Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a)

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a) is a commonly used form within Rhode Island. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Atticus Fast Facts About Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a)

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a):

• This form pertains to the State of Rhode Island

• The current version of this form was last revised on January 1, 1970

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about Rhode Island’s Form Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a) up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

Step 1 - Download the correct Rhode Island form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some Rhode Island probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a), take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in RI are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a) online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a) to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

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Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in Rhode Island.

5 reasons you should submit this form as quickly as possible:

1. The sooner you begin, the faster Rhode Island can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.
   
   Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in Rhode Island. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

5. If a house in the State of Rhode Island is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for Rhode Island probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local Rhode Island probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a), and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a) is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some Rhode Island probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within Rhode Island.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a) f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the Rhode Island probate court office.

Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a) is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any Rhode Island-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on Rhode Island Form Sole Heir Affidavit (N/a). You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

rev. 07/20 STATE OF RHODE ISLAND DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES RESEARCH/TITLE OFFICE 600 New London Avenue Cranston, RI 02920-3024 Phone: 401-462-4368 Fax: 401-462-5783 www.dmv.ri.gov AFFIDAVIT AND ASSIGNMENT OF TITLE – SOLE HEIR AFFIDAVIT Now come(s) the undersigned, averring under penalty of perjury that ___________________________________ NAME OF DECEDENT passed away on _________________. DATE OF DEATH That under the laws of the State of Rhode Island (I/We) am/are the sole heir(s) of the decedent. That no letters testamentary or letters of administration upon the estate of the decedent have been issued, and that no petition therefore is pending. And further state there are no liens or encumbrances on the motor vehicle described as a: __________ ____________________ _________________________ YEAR MAKE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN) And hereby assign and warrant title to this vehicle to: Purchaser’s printed name: ______________________________________________ Residence Address: ___________________________________________________________ Purchaser’s signature: ______________________________________________ Federal and State laws require that you state the mileage upon transfer of ownership and failure to complete or providing a false statement may result in fines and/or imprisonment. (I/We) certify the odometer reads _____________ (no tenths) miles and to the best of my knowledge reflects the actual mileage of the vehicle unless one of the following statements is checked: 1. The mileage state is in excess of its mechanical limits. 2. The odometer reading is not the actual mileage. Warning - Odometer Discrepancy. Signature of heirs : Relationship to Decedent: ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ________ ______________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Subscribed and sworn to me this ______ day of _________________________, 20_____. ________ ______________________________ ______________________________________ SIGNATURE OF NOTARY PUBLIC COMMISION EXPIRATION DATE (mandatory) CERTIFIED COPY OF DEATH CERTIFICATE REQUIRED WITH THIS DOCUMENT I, THE UNDERSIGNED, HEREBY MAKE APPLICATION FOR ASSIGNMENT OF TITLE (SOLE HEIR AFFIDAVIT), AND DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT ALL STATEMENTS MADE ON THIS APPLICATION ARE TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF. PERSONAL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE RECORD WILL BE DISCLOSED ONLY IF THE STATE HAS OBTAINED THE EXPRESS CONSENT OF THE PERSON TO WHOM SUCH PERSONAL INFORMATION PERTAINS. DO YOU CONSENT TO SUCH DISCLOSURE? □ YES □ NO