R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-11-2: Definitions.

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Assignment” includes any written stock power, bond power, bill of sale, deed, declaration of trust, or other instrument of transfer.

(2) “Claim of beneficial interest” includes a claim of any interest by a decedent’s legatee, distributee, heir or creditor, a beneficiary under a trust, a ward, a beneficial owner of a security registered in the name of a nominee, or a minor owner of a security registered in the name of a custodian, or a claim of any similar interest, whether the claim is asserted by the claimant or by a fiduciary or by any other authorized person on his or her behalf, and includes a claim that the transfer would be in breach of fiduciary duties.

(3) “Corporation” means a private or public corporation, association, or trust issuing a security.

(4) “Fiduciary” means an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, committee, conservator, curator, tutor, custodian, or nominee.

(5) “Person” includes an individual, a corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, two (2) or more persons having a joint or common interest, or any other legal or commercial entity.

(6) “Security” includes any share of stock, bond, debenture, note, or other security issued by a corporation that is registered as to ownership on the books of the corporation.

(7) “Transfer” means a change on the books of a corporation in the registered ownership of a security.

(8) “Transfer agent” means a person employed or authorized by a corporation to transfer securities issued by the corporation.