Back to Rhode Island
Newport Probate Court, RI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Newport detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Newport Probate Court, the probate court for the city of Newport (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9). |
| Where to file | City clerk's office, Newport City Hall, 43 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840. The city clerk is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6. |
| Where hearings are held | Second Floor City Council Chambers, Newport City Hall, 43 Broadway. |
| Phone | (401) 845-5349 for probate. General City Hall: (401) 845-5300. |
| Fax | 401-848-5750. |
| No role mailbox is published for probate. Call the probate office. | |
| Clerk hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. These are counter hours, not hearing times. |
| Hearing calendar | Twice a month at 10:30 a.m. Specific dates vary by month on Newport's own 2026 schedule, posted December 17, 2025 and revised July 8, 2026. Local administrative rules must include session dates and times under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29. |
| Cost to open | Set by state statute: 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, figures unchanged since at least 1996 (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). Newport's current 2025 schedule adds local records and advertising charges under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11: probate of a will or administration is $34.00 filing and archival, plus $54.00 advertising unless on waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22. The one percent is recalculated against the inventory due under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-9-1, and Newport nets the $30 counter payment against that later calculation. |
| Forms | Statewide PC forms from the Rhode Island Secretary of State are used and are free under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16. Newport also links the state forms catalogue. |
| Online filing | Newport's probate page does not offer electronic filing. Plan on paper filing in person or by mail. |
| Case lookup | Newport's probate page does not publish an online probate case-search tool. Ask the city clerk's office for records kept by the probate clerk under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-7. |
| Video or phone hearing option | Newport's probate page and 2026 schedule do not publish a video or phone option. Call the probate office if travel is a problem. |
| Website | https://www.newportri.gov/en-us/city-hall/departments/city-clerk/probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Newport, make a working list of the accounts, vehicles, household property, real estate, debts and likely heirs. That list drives the estate settlement plan and the fee estimate on the opening petition, because Rhode Island calculates the probate charge from the personal property estimate you supply (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21).
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions so families can find accounts before they choose a filing path, ask Newport for an advertising deadline, or request certificates after appointment. Better asset information also helps avoid surprises when Newport later recalculates the fee against the inventory filed within 90 days (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-9-1).
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 Newport Probate Court is the court for the city of Newport alone (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9). File where the decedent lived. If the decedent's home was in Newport, this is the court; if the decedent lived in another Rhode Island city or town, that municipality's own probate court is the filing court.
Rhode Island has no county probate courts and no county government. The Newport Probate Court is the court for the city of Newport and for no other municipality (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9). Newport is in Newport 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 Newport County as its own division.
The city clerk of Newport is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6, and the probate clerk keeps the court's probate records under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-7. Newport's own page also cautions that the probate clerk cannot give legal advice, prepare forms, or tell a filer how a case should be handled.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the decedent's Newport residence, assets, debts and interested parties. The Newport Probate Court has jurisdiction when the decedent lived in the city of Newport (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9).
- Choose the statewide PC forms. Use the Rhode Island Secretary of State's probate forms catalogue, which is free to the public under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16. Common opening forms include PC-1.1 for administration, which cites R.I. Gen. Laws 33-8-8, and the will petition if there is a will.
- File the signed paper petition with the city clerk's office at Newport City Hall, 43 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840. The city clerk is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6.
- Pay the opening charge before filing. For a will or administration petition, Rhode Island uses one percent of the decedent's personal property, minimum $30 and maximum $1,500, payable before filing on an estimate and later revised, figures unchanged since at least 1996 (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). Newport's current 2025 schedule lists $34.00 filing and archival plus $54.00 advertising unless the petition is on waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22 and R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11.
- Ask whether notice can be handled on waiver. If all necessary interested parties sign, the advertising cost may fall away under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22. If advertising is required, Rhode Island notice by newspaper is governed by R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11.
- Call (401) 845-5349 before choosing a hearing date. Newport's 2026 schedule says to call that number for advertising deadlines, and Newport does not publish a standing weekly cutoff rule. The first advertisement must be published at least 14 days before the first hearing date under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11.
