Rhode Island: What happens to mortgage payments and utilities while an estate is in probate?
How mortgage payments and utilities are handled while an estate is in probate in Rhode Island Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This article provides general information about Rhode Island probate practice and does not constitute legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a licensed Rhode Island attorney or the Probate Court. Detailed […]
Read article →How to Decide Which Assets to List on a Rhode Island Small Estate Affidavit
What to include (and what to leave out) when completing a small‑estate affidavit in Rhode Island Detailed answer — how to decide which assets to list This summary explains how to identify and report the assets you should include on a Rhode Island small‑estate affidavit. It assumes you are using an affidavit or summary procedure […]
Read article →How to Find a Missing Parent During Probate in Rhode Island
How to locate a missing parent when you are next-of-kin for probate in Rhode Island Short answer: Start by confirming whether the parent is alive or deceased, search public and private records, ask family and institutions, and follow Rhode Island probate procedures for serving or notifying a missing heir (including service by publication) if you […]
Read article →Rhode Island: Listing Right-of-Survivorship Assets on a Probate Inventory
Detailed Answer Short answer: In most cases under Rhode Island practice, assets that pass automatically to another person by right of survivorship (for example, a joint bank account or real estate held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship) are not part of the decedent’s probate estate and therefore generally are not included as estate […]
Read article →Rhode Island — Confirming a Bank Account Is Under the $20,000 Small‑Estate Limit
How to Confirm a Bank Account Is Under the $20,000 Small‑Estate Limit in Rhode Island This page explains, in plain language, how to determine whether a deceased person's bank account (and other personal property) falls under Rhode Island’s $20,000 small‑estate threshold so you can use the simplified small estate process. This is educational information only […]
Read article →How to Use a Small Estate Affidavit in Rhode Island to Claim a Deceased Parent's Bank Account
How to use a small estate affidavit in Rhode Island to claim a deceased parent's bank account Short answer If your father died and his bank account is small, Rhode Island allows certain heirs or beneficiaries to use a small estate affidavit or similar probate form to collect personal property without a full probate administration. […]
Read article →Rhode Island: Do You Automatically Control the Estate If Appointed Guardian of the Person?
Detailed Answer Short answer: In Rhode Island, being appointed guardian of the person does not automatically make you guardian of the estate. The court must separately appoint a guardian of the estate (sometimes called a conservator or guardian of the property) to give you authority to manage the protected person’s financial affairs. How Rhode Island […]
Read article →Rhode Island — Filing Federal Tax Returns for an Estate When No Distributions Were Made
Detailed Answer Short answer: You only need to file a federal income tax return for an estate (Form 1041) if the estate produced enough gross income during the estate’s tax year to meet federal filing thresholds or if the estate has a beneficiary who is a nonresident alien. If the estate had no reportable income […]
Read article →Rhode Island: Moving Brokerage Account Assets into an Estate Checking Account
How an Estate Representative Moves Brokerage Assets into the Estate Bank Account (Rhode Island) This FAQ-style guide explains, in plain language, the practical steps an estate representative (executor or administrator) should take to get assets held at a brokerage moved into an estate checking account under Rhode Island procedures. This is educational information only and […]
Read article →Selling a Co-Owned Property in Rhode Island to Cover Funeral and Property Tax Costs — FAQ
Overview If you (or a family member) need to sell a property that is owned with other people in Rhode Island in order to raise money for funeral costs and to pay property taxes, there are clear legal steps and practical choices to consider. The answer below explains ownership types, how claims and taxes are […]
Read article →