Probate

Probate Court is held the third Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in the Town Council Chambers of the Richmond Town Hall. The Honorable Judge Christine Engustian presides. The Town Clerk is also the Clerk of the Probate Court.

The filing fee for a probate petition is pursuant to RI General Law and is further defined in the below chart. Petitions not on waivers are advertised in the Chariho Times, which is published on Thursdays only. The fee of $30.00 for advertising must be submitted with the petition and filing fee. Petitions to be advertised must be submitted thirty days in advance of the hearing date. A petition on waivers can be filed until noon of the Thursday preceding the probate session.

Probate forms can be downloaded from the Secretary of State's website. You are urged to seek legal advice on all probate matters.

Probate Practices and Procedures (PDF)

 FEES:

Probate of Will
 Advertisements (Hearing & Qualification)

Total

$34

$60

$94

Probate of Will (on Waiver)
 Advertisement of Qualification

Total

$34

$30

$64

File Will (No Assets to administer)
 Requires Death Certificate, Last Will and Testament and paid funeral bill

$34

Appoint Administrator
 
Advertisements (Hearing & Qualification)

Total

$34
$60
$94

Appoint Administrator (on waiver)
 
Advertisement of Qualification

Total

$34
$30
$64

Certificate of Appointment

$5 each

Inventory
 
Minimum: $34; Maximum: $1,504 (1% of the personal property, not to exceed a total of $1,504, including prior filing fee)

Varies

Guardian/Conservator/Custodian
 
Advertisement (Hearing & Qualification)

Total

$34
$60
$94

Temporary Guardian 

$5

Successor Guardian (under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act)

$34

Real Estate (Petition to sell, mortgage, or lease)
 
Advertisement

Total

$34
$30
$64

Personal Property (Petition to sell)
 
(Advertisement not required)

$34

Change of Name
 
Advertisements (Hearing & Post-Hearing)

Total

$34
$60
$94

Complete Administration
 
(Advertisement not required)

$34

Voluntary Informal Executor
 
Attested Copy

Total

$34
$ 5
$39

Voluntary Informal Administrator
 
Attested Copy

Total

$34
$ 5
$39

Tax Minimization or Estate Planning

$34

Remove or Fill a Vacancy of a Trustee or To Terminate a Trust Established Under A Will

$34

Miscellaneous Petition with No Advertising
 
(If advertising is required add $30)

No Fee

Accounting
 
Advertisement (if not on waiver)

No Fee
 $30

Claim Out of Time
 
Advertisement

Total

$34
$30
$64

Allowance for Support of Family
 Advertisement

Total

$34
$30
$64

Adult Adoption
 
Advertisement

Total

$34
$30
$64 

Removal of Fiduciary (Executor, Guardian, etc.)
 
Advertisement

Total

$34
$30
$64 

Resignation of Fiduciary (Executor, Guardian, etc.)
 Advertisement

 No Fee

$30

Insolvency Hearing
 Advertisement

No Fee

$30

Appointment of Commissioners
 
Advertisement

No Fee
$30

Order of Distribution
 
Advertisement

No Fee
$30

Cancel Bond
 
Advertisement

No Fee
$30

Setting Off/Allowing Real Estate In-Fee to Surviving Spouse
 
Advertisement

No Fee
$30

Copies of Probate Documents (per page)

  $1.50

Certification (plus copy cost)

    $3

Exemplified Copy of File Contents (plus certification and copy costs)

   $10