Rhode Island Laws

Are Autopsy Reports Public in Rhode Island? (2026)

Rhode Island autopsy reports are restricted, not fully public. Learn who can request a copy from the State Medical Examiner, the $40 fee, and how to apply.

Bankruptcy in Rhode Island (2026): Exemptions & Means Test

Rhode Island lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead protects up to $500,000 of equity, the vehicle exemption is $12,000, plus the means test.

Common Law Marriage in Rhode Island: Is It Recognized? (2026)

Rhode Island still recognizes new common law marriages under Sardonis v. Sardonis (1970). Learn the two-part test, how to prove it, the 7-year myth, and how a CLM ends.

Does Rhode Island Have an Age Verification Law? (2026)

Rhode Island has no enacted adult-content age-verification law, and no bill targeting adult content specifically has even been introduced. What exists instead.

How Long Is a Life Sentence in Rhode Island? (2026 Guide)

Complete guide to life sentences in Rhode Island: parole eligibility, LWOP rules, notable cases, recent legislative changes, and sentencing statutes. Updated March 2026.

How to Find a Cause of Death in Rhode Island (2026)

How to find someone's cause of death in Rhode Island: it is on the death certificate, restricted to eligible requesters for 50 years, then public. See routes.

How to Get a Rhode Island Death Certificate (2026)

Get a Rhode Island death certificate from the RI Department of Health Center for Vital Records. Learn the fee, who is eligible, processing time, and how to order copies.

Medical Malpractice Laws in Rhode Island (2026): Deadlines & Caps

Rhode Island medical malpractice law: a 3-year deadline under RIGL 9-1-14.1, no statutory damage cap, and no certificate of merit required.

Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act (APRA): How to Request Records

Rhode Island APRA requests explained: the 10 business day deadline and deemed denial rule, the 15 cent per page and 15 dollar per hour fee caps, and appeals.

Rhode Island Adoption Records: Original Birth Certificate Access Since 2012

Rhode Island has allowed adult adoptees direct access to their original birth certificate since July 1, 2012. What the statute covers and what to confirm.

Rhode Island AI Laws and Regulation (2026)

Guide to Rhode Island AI laws, regulation, and legislation covering deepfakes, employment AI, healthcare AI, and more.

Rhode Island AI Meeting Recording Laws (2026)

Learn how Rhode Island consent laws apply to AI meeting recorders. One-party consent rules, penalties, and compliance.

Rhode Island Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

Learn how Rhode Island alimony works under R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-16: the rehabilitative purpose, court factors, no-formula discretion, modification rules, and tax treatment.

Rhode Island At-Will Employment Laws: Exceptions and Your Rights

Rhode Island is an at-will state with no common-law exceptions. Learn about statutory protections, right-to-work status, and your rights if fired.

Rhode Island Audio Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Rules and Penalties (2026)

Learn Rhode Island audio recording laws under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-35-21. One-party consent for calls and conversations. Felony penalties up to 5 years. Civil damages.

Rhode Island Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)

Rhode Island background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.

Rhode Island Biometric Privacy Laws: Collection, Consent & Penalties (2026)

Rhode Island biometric privacy laws under the RIDTPPA require opt-in consent for fingerprint and biometric data collection, with AG-enforced fines of $100 to $500 for each unlawful disclosure.

Rhode Island Car Accident Laws: Fault, Insurance, and Your Claim

Rhode Island is an at-fault state with pure comparative negligence. Minimum limits are 25/50/25, UM/UIM is required by default, and the PI deadline is 3 years.

Rhode Island Car Seat Laws: Requirements and Guidelines

Learn about Rhode Island's car seat laws: age and weight requirements, rear-facing rules, booster seat guidelines, and penalties for violations.

Rhode Island Child Custody Laws: Best Interests, Pettinato Factors, and Your Rights

Rhode Island custody is decided by the Pettinato 8-factor best-interests test. No joint-custody presumption. Learn the rules, modification standard, and relocation process.

Rhode Island Child Support Laws (2026): Guidelines & Calculator

Rhode Island uses income shares to calculate child support. Learn how guidelines work, how to modify orders, and what enforcement actions apply under 2026 law.

