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Hiring a Special Needs Planning Attorney in Rhode Island

Estate planning attorneys in Rhode Island average $382 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $1,146–$2,292 for a simple individual will and $3,850–$5,775 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.

Rhode Island allows estates under $15,000 to use a simplified Voluntary Administration procedure, which is a form rather than a court case and typically doesn't require an attorney. For larger estates, formal probate is involved enough that retaining counsel is usually practical — the procedural work is what they're there for. Use the Rhode Island probate calculator to estimate the costs.

In Rhode Island, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; estates near or above the Rhode Island estate tax threshold; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.

Start by filtering the directory above by your county and the practice area you need. Look for firms with experience in your specific situation — board certifications in estate planning, trust, or probate law are a strong signal. Most Rhode Island estate planning attorneys offer an initial consultation; some are free, others charge a flat fee. Ask up front whether the firm bills by the hour or by flat-fee package, and what the expected cost is for your situation.

Special Needs Planning Attorneys in Rhode Island

Rhode Island attorneys average $382Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Apr 1, 2026 an hour for wills and estates work. A basic will from an attorney runs $1,146Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Apr 1, 2026–$2,292Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Apr 1, 2026; online services cost $30–$300.

Rhode Island imposes its own estate tax separate from the federal one, kicking in well below the federal exemption. Estates near the state threshold benefit from real planning — not because every family needs it, but because the line is lower than people expect.

Estates under $15,000§ 33-24-1Verified May 27, 2026 in Rhode Island can use a simplified affidavit instead of formal probate. Most families in that range can handle it without retaining counsel.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated May 27, 2026

Legal Sources

  • § 33-24-1
  • Clio Legal Trends Report 2025

Data sourced from Rhode Island statutes and official state code. How we research.

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Home→Estate Law Firms→Rhode Island

Special Needs Planning Attorneys in Rhode Island

Search 3,941 estate law firms across 51 states.

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.

7 firms

Hackman & Phillips Elder Law RI LLC

Firm

Hackman & Phillips is a focused elder law and estate planning boutique in Warwick serving all of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Kevin Hackman has practiced since 1976, concentrating on elder law, Medicaid and estate planning, probate administration, guardianships, and special needs trusts. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and sits on the RI Bar Association's Probate and Trust Committee.

Location

1370 Warwick AvenueWarwick, RI 02888

Phone

(401) 463-6100

Elder LawEstate PlanningMedicaid PlanningSpecial Needs PlanningWillsTrustsProbateGuardianshipPowers Of Attorney
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Moonan | Stratton, LLP

Firm

Moonan | Stratton is a women-owned and women-run boutique law firm with a focus on trusts, estates and elder law, as well as transactional matters. The firm has roots dating back to the 1920s and is led by partners Kristen Prull Moonan and Amy Stratton, both honored by Best Lawyers in America.

Location

4 Richmond Square, Suite 300Providence, RI 02906

Phone

(401) 272-6300

Established

1994

Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationElder LawBusiness SuccessionSpecial Needs Planning
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Orson and Brusini Ltd.

Firm

Orson and Brusini Ltd. was founded in 2004 by seasoned attorneys Theodore Orson and Stephen M. Brusini. The firm provides excellence in estate planning, elder law and special needs trust planning, estate administration, trust administration, guardianships, and estate and trust litigation. In 2025 the firm absorbed the trust and estate practice of Mignanelli & Associates after 41 years of service.

Location

211 Quaker Lane, Suite 201West Warwick, RI 02893

Phone

(401) 223-2100

Established

2004

Estate PlanningElder LawSpecial Needs PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipTax PlanningProbate Litigation
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Pierce Atwood LLP

Firm

Pierce Atwood is a full-service regional law firm whose Providence office has a dedicated Trusts & Estates practice led by partners Deborah DiNardo and Lawrence Hunt. The team advises individuals and multi-generational families on preserving and protecting assets using grantor trusts, charitable trusts, and private foundations. Ranked Band 2 in Chambers High Net Worth 2025 for Rhode Island Private Wealth Law.

Location

One Citizens Plaza, 10th FloorProvidence, RI 02903

Phone

(401) 588-5113

Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningCharitable PlanningSpecial Needs PlanningGuardianshipElder Law
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Rampino Law, Ltd.

Solo Practice

Rampino Law provides compassionate counsel in elder law and estate planning, with a focus on the needs of people with disabilities. Attorney Kenneth R. Rampino concentrates in elder law, estate planning, and special needs planning for Rhode Island families.

Location

65 Boston Neck RoadNorth Kingstown, RI 02852

Phone

(401) 738-1910

Elder LawEstate PlanningSpecial Needs PlanningMedicaid PlanningWillsTrusts
Free consultationVisit site →

Santiago Law Offices

Solo Practice

Santiago Law Offices provides estate planning services from offices in Warwick and Wakefield, covering both Kent and Washington Counties. Attorney Jill M. Santiago focuses on wills, trusts, asset protection, special needs trusts, estate administration, and real estate title services for Rhode Island and Massachusetts clients.

Location

2348 Post Road, Suite 106Warwick, RI 02886

Phone

(401) 307-5556

Estate PlanningWillsTrustsAsset ProtectionSpecial Needs PlanningProbatePowers Of Attorney
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Tomassi Law, LLC

Firm

Tomassi Law is a Warwick-based firm founded in 2006 that provides estate planning and probate services to Rhode Island clients. The firm prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, living wills, and powers of attorney, and represents clients in probate court and estate administration matters.

Location

51 Jefferson Boulevard, 2nd FloorWarwick, RI 02888

Phone

(401) 941-5291

Established

2006

Estate PlanningWillsTrustsProbateElder LawSpecial Needs PlanningPowers Of AttorneyEstate Administration
Free consultationVisit site →