Rhode Island Small Claims Form DC-SC-1

Form DC-SC-1 is the only complaint form self-represented filers should use in Rhode Island small claims court — and it has a notarization requirement that causes more rejected filings than any other single rule. Here is how to fill it out correctly the first time.

Where to Get the Form

Download Form DC-SC-1 from the Rhode Island Judiciary website at courts.ri.gov under the Forms section. The full title is "Small Claims Lawsuit – Complaint (Self-represented Litigant – With Instructions)," most recently revised January 2025.

Do not use Form DC-SC-1A, which is the attorney version. It does not include pro se instructions and follows a different filing pathway through the Tyler Technologies electronic filing system. If you accidentally file the attorney form as a self-represented litigant, the clerk may reject it.

Part 1: Statement and Reason for Claim

This section asks for the full legal names, physical street addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of every plaintiff and defendant. P.O. boxes are not accepted for defendant addresses — you need a street address where the defendant can be physically served.

You then state the exact dollar amount you are claiming (up to $5,000) and write a short narrative explaining what happened. Keep the narrative factual and specific: "Defendant received $2,400 deposit for kitchen renovation on March 15, 2026, performed no work, and has not returned the deposit despite written demand dated April 20, 2026." The court does not need a lengthy story — just the transaction, the amount, and why it is owed.

If you are suing a business, use the exact legal name from the Rhode Island Secretary of State business database, not the storefront name. An LLC operating as "Ace Home Repair" might be legally registered as "AHR Services LLC" — and if your complaint names the wrong entity, your judgment may be unenforceable.

Part 2: Military Service Affidavit

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. § 3931) and R.I. Gen. Laws § 30-7-10 govern the Military Service Affidavit. Check the appropriate box to report whether the defendant is in active military service, is not in military service, or whether you could not determine the defendant's status after diligent inquiry.

You can check a defendant's active duty status through the Department of Defense Manpower Data Center's SCRA website. If you cannot determine their status, check the "unable to determine" box — do not guess.

Part 3: Expert Witness Notice

If you plan to bring an expert witness to testify at the hearing (a contractor to assess workmanship, a mechanic to evaluate repair costs, etc.), disclose that here. Most small claims cases do not involve expert witnesses, but if yours does, this notice is mandatory.

Part 4: Statutory Appeal Waiver

This part requires you to acknowledge that by filing in small claims court, you permanently waive your right to appeal an adverse decision under R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-16-4(b). Read this carefully before signing. If your case is complex enough that you might want an appeal option, consider filing on the regular District Court civil docket instead.

Part 5: Signature and Notarization

This is the step that trips up the most filers. You must sign Form DC-SC-1 in the physical presence of a licensed notary public. You cannot sign at home and then have the notary stamp it later — the notary must witness the actual signing.

Banks, UPS Store locations, town clerk offices, and some libraries offer notary services, typically for $5–$15 per signature. Bring a valid photo ID.

Submitting an unnotarized complaint results in immediate rejection by the clerk. There is no grace period to get it notarized after the fact — you have to come back with a properly executed form.

Filing the Completed Form

Bring pages 2 through 5 of the notarized DC-SC-1 to the Small Claims Clerk's office in the correct district court division, along with $75.75 in filing fees. You can also mail it with a certified check and a self-addressed stamped envelope, or e-file through the Tyler Technologies portal at courts.ri.gov.

After the clerk accepts your complaint, they generate an official court summons. You use that summons to begin the service of process — the defendant must be formally served by a sheriff or licensed constable before anything else can happen.

The Filing a Small Claims Case in Rhode Island guide includes a section-by-section walkthrough of DC-SC-1 with common mistakes flagged at each step, plus a filing checklist so you do not leave anything out.

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