Rhode Island Court Records: Public Portal Search and Expungement vs. Sealing

How to search Rhode Island court records on the free Judiciary Public Portal, what's public, and the difference between Rhode Island expungement and sealing.

Rhode Island Dashcam Laws: Mounting, Audio, and Evidence Rules (2026)

Learn Rhode Island dashcam laws. Legal with no specific restrictions. Audio follows one-party consent. Using dashcam footage as evidence in court and for insurance claims.

Rhode Island Data Breach Notification Laws: Reporting Rules & Timelines (2026)

Rhode Island requires data breach notification within 45 days (30 for government). Learn about the 128-bit encryption safe harbor, AG reporting at 500+, and per-record penalties.

Rhode Island Data Privacy Laws: RIDTPPA Consumer Rights Guide (2026)

Guide to Rhode Island data privacy laws and the RIDTPPA effective January 1, 2026. Consumer rights, business obligations, penalties, and breach rules.

Rhode Island Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get One

Rhode Island is a closed-record state: only family, legal representatives, or someone with a direct and tangible interest can get a certified death certificate until records turn 50.

Rhode Island Debt Collection Laws: The Medical Debt Garnishment Ban and the 10-Year SOL

Rhode Island now bans wage garnishment for medical debt judgments (P.L. 2025 ch. 300). Plus the 10-year debt SOL, bank exemptions, and the one-hour repo rule.

Rhode Island Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026)

Rhode Island outlaws AI deepfakes in two areas: nonconsensual intimate images under R.I. Gen. Laws s. 11-64-3 (signed July 2, 2025) and election deepfakes under ch. 17-30. No voice-cloning statute yet.

Rhode Island Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)

Rhode Island defamation laws: a one-year slander deadline, a three-year libel deadline (R.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-14), and the anti-SLAPP statute (9-33-1).

Rhode Island Divorce Laws (2026): Grounds, Residency, and Process

Rhode Island divorce laws explained: no-fault irreconcilable differences, 1-year residency, 90-day post-decision wait, equitable distribution, and filing steps.

Rhode Island Dog Bite Laws: Liability and Victim Rights

Learn Rhode Island dog bite laws, strict liability under R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-16, the one-bite rule, vicious dog rules, and the 3-year filing deadline.

Rhode Island Drone Laws: Privacy, Trespass, and Voyeurism Rules

Rhode Island has no drone-specific privacy law. Drone spying is charged as video voyeurism or trespass. See warrant, preemption, and shoot-down rules.

Rhode Island DUI Laws: Penalties & BAC Limit (2026)

Rhode Island DUI laws under 31-27-2: the 0.08% BAC limit, first-offense fines and suspension, the interlock rule, refusal penalties, and the 10-year look-back.

Rhode Island E-Scooter Laws: Sidewalk, Helmet & Age Rules (2026)

Rhode Island has no statutory category for a stand-up e-scooter. Its bicycle and motor scooter definitions don't fit one, though a general helmet rule covers riders 15 and under.

Rhode Island Emancipation Laws: How Minors Become Emancipated in Rhode Island (2026)

Rhode Island Employee Monitoring Laws: Workplace Surveillance and Social Media (2026)

Rhode Island employee monitoring laws explained: the social media password law under Chapter 28-56, the strict GPS tracking statute's business exception, and consent rules.

Rhode Island Expungement Laws: First Offender, Felony & 2022 Cannabis Rules

Rhode Island expungement under R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3 covers first-offense misdemeanors (5-year wait), first-offense non-violent felonies (10-year wait), multiple misdemeanors, and automatic cannabis record expungement enacted in 2022.

Rhode Island Final Paycheck Laws: The 1-Year PTO-Payout Mandate

Rhode Island requires final wages by the next payday, 24 hours after a liquidation, merger, or relocation, and a statutory PTO payout after one year of service.

Rhode Island GPS Tracking Laws: Is It Legal to Put a Tracker on a Car? (2026)

Rhode Island makes it a misdemeanor to put a GPS tracker on a car without consent of the driver and every passenger. Penalties, exceptions, and how to sue.

Rhode Island Grandparents' Rights: Visitation and Custody Laws

Rhode Island grandparent visitation law: three overlapping statutes, the clear-and-convincing standard, and why the U.S. Supreme Court cited RI as a model.

