What to Do When Someone Dies in Kent County, Rhode Island
Probate in Kent County runs through the City of Warwick Probate Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Kent County, settling their estate runs through the City of Warwick Probate Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Paper filing availableWalk-ins acceptedSelf-filing allowed
NOTE: Rhode Island probate courts are organized by city/town, not by county. This is the probate court for the City of Warwick, the largest municipality in Kent County. Residents of other Kent County towns must file in their own town probate court.
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Kent County, probate runs through the City of Warwick Probate Court at 3275 Post Road, Warwick.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Rhode Island intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Rhode Island estates take 12 months to 18 months to move through this process. The 6 monthsR.I. Gen. Laws § 33-11-5(a) (claims presented within six months from the first publication); § 33-11-1 (the period is reckoned from the probate clerk's first publication of the notice of qualification of the personal representative)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Kent County
What probate costs in Kent County, Rhode Island comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the City of Warwick Probate Court at 3275 Post Road, Warwick.
Local procedures at this court that affect cost: Filing fee: 1% of estate (min $30, max $1,500). These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
Rhode Island charges $4 plus 1% of personal property, minimum $34, up to $1,504R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-22-21(a); § 42-8.1-20(b)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Rhode Island are negotiated, typically 2.1%R.I. Gen. Laws (no statutory schedule; court discretion applies)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.4%R.I. Gen. Laws (no statutory schedule; court discretion applies)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 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 estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Rhode Island requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-17-1 (every executor, administrator and guardian shall give bond with sufficient surety); § 33-17-4 (a will's exemption from 'bond or surety' exempts only the surety); § 33-17-1.2 (no surety for a spouse/sole-heir intestate administrator)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Rhode Island typically runs 12 months to 18 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the City of Warwick Probate Court
Probate cases in Kent County are filed at the City of Warwick Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the City of Warwick Probate Court is realistic.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
File by residency (city/town), not county
Rhode Island probate courts are organized by city/town, not by county. File in the probate court of the municipality where the decedent resided at death.
Non-advertised (waiver) petitions must be on the Clerk's desk no later than the Friday prior to the hearing. Advertised petitions must be filed one month prior to the hearing date. Petitions may be filed in person or mailed.
You can file in person without an appointment. Petitions may be filed in person at the City Clerk's office (Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM) or mailed.
Hearing schedule
Thursdays at 8:00 AM (waiver, no 5th Thursday); 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 9:00 AM (advertised)
What to Bring
To file at the City of Warwick Probate Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Kent County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the City Clerk.
Deeds and other real property documents for Kent County are recorded with the City Clerk, led by City Clerk Lynn D'Abrosca, at Warwick City Hall, 2nd Floor, 3275 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886. Phone: 401-738-2006. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (office); recordings accepted until 4:00 PM.
The City Clerk charges $84 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page.
Kent County accepts electronic recording through CSC.
Recording Office Record
City Clerk
Kent County · City Clerk · Lynn D'Abrosca
Address
Warwick City Hall, 2nd Floor, 3275 Post RoadWarwick, RI 02886
Rhode Island uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Kent County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Rhode Island are based on reasonable compensation — typically 2.1%R.I. Gen. Laws (no statutory schedule; court discretion applies)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.4%R.I. Gen. Laws (no statutory schedule; court discretion applies)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Kent County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the City of Warwick Probate Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Gilstein, Kinder & Levin is a Warwick firm serving Kent, Newport, Providence, and Washington counties and Massachusetts. Its probate practice represents executors, administrators, and guardians, covering estate administration, asset appraisal and liquidation, creditor claims, accounting and distribution, will contests, and probate appeals. The firm also drafts wills and trusts.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 7 more
Office
300 Metro Center Boulevard, Suite 150AWarwick, RI 02886
Hackman & Phillips is a Warwick elder law firm serving Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. It represents families in probate court to administer estates and establish guardianships, and handles private trust administration, alongside Medicaid, long-term care, and special needs planning. Kevin Hackman has practiced since 1976 and is VA-accredited for veterans benefits claims.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 8 more
Kalander & Nash advises executors and administrators from its Warwick office. Its probate and trust administration work covers filing wills with the probate court, court appointment and bonding, assembling and valuing assets, paying creditors and taxes, locating beneficiaries, and representing fiduciaries in will challenges and disputes over estate management.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 10 more
Office
931 Jefferson Boulevard, Suite 2004Warwick, RI 02886
Santiago Law Offices has offices in Warwick and Wakefield and serves Rhode Island and Massachusetts clients. Attorney Jill M. Santiago prepares and files probate documents, represents families through the probate process, and lays out a step-by-step plan for each estate at the first meeting. A free Zoom or in-person consultation is offered.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateSpecial Needs Planningand 4 more
Nappa Law is a Warwick practice serving Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts. Attorney Bryan J. Nappa handles probate of estates with or without a will, small-estate filings, asset inventories, and help for executors, including coordinating the sale of estate real estate. The firm offers a free consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more
Office
33 College Hill Road, Building 20DWarwick, RI 02886
Revens, Revens, St. Pierre & Wyllie is a Warwick firm serving clients across Rhode Island since 1973, including out-of-state fiduciaries administering Rhode Island estates or trusts. Its probate practice covers estate and trust administration, guardianship, and disputes over wills and trusts, including undue influence and capacity challenges, fiduciary breaches, and heirship.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 11 more
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Kent County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Kent County, Rhode Island.
