D.C. prejudgment interest rate
United States D.C.’s prejudgment interest rate — when a court awards it.
→ All D.C. judgment & prejudgment interest rates
Fixed by statute Fixed by statute
2026 D.C. prejudgment interest at a glance
- Current rate
- 6% per year
- Effective date
- July 9, 2026
- Controlling authority
- D.C. Code § 15-108
- Rate basis
- Fixed by statute
- Source checked
- July 9, 2026
- Recorded history
- 1 data point
The District of Columbia prejudgment interest is 6% per year, as simple interest under D.C. Code § 15-108. Two-track system.
When D.C. prejudgment interest applies
Two-track system. (1) LIQUIDATED DEBTS — § 15-108: prejudgment interest is MANDATORY ("the judgment for the plaintiff SHALL include interest") on a liquidated debt on which interest is payable by contract, law, or usage, from the time it was due and payable. Rate = contract rate if any, else 6% legal rate.
When it starts accruing
For liquidated debts (§ 15-108): interest runs "from the time when it was due and payable" (the date the debt became due/the breach), through entry of judgment.
Simple or compound
Simple. The 6% legal rate under § 28-3302(a) is simple interest; DC prejudgment interest is not compounded absent a contract term providing otherwise.
→ Compare with the D.C. post-judgment interest rate (interest after judgment)
Prejudgment interest under D.C. Code § 15-108 — 6% (simple interest). This is PREjudgment interest (accruing before entry of judgment) and is separate from D.C.’s post-judgment rate; availability is limited by claim type (see the page). Verify against the statute text. Not legal advice.
Current recorded observation
| Effective date | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2026 | 6% | Statute |
Source & provenance
Observation recorded July 9, 2026 (00:00 UTC) from the cited source (D.C. — code.dccouncil.gov):
https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/15-108
Cite this page
StatuteRates. “D.C. Prejudgment Interest Rate.” StatuteRates.com. Accessed today. https://statuterates.com/rates/dc-prejudgment-rate/ Rate recorded under D.C. Code § 15-108, effective July 9, 2026.