How do I force my sibling to give me a copy of our parents’ estate plan in Rhode Island (RI)?
Can I force my sibling to give me a copy of our parents’ estate plan in Rhode Island? Detailed answer (What you can and cannot do under Rhode Island law) Short answer: It depends on whether your parents are alive, whether the document is a will or a trust, and whether you have a legal […]
Read article →What can I do if the personal representative sends me a payment without explaining how he calculated my share of the estate? (RI)
FAQ: What to do if a Rhode Island personal representative sends a payment without explaining how your share was calculated Detailed Answer — Your rights and practical steps under Rhode Island law If a personal representative (executor or administrator) sends you a distribution but does not explain how they calculated your share, you have rights. […]
Read article →What documentation is required to prove I'm the next of kin and qualify as administrator in a reopened estate? (RI)
Detailed Answer: Documents you’ll need to prove next-of-kin status and qualify as administrator when reopening a Rhode Island estate Short answer: To prove you are next of kin and to be appointed administrator when an estate is reopened in Rhode Island, you generally must present certified vital records and documentary proof of family relationships (birth, […]
Read article →How can I reopen my father's closed estate in Rhode Island so I can be appointed as administrator?
Detailed Answer Short answer: In Rhode Island you can ask the probate court that handled your father’s estate to reopen the closed estate and to appoint you as administrator, but you must show good cause (for example, omitted assets, fraud, mistake, or newly discovered heirs or creditors). Reopening requires filing a petition with the probate […]
Read article →What steps do I need to take when the original estate administrator has died before completing the probate? (RI)
Detailed Answer — What to do if an estate administrator dies before probate is complete (Rhode Island) When the person appointed to administer an estate (an administrator or executor carrying out administration duties) dies before finishing the probate process, the probate court must authorize a successor to take over. Under Rhode Island practice the court […]
Read article →What happens if the survey shows the property was conveyed out of my mother’s estate decades ago and I have no interest? – RI
Detailed answer — What it means if a survey shows the property was conveyed out of your mother’s estate decades ago (Rhode Island) Short answer: if a properly executed deed was delivered and recorded transferring the property out of your mother’s estate decades ago, the recorded owner most likely holds legal title today and you […]
Read article →How do I get the probate court’s permission to sell the property when the clerk’s office won’t explain the filing requirements? (RI)
Quick answer If you are the personal representative (executor or administrator) of an estate in Rhode Island and you need the probate court’s permission to sell estate real property, you must file a petition with the probate court that has jurisdiction over the estate and follow the court’s filing and notice rules. If the probate […]
Read article →Can I recover personal items heirs removed before I took possession and enforce the court's order? (RI)
Can I recover personal items that heirs removed from the house before I took possession and enforce the court’s order? Short answer: Possibly. Under Rhode Island law you have several civil remedies to try to recover personal belongings removed by heirs after a court awarded you possession. The right approach depends on the wording of […]
Read article →What steps do I need to follow as executor to sell real property to pay estate debts? (RI)
Detailed Answer Short overview: As the personal representative (executor or administrator) in Rhode Island, you may need to sell real property owned by the decedent to pay funeral expenses, taxes, creditors, and administration costs. Whether you can sell the property directly or must ask the probate court for permission depends on the will, the probate […]
Read article →Can heirs of a deceased sibling be included in a partition action in Rhode Island (RI)?
Detailed Answer — How heirs of a deceased co-owner are brought into a Rhode Island partition action This answer explains, in plain language, how to include heirs when a co-owner (for example, a sibling) dies and someone has filed or is planning a partition action to divide or sell jointly owned real estate in Rhode […]
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