## How the limitation period applies

The controlling primary authority for US-RI legal malpractice SOL (9-1-14.3) is **9-1-14.3**.

> **9-1-14.3.** an action for legal malpractice shall be commenced within three (3) years of the occurrence of the incident which gave rise to the action;

## Use the calculator

DocketMath's statute-of-limitations tool can model these timelines once you identify the controlling claim type and accrual date. Use the source panel for the verified primary-source citations.

[Open the Statute of Limitations calculator](/tools/statute-of-limitations)

## Sources

- [9-1-14.3 — 9-1-14.3](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE9/9-1/9-1-14.3.HTM)

All sources are official primary law published by `webserver.rilegislature.gov`.

**Corroboration method:** government_primary_source_direct_fetch.


In Rhode Island, legal malpractice claims are subject to a statute of limitations—a deadline for filing a lawsuit. If you miss the deadline, the other s...

Statute of Limitations for Legal Malpractice in Rhode Island

9-1-13. Limitation of actions generally — Product liability. (a) 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.

(b) Actions for injuries to the person shall be commenced and sued within three (3) years next after the cause of action shall accrue, and not after, except as provided for otherwise in subsection (c) herein. Notwithstanding anything herein, any claim based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child shall be governed by § 9-1-51.

(1) An action for breach of any contract for sale must be commenced within four (4) years after the cause of action has accrued. By the original agreement the parties may reduce the period of limitation to not less than one year but may not extend it. (2) A cause of action accrues when the breach occurs, regardless of the aggrieved party's lack of knowledge of the breach. A breach of warranty occurs when tender of delivery is made, except that where a warranty explicitly extends to future performance of the goods and discovery of the breach must await the time of such performance the cause of action accrues when the breach is or should have been discovered.

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.

There shall be no statute of limitations for the following offenses: treason against the state; any homicide, arson, first-degree arson, second-degree arson, third-degree arson, burglary, counterfeiting, forgery, robbery, rape, first-degree sexual assault, first-degree child molestation sexual assault, second-degree child molestation sexual assault, bigamy; manufacturing, selling, distribution, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or distribute, a controlled substance under the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, chapter 28 of title 21; or any other offense for which the maximum penalty provided is life imprisonment.

§ 12-12-17. Statute of limitations. (a) There shall be no statute of limitations for the following offenses: treason against the state; any homicide, arson, first-degree arson, second-degree arson, third-degree arson, burglary, counterfeiting, forgery, robbery, rape, first-degree sexual assault, first-degree child molestation sexual assault, second-degree child molestation sexual assault, bigamy; manufacturing, selling, distribution, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or distribute, a controlled substance under the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, chapter 28 of title 21; or any other offense for which the maximum penalty provided is life imprisonment. (b) The statute of limitations for the following offenses shall be ten (10) years: larceny under § 11-41-2 (receiving stolen goods), § 11-41-3 (embezzlement and fraudulent conversion), § 11-41-4 (obtaining property by false pretenses or personation), § 11-41-11 (embezzlement by bank officer or employee), § 11-41-12 (fraudulent conversion by agent or factor), and § 11-41-13 (obtaining signature by false pretenses), or any larceny that is punishable as a felony; any violation of chapter 7 of title 11 (bribery); any violation of § 11-18-1 (giving false document to agent, employee, or public official); perjury; any violation of chapter 42 of title 11 (threats and extortion); any violation of chapter 15 of title 7 (racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations); any violation of chapter 57 of title 11 (racketeer violence); any violation of chapter 36 of title 6 (antitrust law); any violation of § 11-68-2 (exploitation of an elder); any violation of § 11-41-11.1 (unlawful appropriation); any violation of § 11-18-6 (false financial statement to obtain loan or credit); any violation of § 19-9-28 (false statement to obtain a loan); any violation of § 19-9-29 (bank fraud); or any violation of § 11-18-34 (residential mortgage fraud). (c) The statute of limitations for any other criminal offense shall be three (3) years, unless a longer statute of limitations is otherwise provided for in the general laws.

