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Exeter Probate Court, RI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Exeter Probate Court |
| Filing office | Exeter Town Hall, 675 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, RI 02822. The town clerk of Exeter is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6. |
| Mailing | Use Exeter Town Hall, 675 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, RI 02822, unless the clerk gives a different mailing instruction. |
| Phone | (401) 294-3231 |
| Fax | (401) 295-1248 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. These are clerk's office hours, not hearing times. |
| Filing fee | Set by state statute and unchanged since at least 1996: one percent of the decedent's personal property, with a minimum of $30 and a maximum of $1,500, payable before the petition is filed and computed from the petitioner's own estimate (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). Exeter's own additional records and advertising charges under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 were not available from its website, so ask the clerk before you file. The one percent is recalculated against the inventory and the difference is billed or refunded. |
| Forms | Rhode Island probate forms are statewide and free under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16. Ask the clerk whether Exeter requires any local checklist. |
| Electronic filing | The statutes assume a paper filing: a written, signed petition, any original will, and payment before filing under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-1, 33-24-2 and 33-22-21. Plan on filing in person or by mail. |
| Case lookup | Rhode Island's Judiciary records portal does not index municipal probate courts. Ask the Exeter clerk whether the town offers an online index for Exeter matters. |
| Remote hearing information | Ask the clerk what applies to your hearing date. The town's website does not publish video or phone instructions for probate hearings. |
| Website | https://www.exeterri.gov/clerk/page/probate-court-0 |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in Exeter, make a practical list of what the decedent owned, how each asset was titled, and what debts or expenses remain. Rhode Island's opening fee is tied to the personal property estimate you put on the petition, and that estimate is later adjusted against the inventory under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21 and 33-9-1.
Sunset can help with estate settlement before the court filing by searching across 2,300 institutions for accounts, insurance, investments and other assets that families often miss. That asset picture makes the Exeter filing, the fee estimate, and later estate settlement steps less likely to change midstream.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File where the decedent lived. If the decedent's home was in Exeter, the Exeter 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 another Rhode Island 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 Exeter Probate Court is the court for the town of Exeter and for no other municipality (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9). Exeter is in Washington 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
- List the assets and debts first. The opening petition asks for an estimate of personal property, and Rhode Island computes the state filing charge from that estimate, subject to later revision after the inventory (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21 and 33-9-1).
- Choose the correct statewide PC form. Common starting forms include PC-1.1 for administration, which cites R.I. Gen. Laws 33-8-8 on its face, and PC-1.5 for a will. Rhode Island probate forms are prescribed statewide and provided free under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16.
- File with the Exeter town clerk's office at Exeter Town Hall, 675 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, RI 02822. The town clerk of Exeter is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6, so filings go through the clerk's office, not a county office.
- Pay the state fee before the petition is filed. For a petition to probate a will or grant administration, the statute sets one percent of the decedent's personal property, with a $30 minimum and a $1,500 maximum, figures unchanged since at least 1996 (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). Ask the Exeter clerk what local records and advertising charges apply under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11.
- Ask whether notice can be handled by signed waivers. Newspaper advertising under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 can add cost and timing, while waiver practice is part of the notice rules in R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22. The statewide PC-9.1 waiver form is tied to that advertising step under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11.
- Get Exeter's current hearing schedule and filing cutoff from the clerk before you choose a date. Rhode Island requires every probate court to keep local administrative rules stating when the court sits and how matters are scheduled (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29). Uncontested matters are heard before contested matters, and a contested matter may be set for a special session without an extra fee (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-30).
- After appointment, ask for enough certificates of appointment. Each certificate of appointment costs $5 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21, and banks, transfer agents and other institutions commonly ask for one before releasing an estate asset.
- File the inventory within 90 days after appointment unless the court allows more time. Rhode Island's inventory duty applies to the personal property and other non-real-property assets listed in R.I. Gen. Laws 33-9-1, and the fee paid at filing is adjusted against that inventory under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21.
