Washington County
Probate Court
In Rhode Island, estates are probated in the Probate Court (39 Municipal & Town Probate Courts). This page gathers where to file in Washington County, the state rules that apply, and where every detail comes from.
Where to file in Washington County
- Handled by
- Probate Court (39 Municipal & Town Probate Courts)Rhode Island operates an independent Probate Court in each of its 39 cities and towns, presided over by a part-time Probate Judge appointed by the municipal council.
- Location
- Probate filings are made in the county seat, South Kingstown. We have not found an open, verifiable address for the office yet — use the county website below.
- Phone
- No phone number published in an open source. Use the county website's contact page — we don't list numbers we can't source.
- Opening hours
- Not published in an open source. Check the court or county website before you go.
- State courts & e-filing
- courts.ri.govCase search: Rhode Island Judicial Portal / Secretary of State Probate Forms
How probate runs in Washington County
Six stages, with the Rhode Island rules that set the pace.
- 01
Secure the original will
Find the original signed will and order certified death certificates. Rhode Island deadline: Custodian must deliver will to the probate court (or named executor) within 30 days after notice of death; executor must file it within 30 days of receiving it (R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-7-5).
- 02
Pick the right track
If the probate estate is under $15,000, a small-estate procedure (R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-24-1 (Voluntary Informal Administration)) may avoid full administration.
- 03
Petition the court
File the petition with the Probate Court (39 Municipal & Town Probate Courts) for Washington County. The court appoints the executor or administrator and issues letters.
- 04
Inventory the estate
Open an estate bank account (the IRS issues the EIN), list assets at date-of-death values and file the inventory if the court requires it.
- 05
Notify creditors
Publish or send notice to creditors. Window: 6 months from the date of first publication of notice of qualification.
- 06
Account and distribute
Pay debts, taxes and fees (R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-14-8), file the final account if required, distribute to heirs and ask to close the estate.
Where to get help.
We don't sell leads or take referral fees. Eligibility, availability and fees depend on the provider; confirm them directly.
- 01 Rhode Island courts — self-help & formsOfficial judiciary website: forms, filing rules and e-filing.
- 02 Legal aid directory — LawHelp.orgNonprofit directory of free and low-cost legal aid by state, including probate and estates.
- 03 Find a probate lawyer — American Bar AssociationState-by-state links to bar lawyer-referral services and pro bono programs.
Rhode Island rules that apply here
Probate law is state law — these apply in all 5 Rhode Island counties.
- Small estates
- $15,000 personal property only (value excludes the decedent's tangible personal property); filed with the municipal probate court as a voluntary administrator statement; no real propertyR.I. Gen. Laws § 33-24-1 (Voluntary Informal Administration) · wait 30 days
- Filing the will
- Custodian must deliver will to the probate court (or named executor) within 30 days after notice of death; executor must file it within 30 days of receiving it (R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-7-5)
- Creditor claims
- 6 months from the date of first publication of notice of qualificationR.I. Gen. Laws § 33-11-5
- Executor fees
- Such compensation as the probate court considers just (no statutory percentage)R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-14-8 · estimate the fee
- Handwritten wills
- Not recognized without witnesses. Rhode Island does NOT recognize unwitnessed holographic wills (requires two witnesses).
- Estate tax
- Yes — exemption $1.84 million.Rhode Island taxes net taxable estates over $1,838,056 for 2026 deaths (indexed annually by CPI-U; rates 0.8% to 16%).
- Inheritance tax
- No.No inheritance tax in Rhode Island.
- Typical duration
- 6 to 12 monthsA lawyer is not required by statute, though most formal estates use one.
Rules re-checked Sept 2026 against: webserver.rilegislature.gov (statute) · webserver.rilegislature.gov (statute) · webserver.rilegislature.gov (statute) · webserver.rilegislature.gov (statute)