The periods in Rhode Island
| Claim | Period | Statute | From March 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written contract | 10 years | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) | March 15, 2036 |
| Oral contract | 10 years | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) | March 15, 2036 |
| Property damage | 10 years | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) | March 15, 2036 |
In Rhode Island, the time limit to sue is 10 years for a written contract, 10 years for an oral contract and 10 years for damage to property. Each period runs from the date the claim arises, which statutes usually call the date the cause of action accrues; in the ordinary case that is the day of the breach or the damage.
A written contract, an oral contract and damage to property: R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) reads “Except as otherwise specially provided, all civil actions shall be commenced within ten (10) years next after the cause of action shall accrue, and not after.”
Rhode Island gives written and oral contracts the same 10 years, so whether the deal was put on paper does not change the deadline here.
Worked dates for a claim that arose on March 15, 2026: a written contract reaches its 10 years on March 15, 2036, an oral contract reaches its 10 years on March 15, 2036 and damage to property reaches its 10 years on March 15, 2036. Tolling rules (for example while a defendant is out of state, or for a minor) can extend a period, and some claims run from when the harm was discovered; the dates show the plain count only.
Among the 34 jurisdictions verified here, 0 allow longer than 10 years on a written contract and 28 allow less (median 6 years). For property damage, 32 of 33 give less than Rhode Island's 10 years (median 3 years). No other verified state has the same combination of periods.
Neighbouring states with verified periods (written / oral / property): Massachusetts 6 / 6 / 3. Which state's period applies to a dispute that crosses a border is itself a legal question.
Ten years is Rhode Island's general period "except as otherwise specially provided"; injuries to the person have their own shorter period, which this page does not cover.
The time limit is the same whichever court hears the case. A claim of $5,000 or less can be filed in Rhode Island small claims (small claims limit), and it must still be filed inside the period above.
Sources: Rhode Island General Assembly, R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13 · last checked October 21, 2026.
Before the deadline
A limitation period is a cut-off for filing, not a measure of whether a claim is good. The guide on how limitation periods work explains accrual, tolling and the difference between written and oral contracts, and the small claims filing guide covers the next step.
Questions
What is the statute of limitations for breach of contract in Rhode Island?
10 years for a written contract (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a)) and 10 years for an oral one (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a)).
How long do I have to sue for property damage in Rhode Island?
10 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a).
When does the clock start?
When the cause of action accrues, usually the date of the breach or the damage. A claim that arose on March 15, 2026 reaches the Rhode Island periods on March 15, 2036 (a written contract), March 15, 2036 (an oral contract) and March 15, 2036 (damage to property).