§ 28-22-11 — Spouse or child over sixteen may act

If in any case the debtor neglects or refuses, or for any cause fails, to claim the whole or
any of the exemptions to which the debtor is entitled, a spouse may make such claim or
demand, select and choose the property, select and designate one of the appraisers, and do all
other acts necessary in the premises the same and with like effect as the debtor might do, and if
the spouse neglects, refuses, or for any cause fails so to do in whole or in part, then one of the
children sixteen years of age or upwards, who is a member of the family, may do so in like
manner and with like effect.