Hiring a Real Estate Lawyer in Rhode Island
What a home seller in Rhode Island must disclose, how foreclosure works, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Rhode Island: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under Rhode Island Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(c) (Supreme Court Rules, Article V), a contingent fee agreement must be in a writing signed by the client stating how the fee is determined, including the percentage(s) for settlement, trial or appeal; litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery; and whether expenses are deducted before or after the fee is calculated. It must clearly notify the client of expenses owed whether or not the client prevails, and at the end the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the remittance and how it was determined. Rule 1.5(d) bars fees in domestic relations matters contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, and contingent fees for defending a criminal case. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Rhode Island Bar Association's Fee Arbitration program hears fee disputes between clients and attorneys (and between attorneys). It does not handle disputes over fees under $1,000; disputes of $1,000 to $1,500 are decided by one arbitrator on written submissions only. Both parties must agree in advance to be bound by the arbitration panel's decision; if the other side will not agree, no panel is appointed. Submit the signed, dated Arbitration of Fee Disputes Agreement & Petition in triplicate with original signatures to the Executive Director, 41 Sharpe Dr., Cranston, RI 02920; phone 401-421-5740. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | If a complaint involves alleged misappropriation of funds by a lawyer, you may file a statement of claim with the Rhode Island Bar Association's Client Reimbursement Fund; the Disciplinary Board itself cannot recover money. |
Rhode Island rules to know first
| What a home seller must disclose | Yes. As soon as practicable, and before any agreement to transfer real estate is signed, the seller must give the buyer (and each agent involved) a written disclosure of all deficient conditions the seller actually knows about, on a form approved by the Rhode Island Real Estate Commission (or a substantially conforming form). The agent may not communicate the buyer's offer until the buyer has received the disclosure and signed a receipt. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-20.8-2 |
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| How foreclosure works | Both. A lender may file a complaint in court to foreclose, or, under a mortgage with a power of sale, may sell the property after giving the mailed and published notices required by statute, without a court case. No official page reviewed states which method is most common. |
| Foreclosure timeline | Minimums set by statute for a power-of-sale foreclosure: the mediation requirement must be completed first for covered homes; the mailed notice must go to an individual consumer borrower at least 30 days before the first publication; the first of three weekly publications must be at least 21 days before the sale; and the sale may take place no more than 14 days after the third publication. Lenders that do not mail the mediation notice within 120 days after the date of default owe a penalty of $1,000 per month under § 34-27-9(d)(1). |
| HOA foreclosure | Yes, for condominiums. A condominium association has a lien on a unit for assessments and fines from when they become due, and the lien may be foreclosed under R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-36.1-3.21. The lien has limited priority over a first mortgage for up to six months of regular common-expense assessments plus capped collection and foreclosure costs. Once common-expense charges are at least 60 days delinquent, the association must send the owner a notice of the delinquency by certified and first-class mail. A judgment in a lien case must include costs and reasonable attorney's fees for the prevailing party. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-36.1-3.16 |
Find and check a lawyer
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | The Rhode Island Supreme Court's Disciplinary Board and Office of Disciplinary Counsel handle complaints about attorney misconduct, and filing costs nothing. Call (401) 823-5710 to request a complaint form, or write a letter with your name, address and phone, the attorney's name, address and phone, and a description of the complaint, and send it to the Chief Disciplinary Counsel, Philip W. Noel Judicial Complex, 222 Quaker Lane, Room 1083, Warwick, RI 02886. Disciplinary Counsel checks whether the complaint is within the Board's authority, asks the attorney for a written response (you get a copy), investigates if warranted, and the Board authorizes formal charges or dismisses; for serious misconduct the Supreme Court may impose censure, suspension or disbarment. The Board cannot recover fees or damages. |
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Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Rhode Island Legal Services provides legal assistance and representation to low-income individuals and eligible client groups in Rhode Island. Apply online or call 401-274-2652 (Providence office) or 401-846-2264 (Newport office); the site also lists 800-662-5034; submitting an application does not guarantee help, and if you appear to qualify RILS will contact you to verify the information and decide whether it can assist. LSC lists Rhode Island Legal Services as its Rhode Island grantee. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Rhode Island · Background guide
Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
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.