Deborah Miller Tate

Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and raised in Blackstone, Massachusetts, Deb always knew she wanted to be an attorney. Both of her parents worked in textile mills and wanted to ensure that their daughter had every opportunity to go to college and pursue a degree in law. She was able to attend Classical High School in Providence, commuting daily from Blackstone, Massachusetts.

Legal Practice

One of the highlights of her legal career was to serve as President of the Rhode Island Bar Association from 1999 - 2000. At that time, the organization had in excess of 5000 lawyers as members.

In 2004, she became the only divorce attorney from Rhode Island to be elected and designated a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, of which there are approximately 100 members nationwide. Prior to that, in 1991, Deb became the first female from Rhode Island and only one of six attorneys to be elected and designated a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Award-Winning Representation 

In 1997, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She has been on the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 2012.

In 2013, Deb was appointed by Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Judge, Paul Suttell, to the State of Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners where she continues to serve.

Deb has been chosen by her peers, since inception in 2007 as a Rhode Island Super Lawyer as well as the Top 50 Women Super Lawyers in New England. This honor is limited to no more than five percent of the attorneys in the State of Rhode Island. For 2019, she has been selected as one of Top 10 Attorneys in Rhode Island.

In April 2019, she was one of five attorneys in Rhode Island who was inducted into the RI Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame for Excellence in the Law. Since 2009 and continuing, Deb is the Co-Editor of A Practical Guide to Divorce in Rhode Island which was published in 2009 and is a go-to guide for attorneys, judges, accountants, and mediators.

She participates in various 5K's and half-marathons as a walker, raising money for various charities. In 2009, she walked the Boston Marathon for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute's Jimmy Fund walk.

Year joined firm:

• 1982

Honors & Awards:

• Distinguished Service Award - American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2000
• Top 50 Best Lawyers in RI, One of Four Best Divorce and Family Lawyers, RI Magazine
• Best Lawyers in America, 2007 - Present
• Super Lawyers, 2007 - Present
• AV - Preeminent Attorney - Martindale-Hubbell. Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards
• 2019 Top 10 Attorneys in Rhode Island
• 2019 Top 50 Female Attorney
• Hall of Fame Excellence in the Law, 2019 by RI Lawyer's Weekly

Professional Affiliations:

• Rhode Island Bar Foundation- Lifetime Member
• State of Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners, 2013 - Present
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow, 1990 - Present
• American College of Family Trial Lawyers, Diplomat, 2004 - Present
• Northeast States Chapter, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2014-2017, President
• Gallogly Family Law Inn of Court, Master, 1995 - Present
• Rhode Island Commission on Judicial Tenure & Discipline, Past Member, 1995 - 2001
• Rhode Island Bar Association, President, 1999 - 2000
• Rhode Island Supreme Court Ethics Advisory Panel, Past Chair, 1995 - 1999
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyer Foundation- Lifetime Member

Bar Admissions:

• Rhode Island, 1982
• Massachusetts, 1981
• Florida, 1987

Past Employment Positions:

• Lipsey & Skolnik, Partner, 1983 - 1993

Fraternities and Sororities:

• Alpha Chi Omega

Publications

• Co-Editor; A Practical Guide to Divorce in Rhode Island 2009-Present
• American Bar Association Family Advocate
• American Journal of Family Law

Education:

• Boston University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts
  • LL.M. - 1985
  • Major: Taxation
• New England School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Doctor of Jurisprudence - 1981
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
  • Bachelor of Business Administration - 1977
  • Major: Accounting
• Attended Harvard Project on Negotiations for Matrimonial Lawyers, 2006 and 2015

Areas Of Practice: 

• 100% Family Law

Classes and Seminars:

• Continuing Legal Education - Family Law, Rhode Island Bar Association
• Lecturer, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute for Training New Lawyers
• Continuing Legal Education, Family Law Section of the American Bar Association
• Law Education Institute
• Co-Reporter, Family Law Quarterly Law in 50 States, American Bar Association