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Transfer on Death Deed Laws in Rhode Island

Rhode Island does not have a transfer on death deed statute for real estate; 2026 bills (H 7284 and S 2050) to adopt the uniform act were introduced, and no enactment was found.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Rhode Island at a glance

TOD deed allowed
No
2026 bills H 7284 and S 2050 would add the uniform act as chapter 33-4.1; the Title 33 index has no such chapter.
Uniform act adopted
No (bills proposed)
2026 bills H 7284 and S 2050 would adopt the uniform act; no enactment was found.
Recording rule
Not applicable (no TOD deed law)

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Rhode Island

Does Rhode Island allow transfer on death deeds for real estate?

No. TOD deed allowed in Rhode Island: no. 2026 bills H 7284 and S 2050 would add the uniform act as chapter 33-4.1; the Title 33 index has no such chapter.

Has Rhode Island adopted the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act?

No (bills proposed). Uniform act adopted in Rhode Island: no (bills proposed). 2026 bills H 7284 and S 2050 would adopt the uniform act; no enactment was found.

When must a transfer on death deed be recorded in Rhode Island?

Recording rule in Rhode Island: Not applicable (no TOD deed law).

Where do the Rhode Island transfer on death deed laws come from?

The rules above come from 2026 H 7284 (RI General Assembly), 2026 S 2050 (RI General Assembly) and R.I. Gen. Laws Title 33 index (RI General Assembly). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Check the status of the 2026 bills before relying on this: the online General Laws index loaded was published in November 2025, before the 2026 session ended.

What this means in practice

Where a transfer on death deed is allowed, it generally has to be signed with the same formalities as an ordinary deed and recorded in the land records of the county where the property sits. A deed that is signed but never recorded within the time the statute requires may have no effect, so check the recording rule before relying on one.

A transfer on death deed usually covers only the property it describes. It does not replace a will, and other assets still pass under a will, a trust or the intestacy rules. Keeping the deed consistent with your other estate planning documents helps avoid conflicting instructions.

Creditors, Medicaid estate recovery and property tax rules can still reach property that passes by a transfer on death deed in some situations. If the property is mortgaged, jointly owned or the beneficiary situation is complicated, consider having a local real estate or estate planning attorney review the deed.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

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