Q: What is the current law in Rhode Island in regards to a life estate pertaining to nieces and nephews?
A: Anyone can grant a life estate to anyone, regardless of whether or not the grantor and grantee are related. If the deed is valid then the life estate is valid. If someone were to try to challenge the deed on the argument that they are a closer relation, their closer relation is not enough in itself to invalidate the deed. If the grantor was not in his or her right mind when the grantor executed the deed granting the life estate, then that would be a different story.
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