The life estates provided in this chapter shall take effect notwithstanding any provisions of the will of the decedent, except as provided in § 33-25-4, and shall take precedence over any claims of creditors of the decedent or decedent’s estate, except claims secured by lien or any form of encumbrance on the real estate.
Life estate precedence
R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-25-3., under Chapter 33-25 Dower and Curtesy.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-25-3.