R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-23-35 — Statement required as to delivery of decedent’s property to other than administrator

No person having in possession or under control of property forming a part of the
estate of a resident decedent, as provided in this chapter, may deliver or transfer
the property to any person other than the executor, administrator, or trustee of the
decedent unless the person making delivery or transfer of the property immediately
furnishes the tax administrator with a statement under oath describing the property
delivered or transferred together with the name of the person to whom the property
is delivered or transferred; provided, that any insurance company engaging in the
business of writing contracts of insurance in the state notifies the tax administrator
of the amount of any payment or payments made, or to be made to any person or persons
under any insurance contract, as a result of the death of a Rhode Island resident,
whenever the total amount of payment or payments made or to be made to the person
or persons exceeds fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); and provided, that banks and
other institutions having deposits standing in the joint names of two (2) or more
persons, or standing in the joint names of two (2) or more persons and payable to
either or the survivor or survivors, are not required to furnish the statement with
respect to deposits of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or less. In the case of deposits
of over one thousand dollars ($1,000), the bank or other institution, having knowledge
of the decease of one of the persons in whose names the deposit stands, or upon request
of the tax administrator, shall, in lieu of the statement furnish a certificate showing
the amount of each deposit together with the names of the persons in whose names the
deposit stands. Any person who makes delivery or transfer without furnishing a statement
is liable for the amount of any tax which may be assessed on account of the transfer
of the property, together with its interest, to be collected in an action brought
in the name of the tax administrator.