Rhode Island Hit and Run Laws: Penalties and What to Do

Understand Rhode Island's hit and run laws: legal obligations after an accident, penalties for leaving the scene, and steps to protect your rights.

Rhode Island Identity Theft Laws: Identity Fraud Penalties

Rhode Island identity fraud penalties under Section 11-49.1-4 rise with each repeat offense. See the tiers, victim rights, and the 2026 breach-law bill.

Rhode Island Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026): Deposits, Notice, and Tenant Rights

Rhode Island caps security deposits at 1 month's rent and requires return within 20 days. Learn entry notice rules, repair-and-deduct rights, and more.

Rhode Island Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Renter and Landlord Rights (2026)

Learn Rhode Island landlord-tenant recording laws. Tenants can record under one-party consent. Landlord camera rules, security deposit evidence, and hidden camera protections.

Rhode Island Laws on Recording Police: First Circuit Protections (2026)

Learn your rights to record police in Rhode Island. First Circuit affirms First Amendment right to film officers. Body camera policies, legal remedies, and safe recording tips.

Rhode Island Lemon Law (2026): How to Qualify & Get a Refund

Rhode Island's lemon law covers new vehicles under 10,000 lbs. Learn the 4-repair-attempt threshold, 30-day out-of-service rule, and how to claim your refund or replacement.

Rhode Island Marriage & Divorce Records: How to Get a Copy (2026)

Rhode Island has no counties, so every divorce sits with the statewide Family Court. Learn where marriage certificates come from, the fees, and what is public.

Rhode Island Medical Recording Laws: Patient Rights and HIPAA Rules (2026)

Learn Rhode Island medical recording laws. Patients can record appointments under one-party consent. HIPAA rules, telemedicine recording, hospital cameras, and evidence use.

Rhode Island Medical Records Retention Laws (2026 Guide)

Rhode Island medical records retention laws: how long hospitals and doctors keep your records, HIPAA rules, and patient rights.

Rhode Island Motorcycle Accident Laws (2026): Deadlines

Rhode Island motorcycle accident law: the 3-year deadline to sue, pure comparative negligence, the partial helmet law for riders under 21, and its lane-splitting ban.

Rhode Island Name Change Laws: No Publication and a Probate Court Petition

Rhode Island name changes go through your local probate court, and the law bars public notice or publication entirely. Here is the current process.

Rhode Island Nursing Home Camera Laws: Electronic Monitoring Rights

R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 23-17.29 covers electronic monitoring in both nursing homes and assisted living, with mandatory signage, an evidence-admissibility rule and criminal penalties.

Rhode Island Phone Call Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Guide (2026)

Learn Rhode Island phone call recording laws under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-35-21. Record calls legally. Interstate rules with Massachusetts and Connecticut. Felony penalties.

Rhode Island Police Body Camera Laws: Access & § 42-161

Rhode Island has no statewide bodycam mandate, but agencies that take state grants must follow a uniform policy, and footage is presumptively public under APRA.

Rhode Island Police Reports: How to Get a Crash or Incident Report

How to request a Rhode Island crash report from State Police for $15, get a police incident report, and what Rhode Island's body camera law actually covers.

Rhode Island Pornography Laws (2026): No Age-Verification Rule

Rhode Island allows adult pornography privately; obscenity law requires commercial gain. No AV law yet. CSAM and revenge porn carry felony penalties.

Rhode Island Power of Attorney Laws: Durable, Medical, and Financial (2026)

Learn how Rhode Island power of attorney laws work under R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 18-16. Covers durable POA, execution, agent authority, health care POA, and revocation.

Rhode Island Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)

Rhode Island probate runs through town/city courts, not one state court. Learn intestate succession, small estate rules, and RI's own estate tax for 2026.

Rhode Island Property Records: How to Find Out Who Owns a Property (2026)

Rhode Island has no counties; 39 towns each run Land Evidence Records. Learn how to search Rhode Island property records and find a property's owner.

Rhode Island Public Recording Laws: Filming Rights in Public Spaces (2026)

Learn your rights to record in public in Rhode Island. First Amendment protections, Open Meetings Act, government buildings, and public event recording rules.