Richard was the son of Thurstan'Le Goz', Vicomte d'Avranche and grandson of Ansfre Le Goz' William II, Duke of Normandy, bestowed on him the title of Viscount of Avranches sometime before 1046.
Richard may also have been Lord of Creully and entrusted with the castle of Saint-James-de-Beuvron, built by William in 1067 shortly after the war against the Bretons of 1064-66.
Richard provided 60 ships to support William's 1066 invasion of England but is not among those known to have been present at the Battle of Hastings.
Between 1070 and 1079, Richard was involved in a ruling between Raoul Tesson and the Abbey of Fontenay.
Richard was married to Emma who is believed to have been the daughter of Herluin de Conteville and Herleva (mistress of Robert I of Normandy and mother of William the Conqueror), and hence a sister of Robert, Count of Mortain and Odo, Bishop of Bayeux.