R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-14.1-15: Jurisdiction to modify determination.

Except as otherwise provided, a court of this state may not modify a child custody determination made by a court of another state unless a court of this state has jurisdiction to make an initial determination, and:

(1) The court of the other state determines it no longer has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction or that a court of this state would be a more convenient forum; or

(2) A court of this state or a court of the other state determines that the child, the child’s parents, and any person acting as a parent do not presently reside in the other state.