R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 13-6-1 (2026)

Life prisoners deemed civilly dead

✓ current as of July 2026
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Every person imprisoned in the adult correctional institutions for life shall, with respect to all rights of property, to the bond of matrimony and to all civil rights and relations of any nature whatsoever, be deemed to be dead in all respects, as if his or her natural death had taken place at the time of conviction. However, the bond of matrimony shall not be dissolved, nor shall the rights to property or other rights of the husband or wife of the imprisoned person be terminated or impaired, except on the entry of a lawfully obtained decree for divorce.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1972–2021 · leading case: Dana Gallop v. Adult Corr. Institutions, 182 A.3d 1137 (R.I. 2018).
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Dana Gallop v. Adult Corr. Institutions, 182 A.3d 1137 (R.I. 2018). · cites it 22× “This case came before the Supreme Court on February 14, 2018, on appeal by the plaintiff, Dana Gallop (plaintiff or Gallop), from an order entered in the Superior Court granting the State defendants' (defendants or the State) motion to dismiss based on G.L. 1956 § 13-6-1, Rhode…”
Cody-Allen Zab v. Katherine Zab, 203 A.3d 1175 (R.I. 2019). · cites it 8× “" 2 At a hearing on the motion, he argued that the marriage record should "be sealed as if it never existed" because, in accordance with G.L. 1956 § 13-6-1, "all lifers are civilly dead" and, thus, are prohibited from entering into the bond of matrimony.”
Bogosian v. Vaccaro, 422 A.2d 1253 (R.I. 1980). · cites it 12× “Section 13-6-1 in essence provides that any person imprisoned in the ACI for life shall, “at the time of such conviction,” be deemed to be dead “in all respects” with regard to “all rights of property, to the bond of matrimony and to all civil rights and relations, of any nature…”
In Re Micaela C., 769 A.2d 600 (R.I. 2001). · cites it 3× “This case came before this Court for oral argument pursuant to an order directing the father to show cause why his appeal should not be dismissed pursuant to G.L.1956 § 13-6-1 — the civil death statute.”
John Doe v. William H. Webster, Dir., Fbi, 606 F.2d 1226 (D.C. Cir. 1979). “, R.I. Gen.Laws Ann. § 13-6-1 to -2 (1956).”
Craigo v. Marshall, 331 S.E.2d 510 (W. Va. 1985). “1984); R.I. Gen. Laws § 13-6-1 (1956). 8 . Such procedural restrictions may also impair the constitutional right of access to the courts which is specifically embodied in Article III, Section 17 of the West Virginia Constitution, which provides: "The courts of this State shall…”
Johnson v. Rockefeller, 58 F.R.D. 42 (S.D.N.Y. 1972). “1967) ; R.I.Gen. Laws Ann. §§ 13-6-1 to -2 (1956) ; S.”
Lombardi v. Raimondo (D.R.I. 2021). · cites it 4× “R.I. Gen. Laws § 13-6-1. While once quite commonplace, only Rhode Island, New York, and the Virgin Islands still have civil death statutes.”
Paiva v. Coyne-Fague (D.R.I. 2021). · cites it 2× “G.L. § 13-6-1). 2 There is no direct claim here that Mr.”
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