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H 7644Civil Procedure

Courts and Civil Procedure - Procedure Generally - Fees

This bill raises court filing fees and increases the portion of those fees allocated to fund Rhode Island Legal Services.

Signed into law69 Yea0 Nay6 Not voting
Population
Affected
25
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 11, 2026Committee House Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation increases the filing fees for various legal actions within the Rhode Island District, Superior, and Family courts. Specifically, it raises the costs to enter small claims, civil actions, and petitions, as well as fees for writs of execution and citations. The increases generally range between $10 and $20 per filing. Furthermore, the bill mandates that a larger portion of these filing fees—specifically an increase from $5 or $10 up to $20—be directed to fund Rhode Island Legal Services, an organization that provides legal assistance to those who cannot afford it.

For younger readers

When people have a big disagreement or need to solve a problem using the court, they have to pay a fee to start the process. This bill raises the price of those fees, so it will cost a little more money to go to court. For example, if someone needs to collect money they are owed, the fee to file the paperwork is going up. The bill also says that more of this money will be given to a group called Legal Services, which helps people get a lawyer even if they don't have much money.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
LitigantsSmall business ownersLandlordsRhode Island Legal ServicesAttorneys
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Significantly increases funding for Rhode Island Legal Services, ensuring that low-income residents have greater access to legal representation in civil matters such as housing and family law.
  • Strengthens the social safety net by utilizing court fees to subsidize essential legal aid, helping to level the playing field between wealthy litigants and the disadvantaged.
  • Ensures that the funding mechanism for legal aid keeps pace with economic changes, preventing the erosion of services for vulnerable community members.
  • Increases the financial barrier to entry for the court system, which is a regressive cost that may disproportionately discourage low-income individuals from filing valid small claims or civil actions.
  • Relies on user fees rather than progressive taxation to fund essential public services like legal aid, making the funding stream dependent on the volume of lawsuits rather than guaranteed state support.
  • The increased cost for writs of execution could ultimately be passed down to low-income debtors during collection proceedings, adding to their financial burden.
For Conservatives
  • Adheres to the user-fee principle by ensuring that the specific individuals and entities utilizing the court system bear the cost of its operations and associated services, rather than the general taxpayer.
  • Avoids raising broad-based income or sales taxes to fund Rhode Island Legal Services by shifting the funding burden directly to litigants.
  • Updates fee structures to reflect current economic realities, ensuring the judiciary remains fiscally solvent without requiring additional general revenue appropriations.
  • Increases the cost of doing business for small business owners and landlords who frequently utilize the courts to enforce contracts, collect debts, or manage property disputes.
  • Directs increased mandatory funding to Rhode Island Legal Services, an organization that may pursue litigation or social advocacy that conflicts with conservative policy goals.
  • Represents another expansion of government fees, adding to the cumulative financial burden of living and operating a business in the state.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 14 additions · 11 deletions

SECTION 1. Sections 9-29-1, 9-29-18 and 9-29-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-29 entitled "Fees" are hereby amended to read as follows: 9-29-1. District court fees.

(a) Every district court shall be allowed the following fees, in full, to be taxed in the bill of costs in every civil action:

(1) For the entry of every small claim $55.00 75.00.

(2) For the entry of every other action $80.00 100.00.

(3) For every writ of execution $20.00 40.00.

(b) In addition to the fees set forth herein, the district court shall apply a technology surcharge assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11.

(c) Provided, that five dollars ($5.00) twenty dollars ($20.00) of the fee for the entry of every action in subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(2) or writ in subdivision (a)(3) shall be forwarded to Rhode Island Legal Services. 9-29-18. Superior court fees.

(a) The superior court shall be allowed the following fees in full to be taxed in the bill of costs in every civil action:

(1) For entry of every civil action or petition $160.00 180.00.

(2) For every writ of execution $50.00 70.00.

(3) For the issuance of every citation $25.00 40.00.

(b) In addition to the fees set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the superior court shall apply a technology surcharge on all filing fees assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11.

(c) Provided, that ten dollars ($10.00) twenty dollars ($20.00) of the fee for the entry of every civil action or petition shall be forwarded to Rhode Island Legal Services. 9-29-19. Family court fees.

(a) The family court shall be allowed the following fees in full to be taxed in the bill of costs in every domestic relations or other civil proceeding:

(1) For the entry of every petition, complaint, or action $120.00 130.00.

(2) For every writ of execution $40.00 50.00.

(b) In addition to the fees as set forth herein, the family court shall apply a technology surcharge fee assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11.

(c) Provided, ten dollars ($10.00) twenty dollars ($20.00) of the fee for the entry of every petition, complaint or action shall be forwarded to Rhode Island Legal Services.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.