R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-1-10: Surplus personalty not bequeathed.

The surplus of any chattels or personal estate of a deceased person, not bequeathed, after the payment of his or her just debts, funeral charges, and expenses of settling his or her estate, shall be distributed by order of the probate court which shall grant administration in the manner following:

(1) The sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) from the surplus and one-half (½) of the remainder to the widow or surviving husband forever, if the intestate died without issue.

(2) One-half (½) of the surplus to the widow or surviving husband forever, if the intestate died leaving issue.

(3) The residue shall be distributed among the heirs of the intestate in the same manner real estates descend and pass by this chapter, but without having any respect to the life estate and discretionary allowance provided by §§ 33-1-5 and 33-1-6.