Except as provided in subsection (e), an action to enforce the obligation of a party to pay a note payable at a definite time must be commenced within six years after the due date or dates stated in the note or, if a due date is accelerated, within six years after the accelerated due date.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (e), an action to enforce the obligation of a party to pay a note payable at a definite time must be commenced within six years after the due date or dates stated in the note or, if a due date is accelerated, within six years after the accelerated due date

9-1-17. Limitation of actions on contracts or liabilities under seal and on judgments. The following actions shall be commenced and sued within twenty (20) years next after the cause of action shall accrue and not after: actions on contracts or liabilities under seal; and actions on judgments or decrees of any court of record of the United States, or of any state.

(a) if the cause of action accrues on or after May 14, 1947-may be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrued, and every such action shall be forever barred unless commenced within two years after the cause of action accrued, except that a cause of action arising out of a willful violation may be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrued;

§ 9-1-14. Limitation of actions for words spoken or personal injuries. (a) Actions for words spoken shall be commenced and sued within one year next after the words spoken, and not after. (b) Actions for injuries to the person shall be commenced and sued within three (3) years next after the cause of action shall accrue, and not after, except as provided for otherwise in subsection (c) herein. Notwithstanding anything herein, any claim based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child shall be governed by § 9-1-51. (c) As to an action for personal injuries wherein an injured party is entitled to proceed against an insurer pursuant to § 27-7-2, where an action is otherwise properly filed against an insured within the time limitations provided for by this section, and process against the insured tortfeasor has been returned “non est inventus” and filed with the court, then the statutory limitation for filing an action under § 27-7-2 directly against an insurer shall be extended an additional one hundred twenty (120) days after the expiration of the time limitation provided for in subsection (b) herein.

Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 9-1-13 and 9-1-14, an action for legal malpractice shall be commenced within three (3) years of the occurrence of the incident which gave rise to the action; provided, however, that: (1) One who is under disability by reason of age, mental incompetence, or otherwise, and on whose behalf no action is brought within the period of three (3) years from the time of the occurrence of the incident, shall bring the action within three (3) years from the removal of the disability. (2) In respect to those injuries due to acts of legal malpractice which could not in the exercise of reasonable diligence be discoverable at the time of the occurrence of the incident which gave rise to the action, suit shall be commenced within three (3) years of the time that the act or acts of legal malpractice should, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, have been discovered.

Actions for injuries to the person shall be commenced and sued within three (3) years next after the cause of action shall accrue, and not after, except as provided for otherwise in subsection (c) herein.

Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 9-1-13 and 9-1-14, an action for medical, veterinarian, accounting, or insurance or real estate agent or broker malpractice shall be commenced within three (3) years from the time of the occurrence of the incident that gave rise to the action; provided, however, that: (1) One who is under disability by reason of age and on whose behalf no action is brought within the period of three (3) years from the time of the occurrence of the incident shall bring the action at any time up to twenty-one (21) years of age. (2) One who is under disability by reason of mental incompetence, or otherwise, and on whose behalf no action is brought within the period of three (3) years from the time of the occurrence of the incident, shall bring the action within three (3) years from the removal of the disability.

§ 9-1-14.1. Limitation on malpractice actions.
Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 9-1-13 and 9-1-14, an action for medical, veterinarian, accounting, or insurance or real estate agent or broker malpractice shall be commenced within three (3) years from the time of the occurrence of the incident that gave rise to the action; provided, however, that:
(1) One who is under disability by reason of age and on whose behalf no action is brought within the period of three (3) years from the time of the occurrence of the incident shall bring the action at any time up to twenty-one (21) years of age.
(2) One who is under disability by reason of mental incompetence, or otherwise, and on whose behalf no action is brought within the period of three (3) years from the time of the occurrence of the incident, shall bring the action within three (3) years from the removal of the disability.
(3) In respect to those injuries or damages due to acts of medical, veterinarian, accounting, or insurance or real estate agent or broker malpractice that could not in the exercise of reasonable diligence be discoverable at the time of the occurrence of the incident that gave rise to the action, suit shall be commenced within three (3) years of the time that the act or acts of the malpractice should, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, have been discovered.

