Kent, Rhode Island: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Rhode Island District Court, Third Division in Warwick. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: set by the court; see its fee table. Claims up to $5,000. Rhode Island return time: 20 calendar days. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,441. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Rhode Island District Court, Third Division
City	Warwick
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
E-filing	Yes, see filing page
Small claims limit	$5,000
State deposit return deadline	20 calendar days after the later of termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, or tenant providing a forwarding address for receiving the security deposit.
Time limit to sue	10 years
Deposit statute	R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $5,000 (District Court small claims only).

Your dates and your letter

Calculate your deadline and next letter

Choose how to send your letter

We mail it, or you mail it.

$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

Write and mail my letter for $49

$29, you send it.

A print-ready PDF of the Rhode Island letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Rhode Island small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

If you cannot access or use the kit files, contact us for a replacement or a full refund.

Get the Rhode Island kit for $29

Self-help document service. No account is required on Demand Letter Lab.

Your free letter

Get a DOCX letter with the dates and amount you entered.

Write and mail my letter for $49

Get the Rhode Island kit for $29

Already sent a letter? Tell us if it worked

Details of the return rules

Rhode Island statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
Deposit return	20 days	after the later of termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, or tenant providing a forwarding address for receiving the security deposit

Rhode Island return rule: 20 calendar days. Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Rhode Island District Court, Third Division. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Kent.
The Rhode Island business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Rhode Island Department of State

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Kent. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$1,045	$2,090	$3,135	Fits under the $5,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$1,441	$2,882	$4,323	Fits under the $5,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$1,462	$2,924	$4,386	Fits under the $5,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,804	$3,608	$5,412	Does not fit the $5,000 limit. The Rhode Island court page explains whether you can reduce the claim to the limit or file in a higher court. Send the letter first either way.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Kent compare with other Rhode Island counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,441: rank 4 of 9 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 27.9% of households rent in Kent.

Kent two-bedroom rent $1,441, rank 4 of 9 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Newport County	$1,741
Bristol County	$1,472
Kent	$1,441
Kent County	$1,441
Washington	$1,432
Washington County	$1,432

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 9 of 9 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Kent

Warwick

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Rhode Island Legal Services: Free civil legal help for eligible low-income Rhode Island residents, including eviction defense through the Housing Stability Project; Newport office: (401) 846-2264.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Kent?

The court sets the fee. Check the current schedule. Court page

Where do I file a deposit claim in Kent?

Rhode Island District Court, Third Division is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.