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Burrillville Probate Court, RI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Burrillville Probate Court |
| Filing office | Town clerk of Burrillville, clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6 |
| Address | 105 Harrisville Main Street, Harrisville, RI 02830. Harrisville is the village address inside the town of Burrillville. |
| Mailing | Use the clerk's office address above unless the clerk gives you different mailing instructions. |
| Phone | (401) 568-4300, extension 131. Ask for probate. |
| Fax | (401) 568-0490 |
| [email protected] | |
| Counter hours | Monday through Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call before traveling because these are clerk counter hours, not probate hearing hours. |
| Probate session | Call the clerk for Burrillville's current probate session date and time. Rhode Island requires each municipal probate court to keep local administrative rules stating when it is in session (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29). |
| Filing cost | Current 2026 state statute sets the opening probate charge at one percent of the decedent's personal property, with a minimum of $30 and a maximum of $1,500, figures unchanged since at least 1996, payable before the petition is filed and based on the petitioner's estimate (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). Burrillville may add records and advertising charges under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11; ask the clerk for the current local amount before filing. |
| Probate forms | Statewide PC forms are free through the Rhode Island Secretary of State under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16. |
| Electronic filing | The statutes assume paper filing: a written and signed petition, the original will when required, payment before filing, and a written receipt from the clerk (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-1, 33-24-2 and 33-22-21). Plan to file in person or by mail with the town clerk under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6. |
| Case lookup | Probate records are kept by the town clerk of Burrillville under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-7. Contact the clerk for access to Burrillville probate records. |
| Town website | https://www.burrillville.org/probate-court. During the September 2026 review, this page returned an access screen, so call the clerk for the current local rules, session schedule and charges. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Start estate settlement by listing the assets, debts, beneficiaries and any real estate. In Burrillville, that asset list matters immediately because the amount you estimate on the petition drives the provisional fee under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help you find accounts across 2,300 institutions before you choose the probate path. That can help you avoid filing too small an estimate, missing an account, or using the voluntary informal route under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 when a full Burrillville Probate Court filing is needed.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File where the decedent lived. If the decedent's home was in Burrillville, the Burrillville Probate Court is the court, and no other Rhode Island probate court has jurisdiction over the estate (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9).
Rhode Island has no county probate courts and no county government. The Burrillville Probate Court is the court for the town of Burrillville and for no other municipality (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9). Burrillville is in Providence County, which matters in one respect only: an appeal from a decree of this court goes to the Superior Court for that county (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1), and the Superior Court sits in four divisions statewide, with Providence and Bristol counties served together.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the decedent's assets, debts, will status and Burrillville residence before you file. The personal property estimate on the petition is used to calculate the provisional probate charge under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21.
- Choose the correct statewide PC form. Use the Secretary of State's free probate forms under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16, and ask the Burrillville clerk for any court-issued form that is not posted online.
- File with the town clerk of Burrillville, who is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6, at 105 Harrisville Main Street, Harrisville, RI 02830. If mailing an original will, call first for current mailing instructions.
- Pay the statutory charge before the petition is filed. Current 2026 Rhode Island law sets the charge at one percent of personal property, with a $30 minimum and a $1,500 maximum, figures unchanged since at least 1996, and it is later revised if the estimate changes (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). Ask the clerk for Burrillville's current local records and advertising charges under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11.
- Handle notice. Newspaper advertising under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 is generally paid in advance, but interested parties may use waiver forms under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22 to reduce or avoid that step when everyone who must receive notice signs.
- Get the hearing date from the clerk. Rhode Island law requires Burrillville's local administrative rules to state its session dates, hearing procedures and filing deadlines (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29), but the current Burrillville session schedule was not available from the town website during the September 2026 review.
- Use the written receipt. When a filing fee is paid under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21, the clerk issues a written receipt and notes the hearing date on it whenever possible.
- Attend the hearing if one is scheduled. Formal and uncontested matters are heard before contested matters, and the court may hold a special session for a contested matter without an added fee (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-30).
- After appointment, order certificates of appointment from the probate clerk. The current 2026 statutory charge is $5 for each certificate of appointment (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21).
- File the inventory within 90 days after appointment unless the court allows more time (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-9-1). The one percent charge under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21 is recalculated against that inventory, with a further payment or refund if the original estimate was off.
- Administer claims and taxes before closing. Claims are presented through the probate court and the six-month claims period runs from first publication (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-11-5). Before the final account is allowed, the court must see that Rhode Island estate tax has been paid, extended, or determined not to apply under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36.
- Close the estate with the required account or affidavit of complete administration. The affidavit of complete administration carries a current 2026 statutory $30 filing charge under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Burrillville Probate Court
Rhode Island probate forms are statewide. A legislative commission prescribes them and the Secretary of State publishes them free to the public, to lawyers and to probate clerks (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16); they are numbered in the PC series and downloadable at www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/.