§ 9-1-14.1. Limitation on malpractice actions. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 9-1-13 and 9-1-14, an action for medical, veterinarian, accounting, or insurance or real estate agent or broker malpractice shall be commenced within three (3) years from the time of the occurrence of the incident that gave rise to the action; provided, however, that: (1) One who is under disability by reason of age and on whose behalf no action is brought within the period of three (3) years from the time of the occurrence of the incident shall bring the action at any time up to twenty-one (21) years of age. (2) One who is under disability by reason of mental incompetence, or otherwise, and on whose behalf no action is brought within the period of three (3) years from the time of the occurrence of the incident, shall bring the action within three (3) years from the removal of the disability. (3) In respect to those injuries or damages due to acts of medical, veterinarian, accounting, or insurance or real estate agent or broker malpractice that could not in the exercise of reasonable diligence be discoverable at the time of the occurrence of the incident that gave rise to the action, suit shall be commenced within three (3) years of the time that the act or acts of the malpractice should, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, have been discovered.

§ 9-1-14. Limitation of actions for words spoken or personal injuries. (a) Actions for words spoken shall be commenced and sued within one year next after the words spoken, and not after. (b) Actions for injuries to the person shall be commenced and sued within three (3) years next after the cause of action shall accrue, and not after, except as provided for otherwise in subsection (c) herein. Notwithstanding anything herein, any claim based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child shall be governed by § 9-1-51. (c) As to an action for personal injuries wherein an injured party is entitled to proceed against an insurer pursuant to § 27-7-2, where an action is otherwise properly filed against an insured within the time limitations provided for by this section, and process against the insured tortfeasor has been returned "non est inventus" and filed with the court, then the statutory limitation for filing an action under § 27-7-2 directly against an insurer shall be extended an additional one hundred twenty (120) days after the expiration of the time limitation provided for in subsection (b) herein.

Actions for injuries to the person shall be commenced and sued within three (3) years next after the cause of action shall accrue, and not after, except as provided for otherwise in subsection (c) herein. Notwithstanding anything herein, any claim based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child shall be governed by § 9-1-51. (c) As to an action for personal injuries wherein an injured party is entitled to proceed against an insurer pursuant to § 27-7-2, where an action is otherwise properly filed against an insured within the time limitations provided for by this section, and process against the insured tortfeasor has been returned “non estinventus” and filed with the court, then the statutory limitation for filing an action under § 27-7-2 directly against an insurer shall be extended an additional one hundred twenty (120) days after the expiration of the time limitation provided for in subsection (b) herein.

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. (b) [Ruled unconstitutional, see case notes] Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, an action for the recovery of damages for personal injury, death, or damage to real or personal property, including any action based upon implied warranties arising out of an alleged design, inspection, listing, or manufacturing defect, or any other alleged defect of whatsoever kind or nature in a product, or arising out of any alleged failure to warn regarding a product, or arising out of any alleged failure to properly instruct in the use of a product, shall be commenced within ten (10) years after the date the product was first purchased for use or consumption.

The jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters conferred on the district courts by the provisions of titles 13, 24, and 70 of the Revised Statutes for the protection of all persons in the United States in their civil rights, and for their vindication, shall be exercised and enforced in conformity with the laws of the United States, so far as such laws are suitable to carry the same into effect; but in all cases where they are not adapted to the object, or are deficient in the provisions necessary to furnish suitable remedies and punish offenses against law, the common law, as modified and changed by the constitution and statutes of the State wherein the court having jurisdiction of such civil or criminal cause is held, so far as the same is not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States, shall be extended to and govern the said courts in the trial and disposition of the cause.

Actions for words spoken shall be commenced and sued within one year next after the words spoken, and not after.

