Which Rhode Island court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | District Court: Small Claims Counterclaim ceiling raised to $5,000 eff. 2026-01-01. | Up to $2,500 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-16-1 |
| Limited civil | District Court District Court civil up to $10,000; concurrent to $25,000 in some actions. | Up to $10,000 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-8-3 |
| General civil | Superior Court Over $10,000. | No limit | R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-2-14 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 20 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Super. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A)).
Estimates from the statutory answer period; service-method extensions and local rules can change these dates. Verify before relying on them. Not legal advice.
18 Rhode Island forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Rhode Island practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Notice of Appearance(pattern) Appearance of counsel; service on undersigned requested
- Motion for Continuance(pattern) Good-cause continuance with proposed order
- Notice of Deposition(pattern) Oral deposition with optional duces tecum; recording method per rule
- Civil Subpoena(pattern) Testimony and/or production (duces tecum); issuance and witness-fee rules vary
- Answer(pattern) Responsive pleading: denials and affirmative defenses
- Satisfaction of Judgment(pattern) acknowledgment of satisfaction for entry on the docket
- Complaint(pattern) Super./Dist. R. Civ. P. 8: initiating pleading; District Court civil to $10,000
- SummonsSuper. R. Civ. P. 4 / 12(a)(1)(A): 20-day answer
- Civil Case Cover SheetRI Superior Court: required at filing
- Return of ServiceSuper. R. Civ. P. 4(h): proof of service
- Motion to Proceed In Forma PauperisR.I. Gen. Laws § 9-15-1: fee waiver
- Notice of DismissalSuper. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1): voluntary dismissal
- Application for Entry of Default and Motion for Default JudgmentSuper. R. Civ. P. 55(a)/(b): two-stage default
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentSuper. R. Civ. P. 55(b): 12% interest (§ 9-21-10)
- Writ of Garnishment / Wage AttachmentR.I. Gen. Laws § 10-5-1 et seq.: $50/week exempt + federal limits (§ 9-26-4)
- Writ of Attachment (Financial Institution)R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 10-5: bank accounts & deposits
- Examination of Judgment DebtorR.I. Gen. Laws § 9-28-3: supplementary proceedings
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Rhode Island matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Complaint · Summons · Civil Case Cover Sheet · Return of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Complaint · Summons · Civil Case Cover Sheet · Return of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Application for Entry of Default and Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Satisfaction of Judgment · Writ of Garnishment / Wage Attachment · Writ of Attachment (Financial Institution) · Examination of Judgment Debtor
Fee Waiver
Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
Voluntary Dismissal
Notice of Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Rhode Island county are in the 1Court Directory: Rhode Island.
How it works
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Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.