The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for Rhode Island with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page Rhode Island reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our Rhode Island probate pages.
Rhode Island probate fees
| Item | Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | The probate filing fee is 1% of the personal-property value of the estate, with a $30 minimum and a $1,500 maximum cap. |
| Attorney fees | Not statutory. Attorneys usually charge a percentage of the estate (often 1%–4%) or an hourly rate ($300–$600/hr). Fees must be reasonable and are subject to review by the local probate court. |
| Executor / personal representative fees | No statutory formula. The personal representative is entitled to just compensation as allowed by the probate court, commonly in the 2%–4% range. Family executors often waive it. |
| Fee basis | reasonable |
| Appraisal / referee | Not used. Rhode Island does not appoint a state appraiser, though the personal representative must file an inventory and may need private appraisals for real estate or valuables. |
Worked example
On a $450,000 Rhode Island estate there is no set percentage; a personal representative might reasonably request roughly $9,000–$18,000 (about 2%–4%) or an hourly-based fee, which the probate court reviews for reasonableness before approving. The estate's attorney fee is separate.
Rhode Island thresholds and deadlines
| Item | Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | Estates with no real estate and personal property under $15,000 can use voluntary informal administration under R.I. Gen. Laws §33-24-1, filed 30 days after death. |
| Creditor claim period | Creditors generally must present claims within six months after the personal representative qualifies and notice is published, under R.I. Gen. Laws §33-11-5; a longer outer limit on suits applies under §33-11-50. |
| Typical duration | About 8 to 14 months, driven largely by the six-month creditor claim period. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | Rhode Island does not currently authorize a transfer-on-death deed for real estate. Bills to adopt the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act have been introduced repeatedly (most recently 2025-S 0141) but had not become law as of 2026, so solely owned real property generally must pass through probate or a living trust. |
What passes outside Rhode Island probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- Transfer-on-death deed — Rhode Island does not currently authorize a transfer-on-death deed for real estate. Bills to adopt the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act have been introduced repeatedly (most recently 2025-S 0141) but had not become law as of 2026, so solely owned real property generally must pass through probate or a living trust.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: R.I. Gen. Laws §33-11-5; R.I. Gen. Laws §33-11-50; R.I. Gen. Laws §33-24-1; R.I. Gen. Laws §44-22-1.1
- State authority: Rhode Island General Laws (Rhode Island General Assembly, rilegislature.gov)
- Small-estate procedure: https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/title-33/chapter-33-24/section-33-24-1/
- Creditor claim period: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE33/33-11/33-11-5.htm
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the Rhode Island court before relying on it.
The full Rhode Island guides
- How Much Does Probate Cost in Rhode Island? — the full cost breakdown.
- How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in Rhode Island? — the fee rule in detail.
- How Long Does Probate Take in Rhode Island? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
- Executor Deadlines in Rhode Island — inventory deadline, creditor-claim period and outer bar, each quoted from the statute.
- How to Avoid Probate in Rhode Island — the transfers that pass outside it.
- How Much Does a Will Cost in Rhode Island? — execution requirements and pricing.
Fee sheets for other states
California · Texas · Florida · New York · Pennsylvania · Illinois · Ohio · Georgia · North Carolina · Michigan · Connecticut · Arkansas · Indiana · Oklahoma · Oregon · New Jersey · Washington · Arizona · Colorado · Massachusetts · Maryland · Minnesota · Missouri · Alabama · Alaska · Delaware · Hawaii · Idaho · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Mississippi · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Mexico · North Dakota · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
This sheet sets out Rhode Island probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the Rhode Island courts or a licensed Rhode Island attorney.