Wills & Trusts Attorneys in Cranston, Rhode Island
Wills & Trusts, Built to Protect Your Rhode Island Family
A will, a trust, or both? Our Cranston attorneys explain it in plain English and put legally sound documents in place, so your wishes are honored and your family stays out of court.
Family-owned & operated in Cranston, RI
- Family-Owned & Operated
- Two Generations of Attorneys
- Serving RI, MA, CT & NH
- Free 15-Minute Discovery Call
- White-Glove Service
- Fair, Honest Pricing
A will and a trust are the building blocks of nearly every estate plan, but they do very different jobs, and the right combination depends on your family and your goals. At Senerchia & Senerchia, P.C., our Cranston wills and trusts attorneys help Rhode Island families put clear, legally sound documents in place so your wishes are honored, your loved ones are protected, and your family is kept out of court and conflict. Wills and trusts are a central part of our broader estate planning practice.
Rhode Island Wills
A last will and testament is the document most people picture when they think about estate planning. It names who inherits your property, appoints an executor (personal representative) to settle your estate, and, critically for parents, nominates a guardian for minor children. To be valid in Rhode Island, a will must meet specific signing and witnessing requirements, which is why do-it-yourself forms so often fail.
- Properly executed Rhode Island wills that hold up in Probate Court
- Guardian nominations for minor children
- Executor / personal representative appointments and instructions
- Pour-over wills that work hand-in-hand with a living trust
Revocable Living Trusts
A revocable living trust lets you keep control of your assets during your lifetime while setting up a smooth, private transfer at death, typically avoiding probate altogether. For many Rhode Island families, that means less delay, less cost, and no public court file.
- Avoid probate and keep your estate private
- Plan for incapacity by naming a successor trustee to step in seamlessly
- Control timing of distributions to children and grandchildren
- Coordinate the trust with your real estate and financial accounts
Irrevocable Trusts
When the goal is tax savings or protecting assets from future creditors or long-term care costs, an irrevocable trust may be the right tool. Because Rhode Island’s estate tax threshold (\$1,838,056 for 2026) is far below the federal exemption, irrevocable planning is relevant to more Rhode Island families than many expect.
- Irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs)
- Trusts used in asset protection planning and elder law strategies
- Special needs trusts that preserve eligibility for SSA-administered and other public benefits
Trust Funding: The Step Most People Miss
A trust only protects what is actually transferred into it. ‘Funding’ means retitling your home, accounts, and other assets into the trust’s name. We handle funding correctly, including coordinating deeds through our affiliated title company, Dimension National Title, so your plan works exactly as intended.
Why Work With Senerchia & Senerchia
Senerchia & Senerchia, P.C. is a family-owned Rhode Island law firm, and we treat your family like our own. We live here and we are your neighbors, so we understand Rhode Island families, Rhode Island courts, and the local realities our clients face. We explain your options in plain English, never legalese, so you understand exactly what you’re signing and why.
- Our family protecting your family, a personal, caring approach, not a stuffy law office
- White-glove service and communication, including availability beyond regular business hours
- Thorough, meticulous documentation done right the first time
- Fair, honest, transparent pricing with no surprises
- We go the extra mile: you work directly with our attorneys, not a call center
Meet our attorneys or book a free 15-minute discovery call to see how we can help protect what matters most to you.
Our Family Protecting Your Family
Senerchia & Senerchia, P.C. is a family-owned Rhode Island law firm and title company, two generations of the Senerchia family practicing law and treating every client like one of our own. We’re not a stuffy, big-city firm. We live here. We’re your neighbors. And when you call, you speak directly with an attorney, not a call center.
It’s a simple idea: our family is here to protect yours, today and for generations to come. Book a free 15-minute discovery call or call 401-615-3880.
Areas We Serve: Cranston & Surrounding Rhode Island
Our office is located at 150 Burnside Street in Cranston, Rhode Island, with easy access off Interstate 95 and the Route 10 Connector. From Cranston we serve families and clients setting up wills and trusts throughout the greater Providence area and roughly a 25-mile radius around our office, including
- Providence, Warwick, West Warwick, Johnston, and North Providence
- East Greenwich, Coventry, Scituate, Foster, and Smithfield
- Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln, Cumberland, and Woonsocket
- East Providence, Barrington, Bristol, Warren, and North Kingstown
We also welcome clients from just over the Massachusetts line, including Attleboro, North Attleboro, Seekonk, Rehoboth, Swansea, Fall River, New Bedford, and Fairhaven. For clients who cannot travel to Cranston, we offer remote meetings by Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Ready to talk? Schedule a consultation or contact our office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a will, a trust, or both?
It depends on your goals. A will is essential for naming guardians and directing your estate; a living trust adds probate avoidance, privacy, and incapacity planning. Many Rhode Island families use both a trust and a ‘pour-over’ will together. We’ll recommend the right mix during your consultation.
Does a living trust avoid probate in Rhode Island?
Yes, assets properly titled in a revocable living trust generally pass to your beneficiaries without probate. The key word is ‘properly titled’: a trust that is never funded won’t avoid probate, which is why funding matters so much.
What makes a will valid in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island requires that a will be in writing, signed by the person making it, and witnessed by two competent witnesses. Formalities matter: an improperly signed or witnessed will can be challenged in Probate Court, so professional drafting is worth it.
What is a pour-over will?
A pour-over will works alongside a living trust: it ‘pours’ any assets you didn’t transfer into the trust during your lifetime into the trust at death, acting as a safety net so nothing is left unaddressed.
Can a trust help protect assets from nursing home costs?
Certain irrevocable trusts can, when set up well in advance. This overlaps with elder law and Medicaid planning, where Rhode Island’s five-year look-back period makes timing critical. We can explain whether this strategy fits your situation.
What is a special needs trust?
A special needs trust lets you provide for a loved one with a disability without disqualifying them from means-tested public benefits like SSI or Medicaid administered through the Social Security Administration and the state. It’s a powerful way to protect a vulnerable family member.
How often should I update my will or trust?
Revisit your documents every few years and after major life changes: a new child, marriage, divorce, death, or a big change in assets. Trusts in particular benefit from periodic funding reviews to make sure newly acquired assets are titled correctly.
Do you prepare the deeds needed to fund a trust?
Yes. Because we also operate Dimension National Title, we can prepare and record the deeds that transfer your Rhode Island real estate into your trust, so your plan is fully funded and effective.
Reviews From Our Clients
Rhode Island Resources & Related Pages
Our attorneys serve families and businesses throughout Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts from our office in Cranston, with remote meetings available by Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Official Rhode Island sources: RI Division of Taxation: Estate Tax · IRS: Estate Tax
Related pages on our site: Estate Planning · Probate · Asset Protection Planning · Dimension National Title