Dear Subscriber:
Thank you for updating your library with the 2025 edition to
A Practical Guide to Probate in Rhode Island
. This latest version of the book brings updated resources within your immediate reach—for fast, accurate, and practical answers to your questions.
Highlights from the issues reflected in this edition include the following:
-
the life estate provided under R.I.G.L. § 33-1-5 as a benefit to the surviving spouse when the decedent dies without issue;
-
enactment of the Rhode Island Uniform Parentage Act, which sets forth provisions on parentage, genetic testing, surrogacy agreements, and assisted reproduction;
-
a 2024 decision of the Rhode Island Supreme Court affirming that paternity must be proved by clear and convincing evidence;
-
procedures for establishing that an individual is a child's de facto parent;
-
a Rhode Island Supreme Court decision reaffirming that having a claim against the estate does not disqualify the claimant from serving as the executor;
-
application of the illusory transfer test to a trustee's renunciation of power to reconvey property held in trust;
-
use of legal fees to defend an estate from fraudulent claims;
-
subject matter jurisdiction as an "indispensable ingredient" of any judicial proceeding;
-
appointment of guardians for persons who are partially incapacitated; and
-
a 25 percent reduction in a fee award against a pro se litigant notwithstanding the discretion normally accorded to the trial court;
-
updates to court forms and additional detail for case law and statutory citations.
We trust you will find the 2025 edition of
A Practical Guide to Probate in Rhode Island
a valuable resource, as we at MCLE continue our efforts to bring you the latest solutions to the issues you face in your practice.
Cordially,
MCLE Press
