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East Greenwich Probate Court, RI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | East Greenwich details |
|---|---|
| Court | East Greenwich Probate Court |
| Filing and hearing address | East Greenwich Town Hall, 125 Main Street, East Greenwich, RI 02818. Court sessions are held in the Town Council Chambers, First Floor. |
| Mailing | Use East Greenwich Town Hall, 125 Main Street, East Greenwich, RI 02818 for filings sent by mail to the town clerk of East Greenwich, who is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6. |
| Phone | 401-886-8607 |
| Fax | No fax published. |
| Counter hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. These are clerk counter hours, not court session times. |
| Court session | Normally 9:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month, unless that day is a legal holiday. East Greenwich local administrative rules are required under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29, and the court reserves the right to reschedule. |
| Cost to open | State statute sets 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 computed from the petitioner's estimate (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). East Greenwich's own fee schedule dated July 15, 2021 adds a $4 surcharge and local newspaper costs under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. |
| Forms | Rhode Island probate forms are statewide PC forms published free by the Secretary of State under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16. Use https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/. |
| Electronic filing | Paper filing. East Greenwich's website does not offer electronic filing, and Rhode Island statutes assume signed paper petitions, original wills and payment before filing (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-1, 33-24-2 and 33-22-21). |
| Record lookup | East Greenwich publishes dated hearing schedules, not a searchable estate index. Probate records are kept by the town clerk under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-7. |
| Video or phone hearings | East Greenwich's published materials do not list a video or phone option. Follow the hearing notice from the clerk. |
| Website | https://www.eastgreenwichri.gov/190/Probate-Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in East Greenwich, list what the person owned, what was titled only in that person's name, what was co-owned, and what debts or expenses are known. The first estimate of personal property matters because Rhode Island computes the opening cost from the estimate you put on the petition and later revises it against the inventory under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21 and 33-9-1.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families look for accounts across more than 2,300 institutions, organize assets and liabilities, and decide whether the East Greenwich Probate Court filing should be a full estate, a voluntary informal filing under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24, or a no-assets will filing.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Rhode Island probate is municipal. Every one of the state's 39 cities and towns runs its own probate court, and the East Greenwich Probate Court is the court for East Greenwich alone (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9). The town clerk of East Greenwich is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6.
File where the decedent lived. If the decedent's home was in East Greenwich, the East Greenwich Probate Court is the court, and no other Rhode Island probate court has jurisdiction over the estate (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9). If the decedent lived in a neighboring city or town, that municipality's own probate court is the one to file in.
Rhode Island has no county probate courts and no county government. The East Greenwich Probate Court is the court for the town of East Greenwich and for no other municipality (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9). East Greenwich is in Kent 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.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, heirs and beneficiaries before choosing a filing path. The estimate on the petition drives the state cost under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21, and estate settlement goes faster when the asset list is complete.
- Get the statewide PC forms from the Rhode Island Secretary of State. Rhode Island probate forms are prescribed statewide and provided free under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16; East Greenwich uses the same PC series as other Rhode Island probate courts.
- File with the town clerk of East Greenwich at East Greenwich Town Hall, 125 Main Street, East Greenwich, RI 02818. The town clerk is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6.
- For a will, bring or mail the original will with the petition. East Greenwich rule 11 also calls for a certified death certificate and, where applicable, proof of will. The statewide administration petition is PC-1.1 and cites R.I. Gen. Laws 33-8-8.
- Pay before the petition is filed. Rhode Island sets the charge for a will or administration petition at one percent of personal property, minimum $30 and maximum $1,500, figures unchanged since at least 1996, based on the estimate you submit and later revised if the estimate is wrong (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). East Greenwich's schedule dated July 15, 2021 adds a $4 surcharge and local newspaper charges under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11.
- Decide whether every interested party can sign a waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22. East Greenwich rule 5 requires waived matters to be filed by the Friday before the hearing date.
- If notice by newspaper is needed under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11, East Greenwich rule 6 requires the matter and fees to be filed no later than the Thursday of the week before the first publication. The rule names the Thursday edition of The Standard Pendulum.
- The clerk issues a written receipt and notes the hearing date and time when possible. Rhode Island requires that receipt process under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21.
