Estate Planning & Probate in Providence County, Rhode Island
Most Providence County estate questions come down to one fork: avoid probate before a death, or work through it after one. Pick the path that fits, then work from the local City of Providence Probate Court details.
The Probate Process in Providence County
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 Providence, probate runs through the City of Providence Probate Court at 25 Dorrance Street, 5th Floor, Providence.
Full Providence County probate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
City of Providence Probate Court
Providence County
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Filing in person
Self-represented filing
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Providence County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Recording Office Record
Recorder of Deeds
Providence County
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Recording fee
E-recording
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Vital Records Office Record
Rhode Island Department of Health - Center for Vital Records
Providence County · State vital records office
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Certified copies
Certified copy fee
Full death certificate details →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
State Medical Examiner
Providence County · Office of State Medical Examiners
Phone
Hours
Website
Serves this county
Cremation authorization
Full coroner or medical examiner details →
Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Local Procedures at the City of Providence Probate Court
The City of Providence Probate Court schedules probate hearings Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 AM, with a posted summer schedule in July and August.
Rhode Island has no county probate court. Each city and town has its own, and an estate is filed in the probate court of the city or town where the person who died lived. Letters about a pending matter are mailed or faxed to the Providence Probate Court, never to the judge's or clerk's private offices. A continuance needs the agreement of every party, or the court holds a hearing on it.
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.
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.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Rhode Island allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.10-2Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
Financial Power of Attorney
Rhode Island requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityR.I. Gen. Laws § 18-16-2Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and it is signed before a notaryR.I. Gen. Laws § 18-16-2Verified Sep 20, 2026View source.
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 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.
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Rhode Island happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteR.I. Gen. Laws Title 18, Chapter 18-4 (Powers of Fiduciaries); § 18-4-27 (validity of trusts)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
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.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Without a will in Rhode Island, descendants divide what passes to them per stirpesR.I. Gen. Laws §§ 33-1-1, 33-1-7, 33-1-10Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and an heir must survive the decedent by 120 hoursR.I. Gen. Laws § 33-1-13Verified Oct 21, 2026View source to inherit.
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.
Rhode Island Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Providence County.
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