A proposed bill in Rhode Island aims to make it easier for homeowners to pass their property to loved ones after death without the costly and time-consuming probate process.
The legislation, known as the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act (2025-S 0141), would allow property owners to use a transfer on death deed. This document would enable a named beneficiary to automatically inherit the property upon the owner’s passing, eliminating the need for probate court proceedings.
Currently, Rhode Islanders can pass along financial assets such as life insurance policies and pension plans without probate, but no such option exists for real estate. The new bill would change that, aligning Rhode Island with 33 other states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where similar mechanisms exist…