Adopts the uniform partition of heirs property act.

Rhode Island Bill: Uniform Partition of Heirs' Property Act

This bill would adopt a standardized law in Rhode Island that protects families who inherit property together without going through a formal estate process. This situation, sometimes called "heirs' property," commonly happens when a family member dies without a will and the home or land automatically passes to multiple relatives — often children or grandchildren — who all technically co-own the property. Without clear legal protections, any one co-owner can currently force the sale of the entire property, sometimes at a below-market price, even if the other family members want to keep it.

The bill would establish new rules for how courts handle these situations. Specifically, it would require courts to consider whether it is possible to physically divide the property among the co-owners before ordering a full sale. If a sale is necessary, the law would require the property to be sold at fair market value through an open, competitive process — rather than allowing one party to quickly sell it cheaply. It also gives co-owners who want to keep the property the right to buy out the shares of those who want to sell.

This legislation would most directly affect families — particularly in lower-income and minority communities — who own inherited property informally across multiple generations. These families are often vulnerable to losing their homes or land through legal maneuvers by investors or disagreeing relatives. Adoption of this uniform law, which many other states have already passed, would give Rhode Island families stronger legal footing to protect generational wealth and inherited property.

The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and is currently being held for further study.