R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-25-3 — Documentary stamps — Affixing — Cancellation

The payment of the tax imposed by this chapter is evidenced by the affixing of a documentary
stamp or stamps to every original instrument by the person making, executing, delivering,
or presenting for recording the instrument and only the original instrument is accepted
for recording. The stamps shall be affixed in the manner that:
(1) Their denomination may be clearly determined;
(2) Their removal requires the continued application of steam or water;
(3) The person using or affixing the stamps writes or stamps or causes to be written or
stamped thereon the initials of his or her name and the date upon which the stamps
are affixed or used so that the stamps may not be used again; and
(4) The cancellation is not obscured by one stamp overlapping another; provided, that
the tax administrator may prescribe any other method of cancellation that the administrator
deems expedient.