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Practice Of Real EstateFair HousingHARD

A seller in Bristol instructs her listing agent, Tom, to reject any offers from buyers who are divorced, stating that 'divorced people are unreliable.' Tom's broker advises him that following this instruction would violate Rhode Island fair housing law. The seller responds that divorce is a personal choice, not a protected characteristic, and that she has the right to choose her buyer. Which of the following most accurately reflects Rhode Island law on this issue?

Correct Answer

B) The broker is correct; marital status is a protected class under § 34-37, and discrimination against divorced persons falls within that protection.

Rhode Island's Fair Housing Practices Act (§ 34-37) protects 'marital status' as a covered class, and this protection encompasses all marital statuses — including being single, married, divorced, separated, or widowed. The seller's instruction to reject divorced buyers is discrimination based on marital status and violates § 34-37. The seller's argument that divorce is a 'personal choice' does not remove it from the scope of marital status protection under Rhode Island law.

Answer Options
A
The seller is correct; marital status protection under § 34-37 applies only to discrimination against married persons, not divorced persons.
B
The broker is correct; marital status is a protected class under § 34-37, and discrimination against divorced persons falls within that protection.
C
The seller is correct; because divorce is a voluntary act, it is not covered by fair housing protections under Rhode Island or federal law.
D
The broker is correct; the refusal violates federal fair housing law, which protects divorced persons as a subset of familial status.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

fair_housingmarital_statusstate_protected_classesdivorced_personsexpert_trap

Related Concepts

Commingling is the illegal act of mixing client funds with a broker's personal or business operating funds, while conversion is the unauthorized use of client funds for the broker's own benefit. Both are serious violations that can result in license revocation.

Commingling is the illegal act of mixing client trust funds with a broker's personal or business operating funds; conversion is the misappropriation of those funds.

Continuing education (CE) refers to the ongoing coursework that licensed real estate professionals must complete during each renewal cycle to maintain an active license. CE ensures agents stay current with changes in laws, regulations, and industry practices.

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