Rhode Island STATE LAW

WAGE GARNISHMENT EXEMPTION:

– Federal law applies

MAXIMUM INTEREST RATE:

– Legal: 12%
– Judgment: 12%

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON ENFORCEMENT:

– Open Account (credit card): 10 years
– Written Contract: 10 years
– Domestic Judgment: 20 years
– Foreign Judgment: 20 years

BAD CHECK LAW DAMAGES:

– Amount of check plus $25 in fees, plus treble (three times) damages up to $1,000

tape recording

– One party state

BANKRUPTCY PROPERTY EXEMPTIONS:
(General Laws of Rhode Island)

– Can use either the state exemptions below or the federal exemptions
– The State of Rhode Island has exempted the property and income below from seizure by the bankruptcy court to pay creditors:

Real Property:

– None

Personal Property:

– Clothing, amount needed [9–26–4(1)]
– Library of a professional in practice, unlimited amount and tools used for work up to $500 [9–26–4(2)]
– Beds and bedding, furniture and household goods, up to $1,000 total [19–26–4(3)]
– Books and bibles up to $300 [9–26–4(4)]
– Burial plot, unlimited amount [9–26–4(5)]
– Debt secured by promissory note, unlimited amount [9–26–4(7)];cooperative association holdings up to $50 [7–8–25]
Insurance / Annuities: Accident or sickness proceeds or benefits, unlimited amount [27–18–24]
– Fraternal society benefits, unlimited amount [27–25–18]
– Life insurance proceeds if policy prohibits proceeds from being used to pay creditors, unlimited amount [27–4–12]
– Temporary disability insurance, unlimited amount [28–41–32]

Pensions / Retirement Plans:

– Firefighters and police officers, unlimited amount [9–26–5]
– IRAs, unlimited amount [9–26–4(11)]
– Private employees, unlimited amount [28–17–4]
– Retirement benefits, unlimited amount [9–26–4(12)]
– State and municipal employees, unlimited amount [36–10–34]

Public Benefits / Entitlements:

– Unemployment compensation, unlimited amount [28–44–58]
– Workers' compensation, unlimited amount [28–33–27]
– Aid to aged, blind, disabled and families with dependent children, unlimited amount [40–6–14]
– General assistance, unlimited amount [40–6–14]
– Disability benefits, unlimited amount [28–41–32]
– Veterans' disability or survivors' death benefits, unlimited amount [30–7–9]

Wages:

– Earned but unpaid wages due a seaman, unlimited amount [9–26–4(6)]
– Earned but unpaid wages if debtor received welfare during year before filing bankruptcy, unlimited amount [9–26–4(8)(B)(ii)]
– Earned but unpaid wages up to $50 [9–26–4(8)(C)(iii)]
– Wages to the needy if paid by a charitable organization, unlimited amount [26–4(8)]
– Earnings of a minor child or spouse, unlimited amount [9–26–4(9)]
– Earned but unpaid wages due member of military on active duty, unlimited amt [30–7–9]

Miscellaneous:

– Business partnership property [7–12–36]