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Statute of Limitations on Debt in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, most civil actions, including written and oral contracts and open accounts, must be filed within 10 years; promissory notes have 6 years.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Rhode Island at a glance

Written contracts
10 years
Oral contracts
10 years
Promissory notes
6 years
Runs from the due date, or the accelerated due date, of the note.
Open accounts
10 years
Falls under the general 10-year period for civil actions.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Rhode Island

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

Written contracts in Rhode Island: 10 years.

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

Oral contracts in Rhode Island: 10 years.

What is the statute of limitations on a promissory note in Rhode Island?

Promissory notes in Rhode Island: 6 years. Runs from the due date, or the accelerated due date, of the note.

What is the statute of limitations on an open account, such as a credit card, in Rhode Island?

Open accounts in Rhode Island: 10 years. Falls under the general 10-year period for civil actions.

Where do the Rhode Island statutes of limitations on debt come from?

The rules above come from R.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-13 and R.I. Gen. Laws 6A-3-118. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

The clock usually starts when the debt is breached, which for a loan or account is often the date of the missed payment or the last payment made. In some states a new payment or a written acknowledgment of the debt can restart or extend the period, so the starting date matters as much as the length.

A statute of limitations is generally a defense the person being sued has to raise. If a lawsuit on an old debt is filed and nobody responds, the court can enter a judgment even if the period had expired. Judgments have their own, separate enforcement periods.

Which state's deadline applies is not always obvious. Contracts may contain a choice of law clause, and some states have borrowing statutes that apply a shorter period from another state. Federal rules also bar debt collectors from suing or threatening to sue on time-barred consumer debt. For a specific dispute, check the statute and consider talking to an attorney.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.