Rhode Island § 33-7-24 - Custody and Probate of Wills

§ 33-7-24. Taking of will from files of court — Copy retained — Proof of copy on loss of original.

The probate court in which an original will has been duly proved, allowed, and recorded may, after the expiration of the time within which an appeal may be taken from the decree admitting the will to probate, upon the petition of the executor, or of a legatee named in the will, or of any person interested in the estate of the testator, and after any notice the court may require and a hearing thereon, permit the original will, if it appears to be necessary for the purpose, to be taken from the files of the court and to be used in another state, territory, district or foreign country, for the purpose of establishing the right or title of the executor, legatee or person to the estate of the testator in the other state, territory, district or foreign country, upon the terms and conditions as the court may prescribe. Likewise, before probate, an instrument purporting to be a last will may be annexed to a commission for taking depositions in proof of the same, in this or any other state, territory, district or foreign country; a photographic copy of the instrument, duly certified, being retained on the files of the court. From any order of the court granting permission, for annexing a will to a commission as provided above, no appeal shall lie. In case the original will is lost, on proof of loss, the copy may be proved in the same manner and shall have the same effect as the original.