# R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-8: Settlement of debts and claims €” Assent of court

> Rhode Island · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-8

## Section

- **Citation:** R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-8
- **Heading:** Settlement of debts and claims €” Assent of court
- **Jurisdiction:** Rhode Island
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** RI Code / Title 18 / Chapter 18-4 / Section 18-4-8

## Text

(a) An executor or administrator, or two (2) or more trustees or assignees acting together, or a sole acting trustee or assignee, if by the instrument, if any, creating the trust the sole trustee or assignee is authorized to execute the trusts and powers thereof, may, if and as he, she, they, or it think fit, with the assent as provided in this section, accept any composition or any security, real or personal, for any debt or for any property, real or personal, claimed, and may allow any time for payment of any debt, and may compromise, compound, abandon, submit to arbitration, or otherwise settle, any debt, account, claim, or thing whatever, relating to the deceased person€™s estate or to the trust; and for any of these purposes may enter into, give, execute, and do such agreements, instruments of composition or arrangement, releases, and other things that to him, her, it, or them seem expedient, without being responsible for any loss occasioned by any act or thing done by him, her, it, or them, in good faith, if done with the assent of the probate court in case of executors or administrators, and of one of the justices of the superior court in the case of trustees or assignees.

(b) Application for the assent shall be in writing, and the assent, if given, shall be by order or decree and with or without notice or hearing, as the probate court or justice of the superior court shall deem best.

(c) In case the order is made, or decree entered, the order or decree shall be final and not subject to appeal or rehearing.

(d) As regards trustees or assignees, this section applies only if and as far as a contrary intention is not expressed in the instrument, if any, creating the trust, and shall have effect subject to the terms of that instrument and to the provisions contained in it.

(e) This section applies to executorships, administratorships, trusts, and assignments previously or subsequently constituted or created.

## Nearby sections

- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-1 § 18-4-1. Application of cy pres doctrine.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-1.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-2 § 18-4-2. Powers of trustees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-2.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-3 § 18-4-3. Arbitration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-3.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-4 § 18-4-4. Power of sale.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-4.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-5 § 18-4-5. Effect of trustee€™s receipt.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-5.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-6 § 18-4-6. Conveyance by infant trustee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-6.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-7 § 18-4-7. Disposition of money payable to infant trustee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-7.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-8 § 18-4-8. Settlement of debts and claims €” Assent of court.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-8.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-9 § 18-4-9. Powers of surviving fiduciaries.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-9.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-10 § 18-4-10. Management powers exercised with court approval.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-10.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-11 § 18-4-11. Purposes for which borrowing authorized.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-11.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-12 § 18-4-12. Leases authorized.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-12.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-13 § 18-4-13. Parties to management proceedings €” Guardians ad litem €” Costs.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-13.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-4-14 § 18-4-14. Binding effect of authorized transactions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-14.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T18_C18-4_S18-4-8. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.