration, personal injury litigation, and landlord-tenant disputes. From the firm's offices in Bristol, Rhode Island, she provides representation to clients throughout the state.

Admitted to practice before all Rhode Island state courts for the past three and a half decades, Ms. Howlett is also admitted to practice in Massachusetts and before the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.

In her family law practice, Ms. Howlett helps people whose marriages are coming to an end and who are thus having to deal with such divorce-related issues as property division, child custody and visitation, and spousal and child support. She has served for many years as the chief judge on the Bristol Municipal Court, and as a result, she has presided over numerous trials. This experience has allowed her to observe the types of tactics that might be successful when her clients are unable to resolve their differences outside of the courtroom. She has counseled clients whose marriages have already dissolved and who are now seeking the enforcement of modifications to existing support and parenting orders. 

After obtaining an associate degree from Roger Williams University, Ms. Howlett enrolled at Providence College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies in 1983. She then pursued her legal education at the Quinnipiac University School of Law and was awarded her Juris Doctor in 1986. A fellow of the Rhode Island Bar Foundation, she has served on several Rhode Island Family Court committees.

Quite frequently described as a fighter by her peers, Ms. Howlett’s commitment and dedication to work have been honored by many. Along with holding a "Superb" rating on Avvo, she is rated Distinguished* through Martindale-Hubbell. She received the Professional Excellence in the Law award from Rhode Island Monthly consecutively for two years. The Rhode Island Bar Association conferred her with the Pro Bono Publico Award honoring her steadfast commitment to obtaining justice for the poor.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.