Rhode Island § 8-9-5 - Probate Courts

§ 8-9-5. Disqualification or inability of probate judge.

Unless otherwise provided, whenever the judge of probate in any city or town is a party or is interested in any case arising in his or her town, or is absent or unable to perform his or her duties, the town council of the town shall perform those duties in the same manner as if no judge of probate had been elected; provided, however, that whenever the judge of probate of the town of Warren is a party or is interested in any proceeding about to be heard in his or her court, or is absent or unable to perform his or her duties, or there is a vacancy in the office, his or her duties shall be temporarily performed by the town solicitor of the town; and the fact of the interest, absence, inability, or vacancy shall be rendered in the records of the court; provided, however, that whenever the judge of probate of the city of Newport or the town of Cumberland or Smithfield is a party or is interested in any proceeding about to be heard in his or her court, or is absent or unable to perform his or her duties, or there is a vacancy in the office, his or her duties shall be temporarily performed by the municipal court judge, if available, if not then the city solicitor of the city of Newport or by the town solicitor of the towns of Cumberland or Smithfield, respectively; and the fact of the interest, absence, inability, or vacancy shall be recorded in the records of the court; provided, however, that whenever the judge of probate of the towns of Hopkinton or West Greenwich is a party or is interested in any proceeding about to be heard in his or her court, or is absent or unable to perform his or her duties, or there is a vacancy in the office, his or her duties shall be temporarily performed by one or more deputy probate judges to be elected by the town council of the towns of Hopkinton and West Greenwich, in the same manner as prescribed for the election of the probate judge in § 8-9-4, the deputy probate judge(s) to have the same powers and duties as the probate judge and be entitled to the fees of the court as the towns may allow; provided, further, however, that no judge of probate in any city or town shall be permitted to practice or enter his or her appearance or act in any capacity as an attorney in any case before the probate court in his or her city or town.