Bardorf & Bardorf practices on Washington Square in downtown Newport and serves clients across Rhode Island. Its probate and estate administration work covers executors and personal representatives, successor trustee duties, will contests, and dispute resolution, alongside wills and trusts. The firm has served Rhode Island since 1965.
Probate in Bristol County
Probate Court Record
Town of Bristol Probate Court
Bristol County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
10 Court Street, Bristol, RI 02809
Website
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Bristol County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Bristol County? →Settling an estate in Bristol County →
Asset Protection Firms Serving Bristol County
Corcoran, Peckham, Hayes, Leys & Olaynack is a Newport firm serving Aquidneck Island, Newport County, and the rest of Rhode Island, in continuous operation for over 150 years. Its attorneys handle probate of estates, advise trustees on carrying out trust terms, and represent clients in guardianship matters, alongside wills, trusts, and elder law planning.
Orson and Brusini is based in West Warwick with offices in Newport, Wakefield, and Westerly, serving Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Its estate team supports executors and trustees with probate filings, creditor notices, trust administration and distributions, guardianships, and estate and trust litigation.
Sayer Regan & Thayer works from offices in Newport and Wakefield and handles probate, trust, and estate administration across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Its attorneys represent executors, heirs, trustees, and beneficiaries, collect, value, sell, and distribute assets, and prepare federal and state tax returns. Free initial consultations are offered.
All 6 Rhode Island asset protection firms serving Bristol County →
Forms for Planning Your Estate in Rhode Island
Free forms for planning your estate in Rhode Island: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Rhode Island.
$12/month
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Free
Pour-Over Will
In Rhode Island, a pour-over will is signed before 2R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-5-5Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
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Free
Transfer on Death Deed
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate. Available in 34 states and the District of Columbia.
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Free
Last Will and Testament
In Rhode Island, a will is signed before 2R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-5-5Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and the witnesses sign an affidavit at probate instead of a self-proving affidavitR.I. Gen. Laws § 33-5-5Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
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Tools for Planning Your Estate in Rhode Island
Free tools for planning your estate in Rhode Island: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Rhode Island.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
In Rhode Island, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2.1%Modeled estimate under R.I. Gen. Laws (no statutory schedule; court discretion applies): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.4%Modeled estimate under R.I. Gen. Laws (no statutory schedule; court discretion applies): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
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How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Rhode Island runs $3,850Estimate: 10 hours at $385, Clio's Rhode Island Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,775Estimate: 15 hours at $385, Clio's Rhode Island Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
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Do I Need a TOD Deed?
Rhode Island does not authorize transfer on death deeds; sole-name real property goes through probate, at least 6 months for a simple estate, unless held in a trust or with a right of survivorship.
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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
Rhode Island does not revoke an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceR.I. Gen. Laws § 33-5-9.1Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
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