Bill > H5642

This bill amends two sections of Rhode Island law related to filing fees for appeals from district court cases, specifically in civil and landlord-tenant actions. The legislation removes the existing requirement for appellants to pay a $50 attorney's fee to the adverse party and replaces it with a standardized $75 filing fee that includes a civil case processing fee and technology surcharge. In civil cases, the appeal must still be filed within two days (excluding weekends and holidays) after the judgment is entered, while in landlord-tenant cases, the appeal window is extended to five days (now explicitly including weekends and holidays). For landlord-tenant cases, the bill modifies the language around the appeal timeline and filing fees, aligning the process more closely with standard civil case procedures. The changes aim to simplify the appeal process by creating a uniform filing fee structure and removing the previous attorney's fee requirement. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, giving courts and legal professionals time to prepare for the new fee structure and appeal process.

Justice

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