--- title: Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Rhode Island license: CC0-1.0 source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) --- # Atlas Commons research objects — civil statute-of-limitations deadlines for Rhode Island Rhode Island's civil statute-of-limitations periods for 9 common causes of action, each as a recorded claim carrying the statute citation and URL so a consuming agent can verify it at the cited code — plus the single interpretive L5 boundary: these are the statutes as written, NOT any person's actual deadline (accrual, the discovery rule, tolling, and statutes of repose are fact-specific legal determinations). The atlas informs and routes to counsel; it never computes a deadline. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026). CC0. ## Claims ### Rhode Island sets a 1 year civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(a)) **RECORDED.** Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(a), the civil statute of limitations for defamation (libel / slander) in Rhode Island is 1 year. Note: Subsection (a) covers actions for words spoken (slander) and libel.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE9/9-1/9-1-14.HTM Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Rhode Island sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.1) **RECORDED.** Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.1, the civil statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Rhode Island is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Minors may sue up to age 21.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE9/9-1/9-1-14.1.htm Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Rhode Island sets a 3 years civil statute of limitations for personal injury (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b)) **RECORDED.** Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b), the civil statute of limitations for personal injury in Rhode Island is 3 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Tolling for minors until age 18 (action by age 21).. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE9/9-1/9-1-14.HTM Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Rhode Island sets a 3 years from death civil statute of limitations for wrongful death (R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-7-2) **RECORDED.** Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-7-2, the civil statute of limitations for wrongful death in Rhode Island is 3 years from death. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); Statutory minimum recovery of $350,000 under § 10-7-2.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE10/10-7/10-7-2.HTM Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Rhode Island sets a 10 years civil statute of limitations for contract oral (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a)) **RECORDED.** Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a), the civil statute of limitations for contract oral in Rhode Island is 10 years. Note: Same 10-year period for oral and written contracts.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/title-9/chapter-9-1/section-9-1-13/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Rhode Island sets a 10 years civil statute of limitations for contract written (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a)) **RECORDED.** Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a), the civil statute of limitations for contract written in Rhode Island is 10 years. Note: UCC 4-year SOL applies to sale-of-goods.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/title-9/chapter-9-1/section-9-1-13/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Rhode Island sets a 10 years civil statute of limitations for fraud (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a)) **RECORDED.** Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a), the civil statute of limitations for fraud in Rhode Island is 10 years. Note: a discovery rule may apply (the clock may start at discovery, not occurrence); General 10-year catch-all SOL applies to fraud actions.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/title-9/chapter-9-1/section-9-1-13/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Rhode Island sets a 10 years civil statute of limitations for product liability (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(b)) **RECORDED.** Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(b), the civil statute of limitations for product liability in Rhode Island is 10 years. Note: Underlying tort claims may also fall under 3-year SOL of § 9-1-14.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/title-9/chapter-9-1/section-9-1-13/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Rhode Island sets a 10 years civil statute of limitations for property damage (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a)) **RECORDED.** Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a), the civil statute of limitations for property damage in Rhode Island is 10 years. Note: Trespass and waste also covered.. This is the STATUTE as written (verify at the cited code), last verified 2026-04-29 — NOT a calculation of any person's actual deadline, which depends on accrual and tolling. Source: CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) — https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/title-9/chapter-9-1/section-9-1-13/ Falsifier: A RECORD of measured/reported events (occurred=true) from CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026); superseded when CaseFleet Civil Statute-of-Limitations Reference (2026) publishes its next release. ### Why these statute-of-limitations periods are NOT your deadline (the L5 boundary) **INTERPRETATION.** The periods above are the statutes Rhode Island has on the books. They do NOT tell you YOUR deadline. When a claim "accrues" (starts the clock), whether the discovery rule, tolling, a minor/incapacity, or a statute of repose changes it, and which cause of action even applies, are fact-specific legal determinations. A missed deadline can permanently bar a claim. This atlas informs and routes — it is not legal advice and not a substitute for a licensed attorney. If you may have a claim, consult an attorney in Rhode Island immediately; for free civil legal aid see this state's legal-aid page. Source: Justice Atlas framing (over the statutes above) — https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/ Falsifier: occurred=FALSE (a framing/legal boundary, not an event) and adjudged=FALSE (the atlas's reading, not a court's ruling on any case) — the lowest-warrant claim. The period+citation claims above are recorded statutes (verifiable at the cited code); this boundary is the only interpretation. --- Every claim above carries a four-status warrant (RECORDED / MODELED / DERIVED / INTERPRETATION) and a named source you can re-fetch — this is a research object, not a flat fact. Structured: `https://justice-atlas.ryanjhunter.workers.dev/justice/sol/ri.jsonld` ## Data ### Civil filing deadlines in Rhode Island — statutes as written RECORDED statutes (verify at each cited code). Not your actual deadline — accrual, tolling, and which claim applies are fact-specific. Consult a licensed attorney. | Claim | Deadline | Statute | Notes | Warrant | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Defamation (libel / slander) | 1 year | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(a) | Subsection (a) covers actions for words spoken (slander) and libel. | RECORDED | | Medical malpractice | 3 years | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.1 | discovery rule; Minors may sue up to age 21. | RECORDED | | Personal injury | 3 years | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) | discovery rule; Tolling for minors until age 18 (action by age 21). | RECORDED | | Wrongful death | 3 years from death | R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-7-2 | discovery rule; Statutory minimum recovery of $350,000 under § 10-7-2. | RECORDED | | Contract oral | 10 years | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) | Same 10-year period for oral and written contracts. | RECORDED | | Contract written | 10 years | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) | UCC 4-year SOL applies to sale-of-goods. | RECORDED | | Fraud | 10 years | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) | discovery rule; General 10-year catch-all SOL applies to fraud actions. | RECORDED | | Product liability | 10 years | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(b) | Underlying tort claims may also fall under 3-year SOL of § 9-1-14. | RECORDED | | Property damage | 10 years | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) | Trespass and waste also covered. | RECORDED |