Demand Letter in Rhode Island

A demand letter asks someone to pay or fix a problem before you go to small claims court. Many judges expect one, and it is useful evidence. Your state's small claims limit and fee are shown below.

What Rhode Island law says

Small claims limit	$5,000, exclusive of interest and costs, for contract claims, tax claims for money only, money claims arising from a retail sale of goods or services to the public, and claims on negotiable instruments. A larger claim cannot be split into several $5,000 cases. Only money judgments are available. The District Court's instructions state that personal injury, negligence (such as car accidents) and property damage cases cannot be filed in small claims: https://www.courts.ri.gov/Courts/districtcourt/Documents/SmallClaimsInstructions.pdf Source: R.I. Gen. Laws 10-16-1
Filing fee	$55 entry fee, plus a one-time $17.50 processing fee and $3.25 technology surcharge (3.25% extra if paying by card). The small claims execution fee is $20. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws 10-16-4(a); R.I. District Court Civil Fees and Costs

Small claims limit

$5,000, exclusive of interest and costs, for contract claims, tax claims for money only, money claims arising from a retail sale of goods or services to the public, and claims on negotiable instruments. A larger claim cannot be split into several $5,000 cases. Only money judgments are available.

The District Court's instructions state that personal injury, negligence (such as car accidents) and property damage cases cannot be filed in small claims: https://www.courts.ri.gov/Courts/districtcourt/Documents/SmallClaimsInstructions.pdf

Source: R.I. Gen. Laws 10-16-1

Filing fee

$55 entry fee, plus a one-time $17.50 processing fee and $3.25 technology surcharge (3.25% extra if paying by card). The small claims execution fee is $20.

Source: R.I. Gen. Laws 10-16-4(a); R.I. District Court Civil Fees and Costs

Fill it in

Nothing you type leaves your browser. Replace anything still highlighted, and keep a signed copy.

[today's date]

To: [person or business name], [their address]

From: [your name], [your address]

This letter is a formal demand for $[amount demanded] for [what happened, with dates].

[Short list of facts and attached documents: contract, receipts, photos, messages.]

Please pay this amount by [payment deadline] by [payment method].

If I do not receive payment by then, I intend to file a claim in [court name] without further notice.

[your name] [phone or email]

Demand Letter for other states · Rhode Island tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.