Probate cost in Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, estates up to $15,000 can often skip full probate. For a $300,000 estate, the court fee is set by each county.
Rhode Island's small estate limit is $15,000. Above it, the estate usually goes through probate.
- Court fee to open probatevaries by county
- Attorney feeNo legal schedule: set by agreement or the courtset by agreement
- Executor feeNo legal schedule: set by agreement or the courtset by agreement
Probate total$0+
The total leaves out the costs shown without a number.
- Quicken WillMaker & Trust Plus sourceOne-time price for one person$149
- Yearly feeoptional yearly renewal$40
- Moving a home into the trustSet by your county recordercounty recording fee
Trust total$149+
Assets left outside the trust can still need probate.
Probate cost by estate size
| Estate value | Court fee | Attorney (law) | Executor (law) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | not set by law | not set by law | not set by law | $0+ |
| $250,000 | not set by law | not set by law | not set by law | $0+ |
| $500,000 | not set by law | not set by law | not set by law | $0+ |
| $1,000,000 | not set by law | not set by law | not set by law | $0+ |
"Not set by law" means the fee is agreed with the lawyer or set by the court, so it is not in the total. Use your own numbers.
The rules in Rhode Island
- Small estate limit: $15,000 (Voluntary informal administration of small estates in the municipal probate court, R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1). Does not cover real estate. Heirs wait 30 days after the death. Read on a Wayback copy (Aug 2026) of 33-24-1: estate made up entirely of personal property, value up to $15,000 not counting the decedent's tangible personal property; filed with the probate court clerk after 30 days if no petition for letters has been filed. Fee $30, plus $5 for the certificate of appointment. Last amended 2011, so the 2020 bill to raise the limit did not pass. Source
- Court fee: Set by each county. Probate courts are run by each city or town and post their own fee lists. Example, Town of North Smithfield (updated Oct 2024, petition for probate of will $174 without waivers or $109 with waivers, plus an inventory (estate tax) fee of 1% of the value of the estate minus the $30 filing fee. Whether the 1% inventory fee is set by state law, and any cap, not confirmed.
- Attorney fee: No legal schedule: set by agreement or the court. No statutory schedule known. Not verified against official text.
- Executor fee: No legal schedule: set by agreement or the court. No statutory schedule known. Not verified against official text.
Some Rhode Island rules could not be checked on a current official page. Each rule links to the source we used. Confirm with the court or a lawyer before you rely on it.
General information from official state sources, not legal advice.