Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 16-16-29

• Spouse: means the surviving person who was married to a deceased member, but only if the surviving person meets one of the following conditions:

  (i)  Was married to the deceased member for not less than one year immediately prior to the date on which the member died;

  (ii)  Is the mother or father of the deceased member's child(ren);

  (iii)  Legally adopted the deceased member's child(ren) while married to the deceased member and while the child(ren) was under the age of eighteen (18) years; or

  (iv)  Was married to the deceased member at the time both of them legally adopted a child(ren) under the age of eighteen (18) years. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-16-1