R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-15.1-21: Application of personal property to debts — Priority of claims.

A guardian shall collect all the personal property of his or her ward and sell and apply the personal property or so much as shall be necessary, at the time and in the manner as the court of probate shall direct, to the payment of all the debts of his or her ward; but if the property shall be insufficient to pay the debts in full, then he or she shall pay the debts ratably; except that debts due to the United States, debts due to this state, and state and town taxes shall be paid first and in the order in which they are named. Every claim against the ward, allowed by the guardian or found due by judgment, shall be a lien upon the real estate of the ward during his or her minority and for one year thereafter.