Serves Rhode Island families from Jefferson Office Park in Warwick, with a second office in Barrington. Handles probate of decedent estates, counsels trustees through trust administration and distribution, and brings guardianship cases in probate court, alongside Medicaid and nursing home planning. Mark Heffner founded the firm in 1992 and is a Certified Elder Law Attorney.
Bristol is in Bristol County.
More Probate Firms in Bristol County
Sheehan & Associates Law serves Rhode Island clients from its Barrington office and Massachusetts clients from Taunton. The women-owned firm handles probate for families and executors settling estates, guardianship and conservatorship matters, and wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. It offers a free initial consultation.
Evelyn Weiss Zawatsky is a solo attorney in Barrington. Her probate practice covers appointing a personal representative, marshalling assets and date-of-death values, notifying creditors and publishing notice, paying final bills and estate taxes, and distributing the estate, along with guardianships. She has practiced solo since 1992.
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 →
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Rhode Island
Free Rhode Island forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Rhode Island.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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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 and Settling an Estate in Rhode Island
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Rhode Island: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Rhode Island costs an estimated $28,582R.I. Gen. Laws (no statutory schedule; court discretion applies)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 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 under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Rhode Island: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysR.I. Gen. Laws §§ 33-9-1, 33-9-4Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 monthsR.I. Gen. Laws §§ 33-11-4, 33-11-5, 33-11-5.1, 33-11-5.2, 33-12-11, 33-18-1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 12 months.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Rhode Island pays executors reasonable compensationR.I. Gen. Laws § 33-14-8 (reasonable compensation as court considers just)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
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Do I Need Probate?
In Rhode Island, estates with personal property of $15,000R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-24-1Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less use the Voluntary Informal AdministrationR.I. Gen. Laws § 33-24-1Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysR.I. Gen. Laws § 33-24-1Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, a court filing short of full probate.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Rhode Island, creditors have 6 monthsR.I. Gen. Laws § 33-11-5(a) (six months from the first publication); § 33-11-1 (the probate clerk's first publication of the notice of qualification)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
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