Adopts the uniform partition of heirs property act.

Rhode Island Bill: Uniform Partition of Heirs' Property Act

This bill would establish new rules in Rhode Island for how inherited property is divided or sold when multiple family members share ownership. This situation — called "heirs' property" — commonly occurs when someone dies without a will and their home or land is automatically split among several relatives. Under current law, any one of those co-owners can go to court and force a sale of the property, sometimes at a below-market price, even if the other family members want to keep it. This bill would create stronger protections to prevent that from happening unfairly.

Specifically, the bill would require courts to first determine whether the property qualifies as "heirs' property," and if it does, certain safeguards kick in. For example, before a forced sale can happen, the other co-owners must be given the opportunity to buy out the share of the family member who wants to sell. The court would also be required to hire an independent appraiser to determine the property's true market value, ensuring no one is shortchanged. A judge would also have to consider whether keeping the property together makes more sense than selling it outright.

This bill primarily affects families — particularly in lower-income and minority communities — who have inherited property without going through formal legal processes. Heirs' property situations are common in these communities and have historically made families vulnerable to losing generational wealth through predatory investors or legal loopholes. The bill is based on a model law already adopted in many other states and is currently under review by the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee.