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Rhode Island Statute of Limitations (2026)

Civil filing deadlines in Rhode Island under R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 9-1 — three years for injury to the person, ten for most everything else, and just one year for spoken words.

✓ Last verified: Sep 2026
Claim Types
12
claim types tracked
Filing Range
3–10
year filing range
Govt. Notice
0.2
yrs to notify govt.
1 of these entries are marked “Unverified.” They have been added to the register but not yet checked line-by-line against the current statute text. Treat those figures as a starting point only, and confirm the citation at its official source before relying on it.
3 YEARS
Personal Injury
Three years from accrual for injuries to the person.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Medical Malpractice
Three years from the occurrence of the incident.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.1 ✓ Verified
10 YEARS
Written Contract
Ten years under the general civil limitation — among the longest contract windows in the country.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) ✓ Verified
10 YEARS
Property Damage
Ten years for property damage — more than triple what Rhode Island gives personal injury.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13 ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Defamation
Three years for libel, but only ONE year for slander — the statute limits its one-year rule to "words spoken."
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(a), (b) ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Product Liability
Three years for personal injury caused by a defective product, under the general injury period.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Wrongful Death
Three years from the date of death — or, where the wrongful act was not known at the time of death, three years from when it was or reasonably should have been discovered.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-7-2(c) ✓ Verified
10 YEARS
Fraud
Ten years under the general limitation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13 ✓ Verified
10 YEARS
Breach of Oral Contract
Ten years — the § 9-1-13(a) catch-all reaches all civil actions not otherwise specially provided for, written or not.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) ✓ Verified
3 YEARS
Legal Malpractice
Three years — Rhode Island gives legal malpractice its own section rather than borrowing the general tort period.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.3 Unverified
3 YEARS
Assault & Battery
Three years, under the general injuries-to-the-person period. False imprisonment also runs three years under the same subsection.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) ✓ Verified
10 YEARS
Trespass to Land
Ten years under the general civil limitation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) ✓ Verified
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Legal Forms
0.2
years
Government claims notice
Written notice within 90 days — R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-25 Section 9-1-25 requires written notice of a claim against a city or town within ninety days after the incident. That is a fraction of the three-year injury period and is easy to miss entirely. The State and its subdivisions also have damages caps. Not confirmed against primary text; URL needs repointing to § 9-1-25.

Common Questions About Rhode Island Deadlines

What is the statute of limitations in Rhode Island?

It depends on the type of claim. Rhode Island filing deadlines range from 3 years to 10 years — for example, personal injury 3 years, breach of a written contract 10 years, medical malpractice 3 years, defamation 3 years.

How long do you have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Rhode Island?

3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b). Three years from accrual for injuries to the person. Full personal injury rules →

What is the statute of limitations for wrongful death in Rhode Island?

3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-7-2(c). Three years from the date of death — or, where the wrongful act was not known at the time of death, three years from when it was or reasonably should have been discovered. Full wrongful death rules →

What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Rhode Island?

3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.1. Three years from the occurrence of the incident. Full medical malpractice rules →

What is the statute of limitations for breach of contract in Rhode Island?

10 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a). Ten years under the general civil limitation — among the longest contract windows in the country. Full breach of a written contract rules →

How long do you have to sue for defamation in Rhode Island?

3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(a), (b). Three years for libel, but only ONE year for slander — the statute limits its one-year rule to "words spoken." Full defamation rules →

What is the statute of limitations for property damage in Rhode Island?

10 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13. Ten years for property damage — more than triple what Rhode Island gives personal injury. Full property damage rules →

Do you have to notify the government before suing in Rhode Island?

Often, yes. Written notice within 90 days under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-25. This is usually much shorter than the ordinary deadline.

Know your rights — check the claim type that matches your situation, then confirm the deadline with a licensed attorney.
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