§ 33-11-51. Survival of child support obligations — Enforcement of claims — Child support public policy.
(a) It is the public policy of the state of Rhode Island that dependent children shall be maintained and supported, as completely as possible, from the resources of their parents thereby relieving or avoiding, to the fullest extent, the burden borne by the citizens of the state.
(b) In furtherance of said policy and not withstanding any conflicting statute or prior case law, it is declared that a parent’s legally enforceable obligation to pay child support, past and future:
(1) Continues until the child’s eighteenth (18th) birthday or such later date or event set forth in the family court’s decree of child support;
(2) Is not extinguished by but survives the parent’s death;
(3) Is enforceable as a priority creditor’s claim from the deceased parent’s probate estate;
(4) Is enforceable by imposition of a constructive trust over the deceased parent’s non-probate assets by equity petition in the superior court to the extent of any deficiency from the deceased parent’s probate estate;
(5) Takes precedence over and must be satisfied prior to any distribution of the deceased parent’s probate assets by intestacy or by will; and
(6) Cannot be nullified by disinheriting the child, however, a parent may exercise testamentary discretion and disinherit a child subject to the prior satisfaction of all his or her child support obligations, accrued and future.
(c) The family court may modify child support obligations only for a substantial change in circumstances while the child is a minor and the parent with the obligation to support the child is alive. After said parent’s death, the probate or superior court, as the case may be, shall hear and determine the child’s claim and may award:
(1) Delinquent and/or accrued child support to the date of the parent’s death, with interest therein at the statutory rate; and
(2) Future or prospective child support until the child’s eighteenth (18th) birthday or such later date or event set forth in the family court’s decree of child support, offset by social security benefits payable to or for the child by reason of the parent’s death, and discounted to present value.
History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 298, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 314, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 33 - Probate Practice and Procedure
Chapter 33-11 - Claims Against Decedents’ Estates
Section 33-11-1. - Computation of time.
Section 33-11-2. - Effect of administration de bonis non.
Section 33-11-3. - Claims payable at future day.
Section 33-11-4. - Manner of presentation of claims.
Section 33-11-5. - Time allowed for presenting claims — Late claims — Appeal.
Section 33-11-5.1. - Duty to notify known or reasonably ascertainable creditors.
Section 33-11-5.2. - Fiduciary’s affidavit regarding notice to creditors and OHHS.
Section 33-11-6. - Address of creditor filed — Notices.
Section 33-11-7. - Affidavit to support claim.
Section 33-11-8. - Determination of personal representative’s claim.
Section 33-11-10. - Bond to cover contingent claim.
Section 33-11-12. - Party against whom contingent claim enforced — Time of bringing action.
Section 33-11-13. - Pleadings in action on bond for contingent claim.
Section 33-11-14. - Disallowance of claim.
Section 33-11-15. - Petition for filing of late disallowance.
Section 33-11-16. - Probate court determination of disallowed claims against solvent estate.
Section 33-11-19. - Payment of claims allowed or proved.
Section 33-11-21. - Estate rendered insolvent by claims after allowance of account.
Section 33-11-22. - Estate rendered insolvent by late claims.
Section 33-11-23. - Disallowed claims against insolvent estates to be heard by probate court.
Section 33-11-24. - Hearings on insolvent estates.
Section 33-11-25 - — 33-11-27. Repealed.
Section 33-11-28. - Notice of hearings on insolvent estates.
Section 33-11-29. - Statements of contested claims against insolvent estate.
Section 33-11-31. - Power of probate court over witnesses.
Section 33-11-32. - Secured claims against insolvent estates.
Section 33-11-34. - Interest on claims against insolvent estate.
Section 33-11-35. - Offset of mutual claims.
Section 33-11-37. - Notice of disallowance by probate court.
Section 33-11-38 - — 33-11-41. Repealed.
Section 33-11-42. - Actions beyond probate court.
Section 33-11-43. - Superior court judgment — Costs.
Section 33-11-44. - Claims based on action commenced against decedent before death.
Section 33-11-45. - Claim barred by failure to prove or prosecute.
Section 33-11-46, 33-11-47. - Repealed.
Section 33-11-48. - Action on disallowed claim.
Section 33-11-49. - Actions barred within time for filing claims.
Section 33-11-50. - Limitation of actions by creditors of decedent.