- Attend the 9:30 a.m. session on the third Thursday of the month in the Town Council Chambers, First Floor, unless the court or your notice gives a different date. East Greenwich local administrative rules are published under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29, and uncontested matters are heard before contested matters under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-30.
- After appointment, ask the probate clerk for certificates of appointment. Each certificate costs $5 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21, and banks or transfer agents commonly ask for one.
- File the inventory within 90 days after appointment unless the court allows more time. East Greenwich rule 9 repeats the statewide 90-day inventory duty in R.I. Gen. Laws 33-9-1, and the one percent charge under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21 is recomputed against the inventory.
- Before closing, resolve the Rhode Island estate tax position. East Greenwich rule 13 requires a Notice of No Tax Due from the Division of Taxation before a final account is accepted, and R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36 requires the court to find the estate tax paid, extended, or not applicable before allowing the final account.
- Close with the required account or affidavit of complete administration. East Greenwich's fee schedule dated July 15, 2021 lists the affidavit of complete administration at $34 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21 and calls for releases, proof about creditor notice under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-11-5, and the required tax clearance under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36.
Executor duties
| Local duty | What East Greenwich adds |
|---|---|
| Inventory | East Greenwich rule 9 repeats that the Universal Inventory must be filed within 90 days after the executor's or administrator's appointment (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-9-1). The state charge is then recomputed under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21. |
| Accounts | East Greenwich rule 13 requires supporting vouchers or a Certification of Accounting with accounts. Final accounts need a receipted funeral bill, the Notice of No Tax Due from the Rhode Island Division of Taxation, and releases from claimants and beneficiaries or heirs, consistent with R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36. |
| Fee requests | East Greenwich rule 3 requires attorneys and fiduciaries to file itemized invoices of services, including dates, time, subject matter and hourly rate, and to obtain court approval before accepting payment. |
| Sale of real estate | East Greenwich rule 15 requires a statement of market value from an independent real estate agent and a copy of the purchase and sale agreement if applicable, plus notice to joint owners. The petition itself is handled through the probate court's sale or mortgage process. |
| Sale of personal estate | East Greenwich rule 16 requires evidence of appraised value and any purchase agreements when asking to sell personal estate property. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the East Greenwich 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 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16. The East Greenwich Probate Court uses the same PC series as other Rhode Island probate courts.
| Need | Common statewide form |
|---|---|
| Open an intestate estate | PC-1.1 Administration Petition, which cites R.I. Gen. Laws 33-8-8 |
| Probate a will | PC-1.5 Petition for Probate of Will |
| Voluntary informal executor | PC-1.9 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2 |
| Voluntary informal administrator | PC-1.10 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1 |
| Resident agent for an out-of-state executor | PC-3.5 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2 |
| Waiver or advertising | PC-9.1, used with notice under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 and waiver practice under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22 |
| Claim of appeal | PC-9.3 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1 |
| Affidavit of complete administration | PC-7.3, a $30 statutory filing under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21, plus East Greenwich's July 15, 2021 local surcharge |
Use the live Secretary of State forms page at https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/. East Greenwich's own page points readers to the statewide forms, and the town does not publish a separate local probate form set on top of the PC series.
Fees
Rhode Island sets the core probate charge by statute, and East Greenwich adds its own local amounts on the schedule it published July 15, 2021. Confirm the current total with the clerk before filing, because the local schedule is dated, but its statutory pieces match R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21.
| Filing | East Greenwich amount |
|---|---|
| Will or administration petition, with all waivers | $59 minimum or $1,529 maximum on the East Greenwich schedule dated July 15, 2021. The state portion is one percent of personal property, minimum $30 and maximum $1,500, figures unchanged since at least 1996, under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21. |
| Will or administration petition, without all waivers | $84 minimum or $1,554 maximum on the East Greenwich schedule dated July 15, 2021, including a $25 pendency newspaper charge and a $25 qualification newspaper charge under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. |
| Petition to file will with no assets | $34 on the East Greenwich schedule dated July 15, 2021. This records the will but does not appoint a fiduciary. |
| Voluntary informal filing under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 | $39 on the East Greenwich schedule dated July 15, 2021. The statewide certification component is $5 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24. |
| Affidavit of complete administration | $34 on the East Greenwich schedule dated July 15, 2021, tied to the $30 statutory filing in R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21 plus the local $4 surcharge. |
| Copies | $1.50 per page and $3.00 to certify under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21, figures unchanged since at least 1996; East Greenwich's dated schedule also lists $9.00 for exemplified copies. |
| Certificate of appointment | $5 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21, figure unchanged since at least 1996. |
The surprise is timing. The one percent amount under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21 is paid before filing from your estimate, then recalculated after the inventory is filed within 90 days under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-9-1. East Greenwich's schedule says the probate clerk calculates the inventory amount due and notifies the petitioner or attorney.
