Rhode Island estate planning
Make a will, living trust & powers of attorney in Rhode Island
Rhode Island sets its own rules for who can make a will, how it must be signed and witnessed, whether it needs a notary, and how estates are taxed. Estateur drafts your Rhode Island will, revocable living trust, and powers of attorney through a guided interview, then validates every document against Rhode Island law before you ever see it. It is a self-help document-preparation service, not a law firm.
Rhode Island estate planning at a glance
| Will witnesses required | two witnesses |
|---|---|
| Will must be notarized | No (self-proving affidavit optional) |
| Self-proving affidavit | Available (recommended) |
| Handwritten (holographic) wills | Not recognized |
| Electronic wills | Not permitted |
| State estate tax | Yes — 2025 exemption $1.8 million |
| State inheritance tax | None |
| Community property | No (separate / common-law property) |
General information, not legal advice. Figures such as tax exemptions change; confirm current requirements with the Rhode Island courts or department of revenue.
How to make a valid will in Rhode Island
A Rhode Island will must be in writing and signed by you in front of two witnesses. Notarization is not required for the will to be valid, but a self-proving affidavit — which is notarized — makes probate easier by removing the need for your witnesses to testify later. Rhode Island does not recognize handwritten (holographic) wills — the witness requirement applies regardless.
Spousal protection. Life-estate-based: life estate in real estate + allowance up to $150k + intestate personalty share (R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-28-1). A will can't fully disinherit a surviving spouse in most states — Estateur's interview flags this for you.
Living trusts & avoiding probate in Rhode Island
A will still has to pass through Rhode Island probate — a public, court-supervised process — before your assets reach your heirs. A revocable living trust holds your assets during life and transfers them at death without probate, which is usually faster and stays private. A trust is not right for everyone; it depends on whether you own real estate, the size and complexity of your estate, and your goals.
Estateur's free quiz recommends whether a will-based or trust-based plan fits your Rhode Island situation, and every trust-based plan includes a pour-over will as a companion document.
Powers of attorney & healthcare directives in Rhode Island
A financial power of attorney in Rhode Island must be acknowledged before a notary to be effective. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-16-2)
A Rhode Island healthcare directive can be signed before either two witnesses or a notary. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.10-2)
A complete plan also includes a HIPAA authorization so your healthcare agent can actually get your medical information. Estateur builds each of these to Rhode Island's signing rules and includes execution instructions.
Rhode Island estate & inheritance tax
Rhode Island levies a state estate tax with a 2025 exemption of $1.8 million — well below the federal exemption, so an estate can owe Rhode Island tax while owing no federal tax. Rhode Island has no separate inheritance tax.
Estate-tax exemption amounts are 2025 figures and change annually. Confirm current thresholds with the Rhode Island department of revenue.
Rhode Island statutes referenced
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-5-5
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-16-2
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.10-2
Rhode Island estate planning: common questions
- Is an online will legal in Rhode Island?
- Yes. Rhode Island does not care who typed your will — it cares that the will meets Rhode Island's execution rules. A will is valid in Rhode Island when it is in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two people (R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-5-5). Estateur builds each Rhode Island will to those rules and includes step-by-step signing instructions, so an online will you sign correctly is just as valid as one prepared any other way.
- How many witnesses does a will need in Rhode Island?
- Rhode Island requires two witnesses to sign your will. Adding a notarized self-proving affidavit is optional but recommended — it lets the will be admitted to probate without tracking down your witnesses. Rhode Island does not recognize handwritten (holographic) wills.
- Do I need a lawyer to make a will in Rhode Island?
- No. Rhode Island law does not require a lawyer to make a valid will — you can prepare and sign your own. Estateur is a self-help document-preparation service (not a law firm, and no attorney personally reviews each plan) that drafts your Rhode Island documents against the state's verified rules and validates them before you see them. For complex situations — large or taxable estates, blended families, special-needs beneficiaries, or business succession — consulting a licensed Rhode Island attorney is wise.
- Does Rhode Island have an estate tax or inheritance tax?
- Rhode Island levies a state estate tax with a 2025 exemption of $1.8 million — well below the federal exemption, so an estate can owe Rhode Island tax while owing no federal tax. Rhode Island has no separate inheritance tax.
- How much does an online will cost in Rhode Island?
- Estateur uses flat, one-time pricing that is the same in Rhode Island as in every other state: a single Last Will & Testament is $79, or the full Will Plan (seven documents) is $99, with no subscription required.
Create your Rhode Island estate plan
Take the free 2-minute quiz for a personalized recommendation, or go straight to the plan you need — built for Rhode Island, at a flat one-time price.
Estateur is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Information on this page reflects Rhode Island law in general terms and may change.
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