About UNIVERSAL APPOINTMENT BOND (With Corporate Surety)
Establishes a corporate surety bond securing the fiduciary's faithful performance of duties as executor, administrator, guardian, or other probate officer.
When you'd use it: When a court-appointed fiduciary is required to post a bond with a corporate surety as a condition of appointment.
Where to get the official form
The official version of UNIVERSAL APPOINTMENT BOND (With Corporate Surety) is published as a PDF by the Rhode Island courts. We checked this link and it resolved to a form on an official court or government website — always download the current version directly from the source rather than a third-party copy:
Download UNIVERSAL APPOINTMENT BOND (With Corporate Surety) (PDF) →
Source: docs.sos.ri.gov
Link last checked: May 31, 2026
How to file UNIVERSAL APPOINTMENT BOND (With Corporate Surety) in Rhode Island
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse UNIVERSAL APPOINTMENT BOND (With Corporate Surety) (PC-3.1B) when when a court-appointed fiduciary is required to post a bond with a corporate surety as a condition of appointment. Double-check it's the right form for your situation — Rhode Island probate forms are revised periodically, so verify the name and number against your court's current form list before you start.
- Step 2 — Complete every required fieldFill out UNIVERSAL APPOINTMENT BOND (With Corporate Surety) carefully and review it for errors before filing. Probate cases can already take months — a small mistake on the form can set your timeline back further.
- Step 3 — Get it notarized or witnessed if requiredSome probate forms must be signed in front of a notary or witnesses. Check the instructions on the form itself, and arrange notarization before you file if it's required.
- Step 4 — File it with the correct courtSubmit UNIVERSAL APPOINTMENT BOND (With Corporate Surety) to the probate court or county clerk handling the estate — usually in the Rhode Island county where the deceased lived. Ask the clerk how they prefer to receive filings (in person, by mail, or e-filing).