(a) ... any person claiming to be aggrieved by an alleged unlawful employment practice may make, sign, and file with the commission a verified complaint in writing ... the unlawful employment practices have occurred, have terminated, or have been applied to affect adversely the person aggrieved, whichever is later, within one year

9-1-29. Constructors of improvements to real property — Immunity from liability. No action (including arbitration proceedings) in tort to recover damages shall be brought against any architect or professional engineer who designed, planned, or supervised to any extent the construction of improvements to real property, or against any contractor or subcontractor who constructed the improvements to real property, or material suppliers who furnished materials for the construction of the improvements, on account of any deficiency in the design, planning, supervision, or observation of construction or construction of any such improvements or in the materials furnished for the improvements: (1) For injury to property, real or personal, arising out of any such deficiency; (2) For injury to the person or for wrongful death arising out of any such deficiency; or (3) For contribution or indemnity for damages sustained on account of any injury mentioned in subdivisions (1) and (2) hereof more than ten (10) years after substantial completion of such an improvement

§ 6A-2-725. Statute of limitations — Contracts for sale — Breach of warranty.
(1) An action for breach of any contract for sale must be commenced within four (4) years after the cause of action has accrued. By the original agreement the parties may reduce the period of limitation to not less than one year but may not extend it.
(2) A cause of action accrues when the breach occurs, regardless of the aggrieved party's lack of knowledge of the breach. A breach of warranty occurs when tender of delivery is made, except that where a warranty explicitly extends to future performance of the goods and discovery of the breach must await the time of such performance the cause of action accrues when the breach is or should have been discovered.
(3) Where an action commenced within the time limited by subsection (1) is so terminated as to leave available a remedy by another action for the same breach such other action may be commenced after the expiration of the time limited and within six (6) months after the termination of the first action unless the termination resulted from voluntary discontinuance or from dismissal for failure or neglect to prosecute.
(4) This section does not alter the law on tolling of the statute of limitations nor does it apply to causes of action which have accrued before January 2, 1962.

§ 28-50-4. Relief and damages. (a) A person who alleges a violation of this chapter may bring a civil action for appropriate injunctive relief, or treble damages, or both within three (3) years after the occurrence of the alleged violation of this chapter.

(c) Except as otherwise provided, every action brought pursuant to this chapter shall be commenced within three (3) years after the death of the person. With respect to any death caused by any wrongful act, neglect, or default that is not known at the time of death, the action shall be commenced within three (3) years of the time that the wrongful act, neglect, or default is discovered or, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have been discovered. Whenever any person or corporation is found liable under §§ 10-7-1 — 10-7-4 the person or corporation shall be liable in damages in the sum of not less than three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000).

If any person, liable to an action by another, shall fraudulently, by actual misrepresentation, conceal from him or her the existence of the cause of action, the cause of action shall be deemed to accrue against the person so liable at the time when the person entitled to sue thereon shall first discover its existence.

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b), actions for injuries to the person must be commenced within three (3) years after the cause of action accrues. A 120-day extension applies under § 9-1-14(c) where a § 27-7-2 direct-action against an insurer follows a non est inventus return on the insured tortfeasor. Child sexual-abuse claims are excluded and governed by § 9-1-51. This is the controlling SOL for general personal-injury and negligence actions in Rhode Island.

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.3, an action for legal malpractice must be commenced within three years of the occurrence of the incident giving rise to the action. Disability tolling applies under (1) — disabled persons have 3 years from removal of disability. Discovery rule applies under (2) — for injuries not reasonably discoverable at occurrence, suit must commence within 3 years of when the malpractice should reasonably have been discovered. Notwithstanding clause supersedes both § 9-1-13 (10

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a), all civil actions (except as otherwise specially provided) must be commenced within ten years after the cause of action accrues. R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-5.2 (DTPA private right of action) contains no internal SOL provision; the 10-year general catch-all in § 9-1-13(a) controls DTPA private actions in Rhode Island.

