Post-judgment interest by state · Rhode Island
Rhode Island · after judgment
Post-judgment interest in Rhode Island
An unpaid Rhode Island money judgment earns 12% a year unless the judgment or a contract says otherwise. On a $5,000.00 judgment that is $600.00 in the first year, about $1.64 a day.
How the rate is set
Fixed in the statute at 12% a year, accruing on both the judgment principal and the prejudgment interest included in it. It changes only when the legislature acts.
- Statute or rule
- R.I. Gen. Laws §9-21-10(a)
- Statute re-checked
- 2026-10-23
- Changes
- only when the legislature amends the statute
When a different rate applies
- Not applied where a contract already provides interest.
- Medical-malpractice judgments run from the notice of claim under subsection (b).
Work out your own judgment
Rhode Island is prefilled at 12%. Enter the amount and the date the judgment was entered. The calculator uses simple interest; that is how this rate accrues.
How Rhode Island's rate is set, and where it comes from
Uses simple interest at the rate you enter — pre-filled with each state's standard statutory rate, editable since some states publish a new rate quarterly or annually. Some states apply a different rate to specific debt types (noted above where it applies) or when a contract specifies its own rate. Informational only, not legal advice; confirm the current rate and any exceptions with your court clerk before relying on this figure.
The formula, worked
Last reviewed: October 2026
Interest = principal × rate × days ÷ 365. For $5,000.00 at 12%: $5,000.00 × 0.12000 × 365 ÷ 365 = $600.00 after one year, and $1.64 for each further day.
What this page does not know
- The rate written on your judgment. If the court stated a rate, that one applies, whatever the default is today.
- Partial payments. Interest accrues only on what is still unpaid.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every figure is cited to the statute or the office that publishes it; confirm the current rate with the court clerk before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the post-judgment interest rate in Rhode Island right now?
12% a year for an ordinary money judgment, fixed in the statute, under R.I. Gen. Laws §9-21-10(a).
How is the Rhode Island rate set?
Fixed in the statute at 12% a year, accruing on both the judgment principal and the prejudgment interest included in it. It changes only when the legislature acts.
Is it simple or compound interest?
Simple interest: it is calculated on the original judgment amount only and never on earlier interest.
Can my Rhode Island judgment carry a different rate?
Yes. Not applied where a contract already provides interest. Medical-malpractice judgments run from the notice of claim under subsection (b). The judgment itself may also state a rate, and that controls.
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