Rhode Island Small Claims Court Filing Fee

One of the most common questions defendants have after being served with a small claims lawsuit in Rhode Island is whether it costs money to respond. Filing your Answer is completely free. No court fee, no processing fee, no technology surcharge. But other actions in the case do carry costs, and the fee structure is not always obvious from the court's website.

Defendant's Answer: $0

Filing Form DC-SC-2 — the defendant's Answer to a small claims lawsuit — costs nothing. You can file in person at the clerk's office, by mail, or electronically through Odyssey File & Serve, and there is no fee for any method.

Complaints and Counterclaims: $75.75

If you file a counterclaim against the plaintiff (Part 4 of Form DC-SC-2), the filing fee is $75.75. That total breaks down as:

• $55.00 base small claims fee (of which $20 is allocated to the mediation fund)
• $17.50 civil case processing fee paid to Tyler Technologies
• $3.25 technology surcharge

If you pay by credit card, there is an additional 3.25% processing fee on the total, bringing the effective cost to about $78.21.

The same $75.75 fee structure applies to initiating a new small claims lawsuit as a plaintiff.

Appeal Fees: $25 to $170.75

If the judge rules against you and you want to appeal to the Rhode Island Superior Court, the filing fee ranges from $25 to $170.75 depending on transcript costs and filing requirements. You may also be required to post an appeal bond. The appeal must be filed within 2 days of the judgment, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays — one of the tightest deadlines in any state.

Writ of Execution: $20

This fee is relevant if you win a counterclaim and the plaintiff does not pay. A Writ of Execution costs $20 and authorizes a sheriff or constable to pursue enforcement through bank account attachments or wage garnishment. It also applies against you if you lose and do not pay the judgment.

Fee Waivers for Financial Hardship

If you cannot afford the counterclaim filing fee or other court costs, you can file a Verified Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (IFP) alongside a financial affidavit detailing your income, assets, and monthly expenses. The affidavit must be signed under oath before a notary or court clerk.

While the motion is under review, the clerk holds your filing — your deadline rights are preserved. If the judge grants the waiver, both the filing fee and sheriff or constable service charges are waived.

Hidden Costs to Plan For

Beyond court fees, defendants commonly incur costs for:

• Postage for mailing copies of the Answer to the plaintiff (Certificate of Service requirement)
• Printing evidence documents (three physical copies of everything)
• Time away from work for the hearing

The Rhode Island Small Claims Response Guide covers the complete fee landscape alongside step-by-step instructions for the entire defendant journey.

See more Rhode Island guides →