R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-21-1: Town taking possession of property.

Whenever any person shall die leaving any real estate within this state, and shall leave no heir or legal representative to claim the real estate, the town council of the town in which the real estate is located may direct the town treasurer of the town to take the property into his or her possession for the use of the town until the heir or other legal representative of the deceased shall call for the real estate, to whom the real estate shall be delivered on being claimed and evidence of the right or title of the claimant shown; and the town shall in that case account with the claimant for the real estate, but not including any income or interest received from the real estate.