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Rhode Island Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorneys
Protect what you’ve built. Provide for who matters most. Tarro Law crafts custom estate plans in Rhode Island and Florida — tailored to your family, goals, and finances.
35+
Years Experience
1,000+
Case Representations
3
States Served
24/7
Available to Clients
Estate Planning
Trusted Legal Guidance for Families, Fiduciaries, and Future Planning.
Every will, trust, and directive creates a legal framework for what matters most — your loved ones, your assets, and your final wishes. Tarro Law advises Rhode Island and Florida families on estate planning, probate, trust administration, and estate litigation.
Based in Providence, our attorneys work directly with every client — not assistants or intake teams — and are reachable around the clock.
Estate planning services we handle
From first-time planning to settling an estate, here's how our attorneys support you.
Wills & Probate Guidance
Drafting clear, enforceable wills and guiding families through the probate process in Rhode Island and Florida — so your wishes are carried out and administration runs as smoothly as possible.
Trust Formation & Administration
Revocable and irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, and charitable trusts — structured to help protect your assets, avoid probate where possible, and carry out your intentions.
Estate Litigation & Will Contests
When contested wills, undue influence, or breach of fiduciary duty arise, we represent both those challenging and those defending a will or trust.
Healthcare Directives & Proxy
Living wills, healthcare proxies, and surrogate designations that document your medical decisions and guide loved ones when it matters most.
Guardianship Planning
Designating guardians for minor children and vulnerable adults — and providing court representation when guardianship proceedings become necessary.
Asset Protection & Probate Transfers
Planning designed to reduce delays and court involvement, preserve privacy, and make assets harder for creditors to reach through proper estate structuring.
Estate Tax Planning & Compliance
Strategic gifting, tax elections, and statutory filings designed to reduce estate tax exposure and keep estate administration on schedule. Rhode Island has its own estate tax.
Multi-State Estate Planning
Coordinating estate plans across Rhode Island and Florida jurisdictions — including ancillary probate and out-of-state property matters.
What to do when facing an estate planning situation
The steps you take early can protect your family and preserve your estate.
Locate Existing Documents
Gather any prior wills, trusts, deeds, and financial account records before meeting with an attorney.
Document Your Wishes
Write down your intentions for assets, medical decisions, and guardianship designations.
Identify Your Assets
Compile a list of property, accounts, business interests, and beneficiary designations.
Call Tarro Law
Get an experienced Rhode Island estate planning attorney on your side as quickly as possible.
Why Choose Us
What working with Tarro Law actually looks like, day to day.
Two Generations, One Firm
Decades of combined practice serving Rhode Island families and fiduciaries.
Plans Built for Longevity
We structure estate plans meant to last — not just satisfy the moment.
Every Stage Covered
From first-time planning to post-death administration and dispute resolution.
Transparent Fees
Clear terms up front. You'll know the fee and the scope before any work begins.
Available Around the Clock
Legal questions rarely wait for business hours. We answer 24/7.
Rooted in Providence
A local office serving Rhode Island and Florida families with cross-border estate needs.
The Process
What happens after you call an estate planning attorney
From the moment you reach out to the moment your plan is in place, here's how we work.
01
We review your matter.
As soon as you reach out, we schedule an immediate consultation — at no cost. We listen carefully and give you our honest assessment of your estate planning needs. No pressure. No obligation.
02
We gather the facts and documents.
Estate planning depends on your assets, family structure, and existing documents. We move quickly to review what you have and identify what's missing — wills, deeds, account titles, and more.
03
We build a strategy around your goals.
The right plan depends on what you're trying to protect. We map out the options — trusts, wills, directives — and explain what each achieves so you can make informed decisions.
04
We draft and execute your plan.
We prepare all documents, coordinate signing, and help make sure every formality is completed — from will execution to trust funding.
05
Your plan is in place.
We keep you informed at every step so you understand exactly where things stand and what you're signing — and we're here when your plan needs updating.
Ready to start the process?
Step 1 is free — and there is no obligation.
Scope of Counsel
What our estate planning services can cover
Attorney-led support across the situations that come up most for Rhode Island and Florida families.
FAQs
Rhode Island estate planning questions we hear first
Do I need a will if I have a trust?
Usually, yes. A trust only controls the assets that have actually been transferred into it. Most plans built around a revocable trust also include a “pour-over” will, which directs anything left outside the trust into it and lets you name a guardian for minor children.
We review how your accounts, real estate, and beneficiary designations are titled so the documents work together.
How much does estate planning cost in Rhode Island?
It depends on what your plan needs. A straightforward will-based plan generally costs less than a trust-based plan that has to be funded, and probate or trust administration depends on the size and complexity of the estate.
Your first consultation is free, and we explain the fee and the scope of the work before anything begins.
What happens if I die without a will in Rhode Island?
Your property passes under Rhode Island’s intestacy laws, which set a fixed order of heirs — typically a spouse, children, and other close relatives — whether or not that matches your wishes. A court appoints the person who administers the estate, and no one has been chosen in advance to care for minor children.
A will or trust lets you make those decisions yourself.
Can I contest a will in Rhode Island?
Only people whose interests are affected — usually heirs or beneficiaries — can challenge a will, and only on specific grounds such as lack of capacity, undue influence, fraud, or improper signing.
Strict deadlines apply once a will is admitted to probate, so it is important to get advice early. We represent both people challenging a will and executors or beneficiaries defending one.
What is the difference between a revocable and irrevocable trust?
A revocable trust can be changed or cancelled during your lifetime and is commonly used to help avoid probate and plan for incapacity; you generally keep control of the assets.
An irrevocable trust is much harder to change once it is signed, but because you give up control it may be used for goals such as Medicaid planning, estate tax planning, or making assets harder for creditors to reach. Which one fits depends on your goals.
How long does probate take in Rhode Island?
It varies. A simple estate can often be settled within a year, while estates with real estate in more than one state, disputes, or tax filings can take longer. Rhode Island law also requires a waiting period for creditors to file claims before an estate can be closed.
We give you a realistic timeline once we have reviewed the estate.
Our Attorneys
Meet Our Team
Attorney-led counsel — you work directly with the people below, not a rotating case team.
Michael A. Tarro, Esq.
President, Shareholder
Michael A. Tarro, Jr., Esq.
Associate Attorney
Edward J. DiMartino, Jr., Esq.
Of Counsel (Massachusetts)
Melissa De Los Angeles
Case Manager
Jorgely Hernandez
Case Manager
Christine Hernandez
Intake & Records Coordinator
Valeria Flores Gutierrez
Legal Assistant
Anabely Hernandez
Legal Assistant
Services Offered in This Location
Our firm is based in Providence, but our practice extends throughout Rhode Island and Florida. We handle estate planning and probate for multi-state estates and cross-border matters.
Areas We Serve
We serve estate planning clients across all of Rhode Island, Florida, and beyond — from Providence to Tampa and everywhere in between.
Make the Call™
Talk to a Rhode Island estate planning attorney today
Your consultation is free. The sooner you get an experienced estate planning attorney involved, the better positioned your family will be. We answer 24/7.
Tarro Law Associates, PC
Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorneys
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