Timeline
- Before filing, choose the form and estimate personal property. The cost is based on the estimate and later revised under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21.
- If every interested party signs a waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22, file the waived matter by the Friday before the East Greenwich hearing date.
- If newspaper notice is required under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11, file the matter and pay the fees by the Thursday of the week before the first publication in The Standard Pendulum.
- Attend the regular session at 9:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month in the Town Council Chambers, unless the court reschedules under its local administrative rules required by R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29.
- After appointment, file the inventory within 90 days unless the court allows a longer period (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-9-1).
- Creditors have six months from first publication to present claims or be forever barred, subject to the late-claim statute (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-11-5).
- Before the final account is allowed, provide the estate tax clearance required by R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36.
- If someone is aggrieved by a decree, R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1 sets two jurisdictional appeal steps: 20 days from execution of the decree to file the claim of appeal with the probate clerk, and 30 days from entry to file the certified claim and reasons in the Superior Court.
Local nuance
East Greenwich-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Published rules | East Greenwich publishes 18 local administrative rules under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29. They cover session time, filing deadlines, hearing order, recordings, inventory, accounts, real estate sale petitions and voluntary informal filings under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24. |
| Third Thursday session | The regular court session is 9:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month in the Town Council Chambers, First Floor. The court may reschedule under rule 1 and R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29. |
| Newspaper and deadlines | East Greenwich rule 6 names The Standard Pendulum for publication and requires advertised matters to be filed by the Thursday of the week before first publication under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. Rule 5 requires waived matters under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22 to be filed by the Friday before the hearing. |
| No published fax or role email | East Greenwich publishes a probate phone number, 401-886-8607, but no fax and no role email for probate filings. |
| Searchable estate index | East Greenwich publishes hearing schedules, but not a searchable estate index. Probate records are kept by the town clerk under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-7. |
Small-estate Alternatives
East Greenwich prices voluntary informal filings under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 at $39 on its fee schedule dated July 15, 2021. Rule 18 says petitions for voluntary informal executor under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2 and voluntary informal administrator under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1 appear on the court calendar but are reviewed and processed administratively, and petitioners do not need to attend the hearing unless otherwise notified.
The statewide eligibility rules still control. The $15,000 figure has been in force since 2005 and belongs to R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1 and 33-24-2; real property keeps an estate out of that route, and tangible personal property is excluded from the count under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely East Greenwich path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | If the home was truly co-owned and passes outside the estate, the East Greenwich filing may focus on accounts or other property titled only in the decedent's name. A waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22 can reduce newspaper costs under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11; East Greenwich's July 15, 2021 schedule shows a waived opening petition at $59 minimum instead of $84 minimum when pendency publication is needed. | Sunset helps separate jointly owned assets from probate assets, organize the estate settlement file, and prepare the information needed for the PC forms. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the parent died without a will, an out-of-state child from New York, Florida, California or Texas cannot serve as voluntary administrator under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1 because that route requires the person filing to be a Rhode Island resident. If the child is named executor in a will, R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2 can allow a voluntary executor filing with a resident agent on PC-3.5. East Greenwich's July 15, 2021 schedule prices voluntary informal filings under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 at $39. | Sunset identifies accounts, helps decide whether the R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 route is realistic, and can connect the family with local help for a resident-agent or full estate filing. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | Real property keeps the estate out of the voluntary informal route under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24. In East Greenwich, a petition to sell or mortgage real estate needs the local items in rule 15, including a market-value statement and a purchase and sale agreement if applicable. Newspaper notice may add the local $25 amount listed on East Greenwich's July 15, 2021 schedule under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize mortgage and tax information, track the estate tax lien and Notice of No Tax Due under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36, and prepare for attorney review before sale authority is requested. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it provides | Link |
|---|---|---|
| East Greenwich Probate Court | Address, session information, rules link, fee information link and dated hearing schedules. | https://www.eastgreenwichri.gov/190/Probate-Court |