- Attend the scheduled Newport Probate Court hearing at 10:30 a.m. in the Second Floor City Council Chambers at Newport City Hall. Newport meets twice a month on specific dates that vary by month, and local administrative rules must include dates and times when the court is in session under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29.
- After appointment, ask the probate clerk for certificates of appointment. Rhode Island sets each certificate of appointment at $5.00, a figure unchanged since at least 1996, under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21.
- Administer the estate. File the inventory within 90 days after appointment unless the court allows more time (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-9-1). Newport's current 2025 schedule states that the inventory charge is one percent of the personal estate less the $30 original filing payment, with a net maximum of $1,470.00 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21.
- Before closing, resolve the Rhode Island estate tax position. The Newport Probate Court cannot allow a final account unless the court finds that Rhode Island estate tax has been paid, extended, or determined not to apply, and the Division of Taxation's certification is conclusive (R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36). If real property is involved, the estate may also need Form RI-706 and lien work under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23.
- Close with the appropriate account or affidavit. Newport's current 2025 schedule prices accountings at $54.00 advertising plus a $4.00 archival fee under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11, and lists completed administration at $34.00 under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21.
Forms and documents
Probate forms at the Newport 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). Newport links that statewide catalogue from its own probate page.
| Need | Form or source |
|---|---|
| Open an intestate estate | PC-1.1 Administration Petition, which cites R.I. Gen. Laws 33-8-8. |
| Voluntary informal administrator | PC-1.10, used with R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1. |
| Voluntary informal executor | PC-1.9, used with R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2. |
| Out-of-state named executor's agent | PC-3.5 Appointment of Agent, used with R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2. |
| Notice cost control | PC-9.1 Waiver or Advertising, tied to newspaper notice under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 and waiver practice under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22. |
| Appeal | PC-9.3 Claim of Appeal, used with R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1. |
| Closing | PC-7.3 Affidavit of Complete Administration, a $30 filing under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21, figures unchanged since at least 1996. |
Use the live state catalogue at https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/. A few forms are issued by the court rather than posted online, so call Newport at (401) 845-5349 if a needed form is not in the catalogue.
Fees
Rhode Island sets the statutory part of probate costs, and Newport adds its own records and advertising charges. For a petition to probate a will or grant administration, the statutory charge is one percent of the decedent's personal property, with a floor of $30 and a ceiling of $1,500, payable before filing on the petitioner's estimate and later revised, figures unchanged since at least 1996 (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). Newport's current 2025 schedule shows how that works locally: the opening will or administration petition is $34.00 filing and archival plus $54.00 advertising unless on waiver, and the later inventory charge is one percent of the personal estate less the $30 original filing payment, with a net maximum of $1,470.00.
| Item | Newport 2025 amount |
|---|---|
| Probate of will, administration, or foreign will | $34.00 filing and archival, plus $54.00 advertising unless on waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22 and R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. |
| Inventory | One percent of personal estate less the $30 original filing payment, with a $1,470.00 net maximum under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21. |
| Qualification notice | $130.00 advertising under Newport's current 2025 schedule and R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. |
| Accountings | $54.00 advertising plus $4.00 archival under Newport's current 2025 schedule and R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. |
| Sale or mortgage of real estate | $100.00 advertising plus $4.00 archival under Newport's current 2025 schedule and R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. |
| Change of name | $40.00 filing and archival, including one certified copy, under Newport's current 2025 schedule. Newport's older 2022 schedule listed $94.00, but the 2025 update changes this line. |
| Completed administration | $34.00 under Newport's current 2025 schedule and R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21. |
| Small estate under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 | $39.00 under Newport's current 2025 schedule, which reflects the $30 statutory filing charge and $5 certification charge, figures unchanged since at least 1996, plus Newport's $4.00 archival fee (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). |
| Copies | $1.50 per page plus $3.00 for each certification, figures unchanged since at least 1996 (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). |
Newport's $4.00 archival fee is a useful local detail because the city names that component directly in its 2025 schedule. Advertising is separate from the statutory one percent charge and is governed by R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11.
Timeline
- Before filing, call Newport probate at (401) 845-5349 for the advertising deadline tied to the session you want. Newport's 2026 schedule gives session dates but directs filers to call for advertising deadlines.
