Up to $5,000 · 10 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In Rhode Island, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims (District Court), where you can sue for up to $5,000.
Your deadline: Rhode Island generally gives you 10 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $55 (About $55 plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-16-1; deadlines: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 9-1-13, 9-1-14. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Most civil/contract and property damage 10 yrs; personal injury 3 yrs.
Suing for something else in Rhode Island: Rhode Island unpaid loan · Rhode Island property damage · Rhode Island unpaid rent · Rhode Island contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: Connecticut ($5,000, 6 years) · Massachusetts ($7,000, 6 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026