Rhode Island prejudgment interest rate
United States Rhode Island’s broad 12% prejudgment branch and statutory carve-outs.
→ All Rhode Island judgment & prejudgment interest rates
Fixed by statute
2026 Rhode Island prejudgment interest at a glance
- Current rate
- 12% per year
- Effective date
- July 9, 2026
- Controlling authority
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-21-10
- Rate basis
- Fixed by statute
- Source checked
- July 9, 2026
- Recorded history
- 1 data point
R.I. Gen. Laws §9-21-10 generally directs the clerk to add 12% prejudgment interest in covered civil actions awarding pecuniary damages. The statute includes contract and claim exclusions and uses a separate notice-based start rule for qualifying medical or dental malpractice matters, so the cause-of-action date is not universal.
When Rhode Island prejudgment interest applies
The general branch covers a verdict or decision for pecuniary damages, subject to the exclusions written into §9-21-10 and other controlling law. Interest already included by agreement or otherwise excluded should not be added again. Medical and dental malpractice use the statute’s separate branch.
When it starts accruing
The general branch measures from accrual of the cause of action. Qualifying medical or dental malpractice instead uses the legally sufficient written-notice event and its statutory timing limits. Confirm the branch before selecting a start date.
Simple or compound
The statute directs the clerk to add interest to the damages award, but this page does not assert a universal compounding or payment-allocation method beyond the covered statutory calculation.
→ Compare with the Rhode Island post-judgment interest rate (interest after judgment)
Prejudgment interest under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-21-10 — 12% (simple interest). This is PREjudgment interest (accruing before entry of judgment) and is separate from Rhode Island’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 | 12% | Statute |
Source & provenance
Observation recorded July 9, 2026 (00:00 UTC) from the cited source (Rhode Island — webserver.rilegislature.gov):
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE9/9-21/9-21-10.HTM
Cite this page
StatuteRates. “Rhode Island Prejudgment Interest Rate.” StatuteRates.com. Accessed today. https://statuterates.com/rates/rhode-island-prejudgment-rate/ Rate recorded under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-21-10, effective July 9, 2026.