| East Greenwich Probate Court rules | The town's 18 local administrative rules under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29, including hearing order under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-30, newspaper deadlines under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11, and waiver deadlines under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22. | https://www.eastgreenwichri.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2532 |
| East Greenwich fee information | The town's itemized probate cost schedule dated July 15, 2021, including its $4 surcharge, newspaper charges under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 and copy charges tied to R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21. | https://www.eastgreenwichri.gov/DocumentCenter/View/130 |
| Rhode Island Secretary of State probate forms | The statewide PC form catalogue, free to the public under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16. | https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/ |
| Rhode Island Superior Court | The court for an appeal from an East Greenwich probate decree in Kent County 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, the nine months from death clock under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-1, and the Notice of No Tax Due used for probate court purposes under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36. | https://tax.ri.gov/tax-sections/estate-tax |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Rhode Island probate attorney if the will is unclear, heirs disagree, a house must be sold, the estate may have Rhode Island estate tax issues under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-22 and 44-23, or an account or fiduciary fee request must be prepared under East Greenwich's local rules. East Greenwich's own materials say the court is a court of law, decrees are legally binding, and the judge and clerks do not give legal advice. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify accounts, insurance, benefits and property so the East Greenwich petition starts with a realistic asset picture and the estate settlement does not miss an institution.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Rhode Island's statewide PC forms, including heirs, beneficiaries, account details, debts and the documents the East Greenwich rules call for.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale of real estate, contested matter, account, tax clearance or out-of-state fiduciary issue makes local advice important, Sunset helps connect the family with Rhode Island probate counsel.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, build a probate checklist and move from asset discovery to the East Greenwich filing without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate if the person lived in East Greenwich?
File with the East Greenwich Probate Court through the town clerk of East Greenwich at East Greenwich Town Hall, 125 Main Street, East Greenwich, RI 02818. The town clerk is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6, and the East Greenwich Probate Court has jurisdiction when the decedent lived in East Greenwich (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9).
When does the East Greenwich Probate Court meet?
The regular session is 9:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the Town Council Chambers, First Floor, unless the day is a legal holiday or the court reschedules. East Greenwich publishes that schedule in its local administrative rules under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29.
Can I file East Greenwich probate papers electronically?
Plan on paper filing. East Greenwich's website does not offer electronic filing, and Rhode Island probate statutes assume written, signed petitions, original wills and payment before filing (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-1, 33-24-2 and 33-22-21).
What does East Greenwich charge to open an estate?
For a will or administration petition, Rhode Island sets the state charge at one percent of personal property, minimum $30 and maximum $1,500, figures unchanged since at least 1996, under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21. East Greenwich's local schedule dated July 15, 2021 adds a $4 surcharge and, when notice by newspaper is needed under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11, local publication charges. On that schedule, the minimum opening total is $59 with all waivers and $84 without all waivers.
How do waivers change an East Greenwich filing?
If all interested parties sign the proper waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22, East Greenwich rule 5 requires the waived matter to be filed by the Friday before the hearing. Waivers can remove the pendency newspaper cost that otherwise applies under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11.
What if East Greenwich requires newspaper notice?
East Greenwich rule 6 says matters requiring newspaper notice under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 must be filed, with fees paid, no later than the Thursday of the week before first publication. The rule names the Thursday edition of The Standard Pendulum.
Can I look up an East Greenwich probate file online?
East Greenwich publishes hearing schedules, but not a searchable estate index. Probate records are kept by the town clerk under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-7, and copies of documents on file cost $1.50 per page with $3.00 to certify under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21, figures unchanged since at least 1996.
Do I have to go to East Greenwich for a voluntary informal filing?
East Greenwich rule 18 says voluntary informal executor filings under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2 and voluntary informal administrator filings under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1 are reviewed and processed administratively, and petitioners do not need to attend a hearing unless otherwise notified. The statewide eligibility rules in R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 still apply.
What certificate will a bank ask for after East Greenwich appoints me?
Ask the probate clerk for certificates of appointment. Rhode Island sets the certificate of appointment charge at $5, figure unchanged since at least 1996, under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21. If the estate is handled through a voluntary informal filing under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24, the clerk issues the statutory certification used for that route.
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.