- If notice by newspaper is required, the first advertisement must be published at least 14 days before the first hearing date and must run once a week for at least two weeks (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11). If the matter is on waiver, notice may be reduced under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22.
- Attend the Newport session at 10:30 a.m. in the Second Floor City Council Chambers. Newport's 2026 schedule lists 24 dates and varies month to month, so use the city's annual schedule rather than assuming a fixed weekday pattern. Local administrative rules must include session dates and times under 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). Newport's current 2025 fee schedule uses that inventory to net the $30 opening payment against the statutory one percent charge under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21.
- Creditor claims are presented within six months from first publication or are barred, subject to the statutory late-claim rules (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-11-5).
- Before the final account is allowed, the court must find that Rhode Island estate tax has been paid, extended, or determined not to apply (R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36).
Local nuance
Newport-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Newport is a city | Use city clerk and city of Newport. The city clerk is the probate clerk under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6. |
| Variable twice-monthly calendar | Newport meets twice a month at 10:30 a.m., but the 2026 dates do not follow a simple fixed-weekday rule. Local administrative rules must include session dates and times under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29. |
| Advertising deadlines by phone | The 2026 schedule tells filers to call (401) 845-5349 for advertising deadlines. That matters because newspaper notice must meet the timing in R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. |
| Named $4.00 archival fee | Newport's current 2025 schedule names the archival fee directly, including $34.00 filing and archival for will or administration petitions and a $4.00 archival charge on several other filings. The statutory part remains governed by R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21. |
| Change of name fee update | Newport's current 2025 schedule lists $40.00 for change of name, while the superseded 2022 schedule listed $94.00. Use the 2025 figure for Newport. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Newport fee schedule update | The current 2025 Newport fee schedule changes the change-of-name line to $40.00 filing and archival, including one certified copy. The older 2022 schedule listed $94.00. Other probate fee items reviewed for Newport match the 2025 schedule, with statutory amounts governed by R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21 and advertising governed by R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. |
| Newport 2026 hearing schedule | Newport's 2026 probate schedule was posted December 17, 2025 and revised July 8, 2026. It lists twice-monthly 10:30 a.m. sessions with dates that vary by month, and it tells filers to call (401) 845-5349 for advertising deadlines. |
Scenarios
| Archetype | Likely Newport path | How Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by confirming what was jointly owned and what was solely in the decedent's name. If a will or administration petition is needed, Newport's current 2025 schedule lists $34.00 filing and archival plus $54.00 advertising unless the matter is on waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22 and R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11. Joint assets may not need the same court authority, but solely owned assets usually drive the estate settlement. | Sunset helps identify accounts and title patterns before you file, then helps assemble the Newport packet and the waiver materials when they fit the family situation. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the Rhode Island parent died without a will, an out-of-state child from New York, Florida, California or Texas cannot serve as voluntary administrator under the residency rule in R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1. If the child is named executor in a will, R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-2 allows the voluntary executor path with a resident agent on PC-3.5. Newport's current 2025 schedule lists the small estate under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 charge at $39.00. | Sunset helps determine whether the estate is really in the R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 path, prepares the right form set, and connects the family with local help if a resident agent or full administration is needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A solely owned home takes the estate out of the voluntary informal path under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24 because that route is for personal property only. Newport's current 2025 schedule lists a sale or mortgage of real estate petition at $100.00 advertising plus $4.00 archival under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11, and the estate tax lien and Notice of No Tax Due issues must be addressed before closing under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23-36. | Sunset helps find assets, organize the filing packet, and connect the parent with a Newport-area probate attorney for the real estate sale, tax lien and closing work. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Newport Probate Court | Jurisdiction summary, session time and room, links to Newport's current fee schedule, the 2026 hearing schedule and statewide probate forms under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16. | https://www.newportri.gov/en-us/city-hall/departments/city-clerk/probate-court |
| Newport Probate Court current fee schedule | Newport's 2025 itemized charges, including the $4.00 archival fee, advertising under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 and statutory amounts under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21. | https://www.newportri.gov/en-us/city-hall/departments/city-clerk/probate-court/probate-fees-2025-update.aspx |
