R.I. Gen. Laws § 35-13-6: Signatures.

(a) Any certificated registered public obligation signed by the authorized officers at the time of the signing thereof shall remain valid and binding, notwithstanding that before the issuance thereof any or all of the officers shall have ceased to fill their respective offices.

(b) Any authorized officer empowered to sign any certificated registered public obligation may adopt as and for the signature of the officer the signature of a predecessor in office in the event that the predecessor’s signature appears on the certificated registered public obligation. An authorized officer incurs no liability by the adopting of a predecessor’s signature that would not be incurred by the authorized officer if the signature were that of the authorized officer.