In Re Tetreault

OPINION

Chief Justice SUTTELL,

for the Court.

This case came before the Supreme Court pursuant to four questions certified by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Rhode Island in accordance with Article I, Rule 6 of the Supreme Court Rules of Appellate Procedure. The questions seek our advice on the interpretation of G.L.1956 § 9-26-4.1 (the homestead statute) as it applies to Edwin H. Tetreault (debtor), a devisee of real property under the residuary clause of a Rhode Island will. The debtor has claimed a homestead estate exemption in his one-half interest in the real…