Wills & Trusts Lawyers in RI

Rhode Island asset protection involves layering — exemption planning, business entities, retirement accounts, and (for some) Domestic Asset Protection Trusts (DAPTs) in DAPT-friendly states.

Rhode Island blended families need careful estate planning to avoid disinheriting biological children when surviving spouse remarries — QTIP trusts, life insurance, and specific structures address the conflict.

Rhode Island business succession requires coordinated estate + business planning — buy-sell agreements, life insurance funding, key-person insurance, and gradual transition plans. Without it, families lose businesses to taxes, disputes, or chaos.

Rhode Island charitable trusts combine philanthropy with tax planning. Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) and Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs) provide income / estate / gift tax benefits.

Rhode Island digital-asset planning is governed by RUFADAA (adopted in 48 states) — fiduciaries can access digital accounts only if user explicitly consented. Without planning, families lose access to email, photos, crypto, and online accounts.

Rhode Island elective share: Real-estate life estate + various personal allowances.

Rhode Island estates may face federal estate tax (40% above ~$13.99M / individual in 2025) plus state estate or inheritance tax — most estates use lifetime gifting + trusts to minimize tax.

Rhode Island guardianship cases — for minors, incapacitated adults, or both — are heard in Probate Court. Process requires petition, evaluation, hearing, ongoing reporting.

Rhode Island healthcare directives: Rights of Terminally Ill Act + Healthcare POA.

Rhode Island heirs' property — land passed without a will or proper estate planning, owned by multiple heirs as tenants-in-common — has caused significant land loss in Black + low-income families. UPHPA partition reform helps.

If you die in Rhode Island without a will, the state's intestate succession law decides who gets what — not you. Spouse takes a life estate in real property and the first $75,000 of personal property plus 1/2 of the remainder; children share the rest.

A revocable living trust avoids probate, maintains privacy, and lets you control how your assets pass at death. Estates over $15K personal property typically benefit most.