Regaining Control of a Deceased Parent's Bank and Credit Card Accounts — Rhode Island
Immediate steps when a decedent's financial accounts are being used by someone else Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Rhode Island law and common practical steps. It is not legal advice. Consult a Rhode Island attorney for advice specific to your situation. Detailed answer — what to do and why (Rhode Island) If another […]
Read article →Rhode Island: Securing a Decedent's House and Preventing Removal of Belongings Before Appointment
Detailed Answer Overview: When someone dies, the decedent’s house and belongings become part of the estate. Until a probate court appoints an administrator (or a personal representative named in a will receives letters testamentary), no one has full legal authority to manage estate property. In Rhode Island, the fastest way to gain legal control is […]
Read article →Rhode Island — What Happens After the 90-Day Waiting Period for an Unclaimed Property Claim
Detailed Answer Short overview: After you file an unclaimed property claim in Rhode Island and the office has a 90‑day waiting or review period, one of a few things will usually happen: the state pays the claim, the state requests more documentation, the claim is denied, or the claim remains under further administrative review. Which […]
Read article →How to Be Appointed Administrator of an Intestate Estate in Rhode Island
Getting Appointed Administrator of a Parent’s Rhode Island Estate When There Is No Will Detailed Answer If your father died without a will (intestate) and you want to be appointed the administrator (also called a personal representative) of his estate in Rhode Island, you must open an administration case in the Probate Court for the […]
Read article →Rhode Island — Order of Succession Among Children for Estate Administration When There Is No Will
Detailed Answer Short answer: When someone dies without a will (intestate) in Rhode Island, the estate generally passes to the decedent’s surviving spouse and/or children according to Rhode Island’s intestacy rules. If there is no surviving spouse, the children inherit the estate. If a child of the decedent died before the decedent, that child’s share […]
Read article →Rhode Island: Getting Court Approval to Sell Real Property and Pay Off a Mortgage
Detailed Answer — Court Approval to Sell Real Property and Pay Off the Mortgage in Rhode Island Disclaimer: This is general information and not legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed Rhode Island attorney. When someone other than the property owner (for example, a personal representative of an estate, a guardian […]
Read article →How to Open an Estate Bank Account in Rhode Island Using an IRS EIN
Detailed Answer — Opening an Estate Bank Account in Rhode Island This article explains, in simple steps, how a personal representative (executor or administrator) opens a Rhode Island estate bank account using the estate’s IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN). It assumes a typical probate administration where the decedent left assets that must be collected, preserved, […]
Read article →Rhode Island — Late Creditor Claims After the 90-Day Notice Period
FAQ — Late Creditor Claims in Rhode Island Probate Short answer: Under Rhode Island law, creditors generally have a limited period (commonly 90 days) after a court-ordered notice to present claims against an estate. If a claim is filed after that period, the claim is often barred unless the creditor persuades the probate court to […]
Read article →Claiming an Intestate Share in Rhode Island: How to Recover Your Portion of a Parent’s Estate
Detailed answer: claiming an intestate share under Rhode Island law Short answer: If your mother died without a valid will in Rhode Island, you claim a share of her estate through the Probate Court where she lived. The court supervises an administration process that identifies the heirs under Rhode Island intestacy rules, collects assets, pays […]
Read article →Rhode Island — Surviving Spouse Rights When a Spouse Dies Without a Will
Detailed Answer Short answer: As a surviving spouse in Rhode Island when your partner dies without a will (intestate), you have specific legal rights under Rhode Island probate law. Those rights typically include priority to inherit under intestacy rules, the ability to ask the probate court to appoint you as the estate's administrator, certain allowances […]
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