R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-25-3. Life estate precedence.
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.