The Burrillville Probate Court uses the same PC forms as every other Rhode Island probate court. A few forms are issued by the court rather than posted online, so ask the town clerk of Burrillville, clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6, if you cannot find a form.
| Need | Common statewide form |
|---|---|
| Open an intestate estate | PC-1.1 Administration Petition, tied to R.I. Gen. Laws 33-8-8 |
| Open a will case | PC-1.5 Petition for Probate of Will |
| Use the voluntary informal route for an intestate estate | PC-1.10 Petition for Voluntary Informal Administrator under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1 |
| Use the voluntary informal route when a will names an executor | PC-1.9 Petition for Voluntary Informal Executor under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2 |
| Appoint a Rhode Island resident agent for an out-of-state executor | PC-3.5 Appointment of Agent under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2 |
| Ask to sell or mortgage real estate | PC-4.2 Petition for the Sale or Mortgage of Real Estate |
| Waive notice or advertising | PC-9.1 Waiver or Advertising under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 |
| Appeal a decree | PC-9.3 Claim of Appeal under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1 |
Local nuance
Burrillville-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Harrisville address | The probate address is 105 Harrisville Main Street, Harrisville, RI 02830, but Harrisville is a village inside Burrillville. The court is the Burrillville Probate Court, and the town of Burrillville is the filing jurisdiction under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9. |
| Town clerk filing | Use the town clerk of Burrillville for filings because the town clerk is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6. |
| Local rules by request | Every Rhode Island municipal probate court must maintain local administrative rules with session dates, docketing procedures, special-session procedures and filing deadlines (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29). Call the clerk for Burrillville's current rules before traveling. |
| Website access screen | The town probate webpage returned an access screen during the September 2026 review. Use the phone, role email and clerk's office to confirm current hours, session dates and local charges. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Burrillville path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | First separate jointly owned property from assets titled only in the decedent's name. If a Burrillville probate filing is needed, use the town clerk under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6 and consider notice waivers under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22 to reduce newspaper advertising under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 when all interested parties sign. | Sunset helps organize ownership, debts and account information so the spouse can decide whether full estate settlement is needed and can prepare a cleaner Burrillville packet. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | The voluntary informal route under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 is narrow. For an intestate estate, the voluntary administrator must be a Rhode Island resident under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1, even when the personal property figure is within the $15,000 limit in force since 2005. If the will names the out-of-state child as executor, R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2 allows that route with a resident agent on PC-3.5. | Sunset helps identify whether there is a will, whether any real estate exists, and whether the assets fit the voluntary informal route under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 before the child travels or mails papers. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | Real property takes the estate out of the voluntary informal route under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24. A Burrillville filing may need full administration, a petition to sell real estate, and estate tax clearance before the final account can be allowed under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36. | Sunset helps gather account and property information, generate an estate settlement checklist, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney for the real estate and tax steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it provides | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Secretary of State probate forms | Free statewide PC probate forms for the public under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16 | https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/ |
| Rhode Island Superior Court | Appeal forum for a decree from the Burrillville Probate Court under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1 | https://www.courts.ri.gov/Courts/SuperiorCourt/Pages/default.aspx |
| Rhode Island Division of Taxation estate tax | Estate tax return information, Form RI-706, lien discharge information and Notice of No Tax Due for the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23 and 44-23-36 | https://tax.ri.gov/tax-sections/estate-tax |
| Burrillville Probate Court webpage | Town probate page for local rules, hours and filing details. During the September 2026 review, it returned an access screen, so use the clerk's phone or email if the page does not load for you. | https://www.burrillville.org/probate-court |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful if the estate owns real estate, a family member may object, the fee estimate is uncertain, the estate tax lien has to be cleared, or an appeal deadline under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1 is approaching. Sunset connects you to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search for financial accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property that can change the estate settlement plan before a Burrillville filing is made.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet using the Rhode Island PC form framework under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16, so you know what to bring or mail to the town clerk.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate has real estate, tax issues, a dispute, or a tight appeal deadline under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1, Sunset can help connect you with a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement guidance, document organization and attorney connection at no cost.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Burrillville?
File with the Burrillville Probate Court through the town clerk of Burrillville, who is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6. Use 105 Harrisville Main Street, Harrisville, RI 02830, and remember that Harrisville is the village address inside Burrillville.
Is Harrisville a separate probate court?
No. Harrisville is the address location for the clerk's office, but the court is the Burrillville Probate Court. The town of Burrillville is the probate jurisdiction under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9.
Can I file a Burrillville probate case electronically?
Plan on a paper filing. Rhode Island probate statutes assume written signed petitions, the original will when required, payment before filing, and a written receipt from the clerk (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-1, 33-24-2 and 33-22-21). For Burrillville, call the town clerk under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6 before mailing original documents.
What is the filing cost in Burrillville?
Current 2026 Rhode Island law sets the probate charge at one percent of personal property, with a $30 minimum and a $1,500 maximum, figures unchanged since at least 1996, based on the petitioner's estimate and revised later if needed (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). Burrillville may also collect records and advertising charges under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11, so ask the clerk for the current local total before filing.
When does Burrillville Probate Court hold hearings?
Call the clerk for the current Burrillville session schedule. Rhode Island requires each municipal probate court to keep local administrative rules stating the dates and times it is in session (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29), but the current Burrillville schedule was not available from the town webpage during the September 2026 review.
Do I have to travel to Burrillville for probate?
Not every filing produces a contested hearing. If interested parties sign the proper waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22, notice and newspaper advertising under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 may be reduced. Call the clerk for Burrillville's current procedure before traveling.
How do I look up a Burrillville probate record?
Probate records are kept by the town clerk of Burrillville under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-7. Contact the clerk's office by phone or email for access to Burrillville probate records and any current local lookup option.
What document proves I was appointed?
After appointment, ask the probate clerk for certificates of appointment. The current 2026 statutory charge is $5 for each certificate of appointment (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21), and banks or transfer agents may each want their own certificate.
Can an out-of-state child use the small estate route in Burrillville?
It depends on the will status. For an intestate estate, the voluntary administrator must be a Rhode Island resident under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1, and the $15,000 figure has been in force since 2005. If a will names the out-of-state child as executor, R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2 allows the voluntary executor route with a resident agent on PC-3.5.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.