(a)  No direct or indirect transfer of structured settlement payment rights shall be effective and no structured settlement obligor or annuity issuer shall be required to make any payment directly or indirectly to any transferee of structured settlement payment rights unless the transfer has been approved in advance by a final court order of the superior court for the county in which the payee resides finding that:

(1)  The transfer is in the best interest of the payee, taking into account the welfare and support of the payee’s dependents; and

(2)  The payee has been advised in writing by the transferee to seek independent professional advice regarding the transfer and has either received independent professional advice or knowingly waived the advice in writing; and

(3)  The transfer does not contravene any applicable statute or the order of any court or other government authority.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 27-9.3-4

  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

(b)  The payee shall have the right to cancel the transfer agreement, without penalty or further obligation, not later than the third (3rd) business day after the date the transfer agreement is signed by the payee.

History of Section.
P.L. 2001, ch. 226, § 1.