Rhode Island route screening

Rhode Island small-estate limit: $15,000

Sources reviewed August 9, 2026. Sources rechecked October 3, 2026. This page last revised October 16, 2026.

1. Where and when

StateRhode IslandFixed to this page. Open the navigator to compare another state.Date of deathRequired. Without it no waiting period can be tested and the route stays undecided.

2. What they left

Asset 1

DescriptionValue$Not entered. A blank amount is not counted as zero.Enforceable liens or mortgage$Not entered. Enter 0 if there is no lien.OwnershipThis is real property

Asset 2

DescriptionValue$Not entered. A blank amount is not counted as zero.Enforceable liens or mortgage$Not entered. Enter 0 if there is no lien.OwnershipThis is real propertyWill it be sold during administration?Some court charges are assessed on sale proceeds and exclude real property that is kept, so this changes the amount.

Ownership determines whether an asset usually enters probate. Choose “Not sure” when title or beneficiary status has not been confirmed.

Private by design: entries stay in this browser.

Your working estimate

Rhode Island estate snapshot

Route check

More information is needed

Counted probate estate: not yet counted

A valid date of death is required before any waiting period can be tested.

Gross probate propertyNot yet counted

Court chargeMore information neededPetition to appoint an administrator or to probate a will (statewide, R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-22-21)2 asset entries have no value entered. A blank amount is not treated as zero, so the charge cannot be computed.More information neededVoluntary informal administration under § 33-24-12 asset entries have no value entered. A blank amount is not treated as zero, so the charge cannot be computed.Court charges only, for the proceeding named beside each figure. That proceeding is not always the route screened above.

Scheduled executor compensationMore information needed2 asset entries have no value entered.Rhode Island states no percentage schedule: the Probate Court allows the executor or administrator compensation in the account in the amount the court considers just. The cited section does not specify a value base, will override, or separate extraordinary-services rate.

This route check is general information, not legal advice. It does not test every eligibility condition, creditor issue, will provision, local fee, or asset-title fact.

After 30 days, an eligible adult Rhode Island resident may file in the decedent’s city or town Probate Court if the estate consists entirely of personal property and the inventory-counted value, excluding the tangible-personal-property category identified by § 33-24-1, does not exceed $15,000. No petition for letters may already be filed. Where the decedent left a will naming an executor, R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-24-2 gives the named executor (or, if unable to serve, an alternate or listed relative) a parallel voluntary route on the same $15,000 personal-property test.

Where the limit comes from

Is this the limit that applies?

$15,000 is the limit in R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-24-1 as it read on October 3, 2026; confirm it with the probate court before you file.

Controlling citation: R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-24-1, voluntary informal administration (Rhode Island General Assembly; P.L. 2011, ch. 363, § 10.).

The section’s own words

(a) If a resident of Rhode Island dies leaving an estate consisting entirely of personal property the total value of which otherwise subject to being listed on a probate inventory pursuant to § 33-9-1, exclusive of tangible personal property of which the decedent was owner, does not exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) in value, his or her surviving spouse, child, grandchild, parent, brother, sister, niece, nephew, aunt or uncle, or any interested party, if of full age and legal capacity and a resident of this state, may, after the expiration of thirty (30) days from the death of the decedent, provided no petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration has been filed with the probate court of the city or town in which the decedent resided, file with said probate court upon a form prescribed by the court a statement, verified by oath or affirmation containing: (1) The

How the Rhode Island screen is measured

Procedure	Voluntary informal administration of small estates
What counts	Personal property only; real property is outside this route
Value basis	Gross value less exempt property the worksheet cannot classify
Waiting period	30 days after death

The Rhode Island caveats that can change this answer are listed once, on the Rhode Island overview.

The official Rhode Island path

Rhode Island city and town directory — State of Rhode Island. Use the decedent’s municipality to reach its Probate Court, forms, calendar, and local fee schedule.

What a small-estate screen can and cannot decide, and which assets never enter it, is explained once in small-estate affidavit or probate and what counts as a probate asset.

Controlling source

Statute

R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-24-1

R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-24-1, voluntary informal administration

The section’s own words

(a) If a resident of Rhode Island dies leaving an estate consisting entirely of personal property the total value of which otherwise subject to being listed on a probate inventory pursuant to § 33-9-1, exclusive of tangible personal property of which the decedent was owner, does not exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) in value, his or her surviving spouse, child, grandchild, parent, brother, sister, niece, nephew, aunt or uncle, or any interested party, if of full age and legal capacity and a resident of this state, may, after the expiration of thirty (30) days from the death of the decedent, provided no petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration has been filed with the probate court of the city or town in which the decedent resided, file with said probate court upon a form prescribed by the court a statement, verified by oath or affirmation containing: (1) The

Rhode Island General Assembly · P.L. 2011, ch. 363, § 10. · Rechecked October 3, 2026

Sources rechecked October 3, 2026: Rhode Island source list · how sources are checked · report a correction

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