How to Respond to Small Claims Court in Rhode Island

Getting served with a small claims lawsuit in Rhode Island triggers a 20-calendar-day clock. If you miss it, the plaintiff can apply for entry of default; the court then processes a default judgment for the amount claimed, plus pre-judgment interest at 12% per year under R.I.G.L. § 9-21-10 and allowable court costs. Filing your Answer on Form DC-SC-2 is the single most important step you can take.

What Is Form DC-SC-2?

Form DC-SC-2 is the official Rhode Island District Court Answer form for self-represented defendants in small claims cases. The full title is "Small Claims Lawsuit — Answer (Self-represented Litigant — With Instructions)," and it was last revised in October 2024. You can download it from the Rhode Island Judiciary website at courts.ri.gov.

There is also a shorter attorney version with no instructions — if you are representing yourself, make sure you have the self-represented version with all seven parts.

Walking Through Each Section

Part 1 asks you to copy the plaintiff's claim from the complaint. Transcribe the dollar amount and the basic allegation exactly.

Part 2 is your actual Answer. You have two choices: check "I disagree with what the plaintiff says" and write a brief explanation of why, or check "I admit I owe money" and request time to pay. If you disagree with only part of the amount — say you admit owing $800 of a $2,000 claim — note that in your explanation.

Part 3 asks whether you plan to use an expert witness at the hearing. If a contractor dispute is involved and you hired someone else to fix the work, you would disclose that repair professional here.

Part 4 is the Counterclaim section. If the plaintiff actually owes you money from the same transaction, you can claim up to $5,000 against them. Filing a counterclaim costs $75.75 and triggers the appeal waiver in Part 5 — read that section carefully before checking this box.

Part 5 warns you that asserting a counterclaim means you cannot appeal the judge's decision on that counterclaim to Superior Court. This waiver is permanent and statutory.

Part 6 is your signature, under penalty of perjury.

Part 7 is the Certificate of Service. After you file the Answer with the court, you must also mail or hand-deliver a copy to the plaintiff (or their attorney). Part 7 is where you record how and when you sent that copy.

How to File Your Answer

You have three options:

• In person at the District Court clerk's office in the division listed on your summons. The clerk must receive it before the office closes on the deadline date, typically 3:30 PM.
• By mail to the same clerk's office. The document is effective when the clerk physically receives it, not when you drop it in the mailbox.
• Electronically through the Odyssey File & Serve system. E-filing is optional for self-represented litigants (attorneys must e-file). Electronic submissions completed before 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on the due date are deemed submitted that day, but a rejected filing does not — you would need to correct and resubmit within the cure period.

Filing the Answer itself costs nothing. There is no fee for a defendant to respond to a small claims lawsuit in Rhode Island.

What Happens After You File

Once you file a timely Answer and the plaintiff is self-represented, the District Court clerk automatically refers the case to the Center for Mediation and Collaboration of Rhode Island (CMCRI) for free mediation. If mediation does not resolve the dispute, the clerk schedules a trial hearing.

If you need a structured walkthrough of the entire defendant journey — from reading the papers through the hearing and post-decision options — the Rhode Island Small Claims Response Guide covers each step with deadline worksheets and evidence checklists built for self-represented defendants.

See more Rhode Island guides →