| Newport Probate Court 2026 schedule | Twenty-four 2026 session dates, with 10:30 a.m. hearings in the Second Floor City Council Chambers and instructions to call for advertising deadlines. | https://www.newportri.gov/CityOfNewport/media/City-Hall/Departments/City%20Clerk/2026-Probate-Hearing-Schedule-Revised.pdf |
| Rhode Island Secretary of State probate forms | Statewide PC probate forms, 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 | Appeal court for a Newport Probate Court decree under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1, through the Newport County division. | https://www.courts.ri.gov/Courts/SuperiorCourt/Pages/default.aspx |
| Rhode Island Division of Taxation estate tax | Estate tax return information, real property lien guidance, and Notice of No Tax Due information for probate court purposes under R.I. Gen. Laws 44-23 and 44-23-36. | https://tax.ri.gov/tax-sections/estate-tax |
When to hire an attorney
Consider legal help when the Newport estate includes real property to sell, a disputed heir or will, a tax lien issue, a nonresident fiduciary, a late creditor claim under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-11-5, or an appeal deadline under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-23-1. Rhode Island probate judges must be Rhode Island attorneys in active practice (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-2.1), and Newport's own page says the probate clerk cannot give legal advice or prepare forms. Sunset connects you to a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families discover bank, brokerage, insurance and retirement accounts before filing, so the Newport petition and fee estimate reflect the real estate settlement picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family and asset information into an organized Newport filing packet using Rhode Island's statewide PC forms under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16, with local reminders for Newport's hearing schedule and advertising deadline call.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves a home sale, a tax lien, an out-of-state fiduciary, or a contested matter, Sunset can connect the family with a Rhode Island probate attorney familiar with municipal probate practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, locate assets, prepare forms and understand the next Newport probate step without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate if the person lived in Newport?
File with the city clerk's office at Newport City Hall, 43 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840. The Newport Probate Court is the court for the city of Newport alone (R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-9), and the city clerk is the clerk of the probate court under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-6.
Can I e-file a Newport probate petition?
Newport's probate page does not offer electronic filing. The statutes assume a paper filing: the petition is in writing, the original will must reach the court when required, and the fee is paid before filing with a written receipt under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21.
When does the Newport Probate Court meet?
Newport meets twice a month at 10:30 a.m. in the Second Floor City Council Chambers at Newport City Hall. The 2026 schedule lists specific dates that vary by month, so check Newport's annual schedule before planning travel. Local administrative rules must include session dates and times under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-29.
How do I get Newport's advertising deadline?
Call (401) 845-5349. Newport's 2026 schedule directs filers to call for advertising deadlines instead of publishing a standing cutoff. Newspaper notice must satisfy R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11, including the rule that the first advertisement run at least 14 days before the first hearing date.
What does Newport charge to open a probate estate?
For a will or administration petition, Rhode Island's statutory charge is one percent of personal property with a $30 floor and $1,500 ceiling, payable before filing on an estimate and later revised, figures unchanged since at least 1996 (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). Newport's current 2025 schedule lists $34.00 filing and archival plus $54.00 advertising unless the matter is on waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22 and R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11.
Does Newport have an online probate case lookup?
Newport's probate page does not publish an online probate case-search tool. Probate records are kept by the probate clerk under R.I. Gen. Laws 8-9-7, so call the city clerk's office for record questions.
Do I have to travel to Newport for probate?
For a matter that needs a hearing, plan around Newport's published 10:30 a.m. calendar unless the clerk gives different instructions. Newport's probate page and 2026 schedule do not publish a video or phone hearing option. If every required interested party signs a waiver under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22, the matter may avoid the advertising cost under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-11 and may be simpler to schedule.
Which probate forms does Newport use?
Newport uses Rhode Island's statewide PC probate forms, published free by the Secretary of State under R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-16. Newport links the state catalogue at https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/probate-forms/.
How do I prove to a bank that I have authority?
After appointment, ask the Newport probate clerk for certificates of appointment. Rhode Island sets each certificate of appointment at $5.00, a figure unchanged since at least 1996 (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-22-21). Banks, transfer agents and motor vehicle agencies commonly ask for one.
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.