What Happens to a Safe Deposit Box After Someone Dies in RI?
Detailed Answer — What happens to a safe deposit box after someone dies in Rhode Island? If a person who rented a safe deposit box in Rhode Island dies, the bank will usually restrict access until the legal authority to act for the deceased is shown. How the box is handled depends on who leased […]
Read article →When Can an Executor Be Removed in Rhode Island (RI)?
FAQ: When Can an Executor Be Removed in Rhode Island? Short answer: In Rhode Island a court can remove an executor (also called a personal representative) when the executor is unable or unfit to perform duties, breaches fiduciary duties, commits misconduct (including criminal acts affecting the estate), fails to account or deliver estate property, has […]
Read article →What Is “Probate in Common Form” in Rhode Island (RI)?
Detailed Answer — What this concept means and how Rhode Island handles probate Short answer: "Probate in common form" is a phrase some states use for a relatively informal, summary way to admit a will or appoint an administrator when there is no dispute. Rhode Island does not use that exact label in its probate […]
Read article →How can I close an estate bank account and obtain the required closing statement in Rhode Island (RI)?
Closing an Estate Bank Account and Getting the Required Closing Statement (Rhode Island) Short answer: To close an estate bank account in Rhode Island you (1) show you are the estate fiduciary (letters testamentary or letters of administration), (2) collect and pay valid debts and taxes, (3) prepare and file a final estate accounting (final […]
Read article →Is probate administration required when there is no will in Rhode Island (RI)?
Quick overview: Whether probate administration is required when a person dies without a will in Rhode Island depends on what property the decedent owned, how that property is titled, and whether the estate qualifies for a simplified or small-estate procedure. Rhode Island law provides formal probate (appointment of an administrator) when assets titled solely in […]
Read article →How to properly document and file receipts for payments to heirs or service providers in an estate (RI)
How to document and file receipts for payments to heirs or service providers in an estate Quick answer: As a personal representative (executor or administrator) in Rhode Island, you should create a clear, dated, itemized record for every payment from the estate, keep supporting documents (invoices, canceled checks, bank statements, electronic transfer records, signed receipts), […]
Read article →How can next of kin qualify to be appointed as the estate administrator? (RI)
Can a next of kin be appointed estate administrator in Rhode Island? Detailed answer — how qualification and appointment work under Rhode Island law This section explains, in plain language, what a next of kin must show and do to be appointed as the administrator (also called a personal representative or administrator de bonis non) […]
Read article →What documents are required to apply for probate appointment and oath in Rhode Island (RI)?
Detailed Answer: Documents Required to Apply for Probate Appointment and Take the Oath in Rhode Island Short answer: To apply for appointment as personal representative (executor or administrator) and to take the required oath in Rhode Island you will typically need: the original will (if any), a certified death certificate, a completed probate petition (for […]
Read article →Which statements and financial documents are required for annual and final probate accountings in Rhode Island (RI)?
Detailed Answer Short overview: In Rhode Island, fiduciaries (executors, administrators, guardians, conservators, and sometimes trustees) who administer an estate must prepare and file accountings that show what the estate owned, what it earned, what the fiduciary spent or paid out, and what remains for distribution. Annual accountings (when required) are recurring reports of activity during […]
Read article →What steps can heirs take to resolve an elective share dispute through mediation in RI?
Detailed Answer — How heirs can resolve an elective share dispute through mediation under RI law Disclaimer: This is educational information only. This is not legal advice. For advice tailored to your situation, consult a licensed Rhode Island attorney experienced in probate and estate disputes. Quick hypothetical to frame the issue Imagine a Rhode Island […]
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