Esign Legal Rhode Island Estate Planning Forms For Free

Each town has its own probate court in Rhode Island with assigned judges. The town's council members usually appoint them. The only exception is New Shoreham because the town council here acts as the probate judge. You can expect probate here to take at least six months for the simplest cases.

Any Rhode Island estate larger than $15,000 is subject to probate regardless of whether the deceased had a will. The probate process verifies who will control and inherit assets from the estate. The estate should go to the closest relatives ing to Rhode Island's intestate succession laws.

In Rhode Island, you can make a living trust to avoid probate for virtually any asset you own?real estate, bank accounts, vehicles, and so on. You need to create a trust document (it's similar to a will), naming someone to take over as trustee after your death (called a successor trustee).

A Rhode Island small estate affidavit is a form that can be used to speed the distribution of assets in certain estates. Any estate that is valued at less than $15,000 is considered a small estate. This helps avoid the long and costly process of traditional probate.

File a Copy With the Recorder's Office If you gave your agent the power to conduct transactions with real estate, you should also file a copy of your POA in the land records office (called the recorder's office or town clerk's office in Rhode Island) in the county or counties where you own real estate.

If a person dies with less than $15,000 of personal property, probate may be shortened under the "small estate" provision. The executor of the estate will have to file the necessary forms with the probate court, but the waiting time for the closure of these estates is typically much shorter and far less costly.