- Resolve claims, taxes and closing. Creditor claims are governed by R.I. Gen. Laws 33-11-5, and before the final account is allowed the court must see that Rhode Island estate tax under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-22 and 44-23 has been paid, extended, or determined not to apply (R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36). In practice, that can mean filing Form RI-706 with the Division of Taxation and obtaining its Notice of No Tax Due for probate court purposes under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Exeter 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 the 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 Exeter Probate Court uses the same statewide forms as every other Rhode Island probate court. A few forms are issued by the court rather than posted online, so ask the Exeter clerk if you cannot find one, and ask whether Exeter requires a local filing checklist on top of the statewide set.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| PC-1.1 | Administration petition for an intestate estate; the form cites R.I. Gen. Laws 33-8-8. |
| PC-1.5 | Petition for probate of a will. |
| PC-1.9 | Petition for voluntary informal executor under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2. |
| PC-1.10 | Petition for voluntary informal administrator under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1. |
| PC-3.5 | Appointment of Agent, used when an out-of-state executor needs a resident agent under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2. |
| PC-4.2 | Petition for the sale or mortgage of real estate. |
| PC-7.3 | Affidavit of Complete Administration, a $30 filing under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21. |
| PC-9.1 | Waiver or Advertising, used in the notice and newspaper advertising process under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. |
| PC-9.3 | Claim of appeal under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Exeter path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by confirming the title to the Exeter home and listing any accounts in the decedent's sole name. If any solely owned real property has to be administered, the voluntary informal route under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1 is not the right path because that route is for personal property only. If everyone who must receive notice signs the proper waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22, the family may reduce the advertising step governed by R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize title details, and prepare a cleaner asset list before the Exeter petition is filed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 | If the parent died without a will, an adult child living in New York, Florida, California or Texas cannot serve as the voluntary administrator because R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1 requires a Rhode Island resident affiant. If the parent left a will naming that child as executor, the voluntary executor route under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2 can work with a resident agent on PC-3.5 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2. | Sunset helps determine whether the assets fit the R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 route and can connect the family with local counsel if a Rhode Island resident or resident agent is needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | A home that must be sold usually means full probate in Exeter rather than the voluntary informal route under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1, because real property takes the estate outside that route. The sale or mortgage of real estate uses PC-4.2, and the Rhode Island estate tax lien rules under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-22 and 44-23 may require Form RI-706 and Form T-77 for real property before closing. | Sunset helps gather mortgage, tax, insurance and account information so the petition and later real-property sale steps are based on a complete estate settlement picture. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it provides | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Secretary of State, probate forms | The statewide PC form catalogue, free to the public under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16. | Use www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/ to download common probate forms, then ask the Exeter clerk whether a court-issued form or local checklist is also needed. |
| Rhode Island Superior Court | The court that hears an appeal from an Exeter Probate Court decree under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1. Exeter is in Washington County, and the Superior Court division structure supplies the appeal forum. | Use the Superior Court information only for an appeal. Initial probate filings still go to the Exeter Probate Court. |
| Rhode Island Division of Taxation, estate tax | Estate tax guidance, Form RI-706, and lien discharge forms under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-22 and 44-23. For deaths in 2026, ADV 2025-27 gives a Rhode Island estate tax threshold of $1,838,056 and a credit of $87,940. | Check tax.ri.gov/tax-sections/estate-tax when the estate includes Rhode Island real property, Rhode Island securities, or enough assets to require tax review before the final account under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36. |
When to hire an attorney
Probate counsel can be especially useful in Exeter if the estate includes real property, a sale petition, a disputed heirship question, a creditor claim, an estate tax issue under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-22 or 44-23, or an appeal deadline under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1. Rhode Island municipal probate is lawyer-oriented in its statutes and forms, but the right level of help depends on the estate and the court's requirements. Sunset connects you to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property that may belong in the Exeter estate settlement plan, so the petition and fee estimate are based on the best available asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for the Rhode Island PC forms, including the asset list, family information, and supporting documents the Exeter clerk may ask to see.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves a home sale, a dispute, a tax filing, or a deadline-sensitive appeal, Sunset can help you find a Rhode Island probate attorney familiar with municipal probate practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand the next filing step, and decide when local legal help is needed without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Exeter?
File with the Exeter Probate Court through the Exeter town clerk's office at Exeter Town Hall, 675 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, RI 02822. The town clerk of Exeter is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6, and the Exeter Probate Court has jurisdiction for the town of Exeter under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9.
Can I file an Exeter probate case electronically?
Plan on a paper filing. Rhode Island probate statutes assume a written, signed petition, an original will when there is one, and a fee paid before filing with a written receipt (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-1, 33-24-2 and 33-22-21). File in person or by mail unless the Exeter clerk gives you a different instruction.
When does the Exeter Probate Court hold hearings?
Ask the clerk for the current hearing schedule and filing cutoff. Rhode Island requires each probate court to keep local administrative rules stating when the court sits and how matters are scheduled (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29), but Exeter's current day, time and room should be obtained directly from the clerk before you file. The town's website does not publish video or phone instructions for probate hearings, so ask the clerk what applies to your hearing date.
Can I look up an Exeter probate case online?
Rhode Island's Judiciary records portal covers the state courts, not the municipal probate courts. Exeter probate records are kept by the probate clerk under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-7. Ask the Exeter clerk whether the town offers an online index or whether you need to request copies directly from the clerk's office.
What probate forms does Exeter use?
Exeter uses Rhode Island's statewide PC-series probate forms. The Secretary of State publishes those forms free under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16 at www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/. Ask the Exeter clerk whether any court-issued form or local checklist is needed for your filing.
What is the filing fee in Exeter Probate Court?
For a petition to probate a will or grant administration, Rhode Island sets the fee by statute at one percent of the personal property, with a $30 minimum and a $1,500 maximum, figures unchanged since at least 1996 (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). The payment is due before filing, based on the estimate you supply, and later adjusted against the inventory under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-9-1. Exeter 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 you file.
Do I have to travel to Exeter for probate?
Not every step requires a hearing, and many filings can be prepared before anything is brought or mailed to the clerk. If notice can be handled by waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22, the advertising step under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 may be reduced. For any hearing, ask the Exeter clerk what attendance is required for your date.
Can an out-of-state child use the small estate route in Exeter?
Only in the situation allowed by R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24. If the decedent died without a will, the voluntary administrator under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1 must be a Rhode Island resident. If the will names the out-of-state child as executor, the voluntary executor route under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2 can be used with a resident agent on PC-3.5 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2.
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.