A federal civil-rights claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 arising in Rhode Island uses Rhode Island's general personal-injury limitations period. Under 42 U.S.C. § 1988(a), federal civil-rights claims borrow forum-state law when federal law is deficient; Rhode Island's R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) provides a three-year period for actions for injuries to the person.

Rhode Island consumer fraud / deceptive trade practices SOL: 10 years from accrual under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) (the general civil catch-all). The DTPA private right of action in R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-5.2 contains no internal SOL, so the 10-year general catch-all governs DTPA private actions. The discovery rule under § 9-1-20 applies for fraudulently concealed causes of action.

Rhode Island consumer fraud / deceptive trade practices SOL: 10 years from accrual under the general civil catch-all R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a). The DTPA private right of action (R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-5.2) contains no internal SOL provision, so the 10-year general catch-all controls. The discovery rule applies under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-20 for fraudulently concealed causes of action.

Civil trespass to real property in Rhode Island falls under the general 10-year SOL in § 9-1-13(a) — 'all civil actions not otherwise limited' — because RI has no specific trespass tort SOL.

Statute of limitations for personal injury in US-RI is 3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b).

Statute of limitations for product liability in US-RI is 3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b).

Statute of limitations for premises liability in US-RI is 3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b).

Statute of limitations for breach written contract in US-RI is 10 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a).

Statute of limitations for breach oral contract in US-RI is 10 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a).

Statute of limitations for ucc sale of goods in US-RI is 4 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 6A-2-725.

Statute of limitations for fraud in US-RI is 10 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a).

Statute of limitations for libel in US-RI is 3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b).

Statute of limitations for slander in US-RI is 1 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(a).

Statute of limitations for property damage in US-RI is 10 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a).

Statute of limitations for trespass in US-RI is 10 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a).

Statute of limitations for consumer fraud deceptive trade practices in US-RI is 10 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a).

Statute of limitations for adult sexual assault rape civil in US-RI is 3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b).

Statute of limitations for section 1983 civil rights claims in US-RI is 3 years under 42 U.S.C. § 1988(a) (borrowing rule) + R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) (Rhode Island personal-injury SOL).

Statute of limitations for wrongful death in US-RI is 3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-7-2.

Statute of limitations for medical malpractice in US-RI is 3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.1.

Statute of limitations for legal malpractice in US-RI is 3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.3.

Statute of limitations for rape sexual assault adult victim in rhode island is 3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b).

adult_sexual_assault_rape_civil SOL in US-RI: 3 years

A premises-liability slip-and-fall claim is an action for injuries to the person; under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b), actions for injuries to the person must be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues.

Rhode Island written libel claims are treated as injuries to the person and must be brought within 3 years of accrual under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b).

Rhode Island civil actions, except as otherwise specially provided, must be commenced within 10 years after the cause of action accrues under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a).

Actions for injuries to the person shall be commenced and sued within three (3) years next after the cause of action shall accrue, and not after.

If any person against whom there is or shall be cause for any action, as enumerated in this chapter, in favor of a resident of the state, shall at the time the cause accrues be outside the limits of the state, or being within the state at the time the cause accrues shall go out of the state before the action is barred by the provisions of this chapter, and does not have or leave property or estate in the state that can be attached by process of law, then the person entitled to the action may commence the action, within the time before limited, after the person has returned into the state in such a manner that an action may, with reasonable diligence, be commenced against him or her by the person entitled to the action; provided, however, that no action shall be brought by any person upon a cause of action accruing outside this state which was barred by limitation or otherwise in the state, territory, or country in which the cause of action arose while he or she resided in the state.

If any person at the time any such cause of action shall accrue to him or her shall be under the age of eighteen (18) years, or of unsound mind, or beyond the limits of the United States, the person may bring the cause of action, within the time limited under this chapter, after the impediment is removed.

How the limitation period applies

Rhode Island — Statute of Limitations

Use the calculator

Sources