Increases the fees charged for filings and writs of execution in the district court, superior court and family court.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would raise the fees that people pay when they file legal paperwork in Rhode Island's district court, superior court, and family court. These filing fees are the charges you pay when you start a lawsuit, respond to one, or take other formal legal steps in court. The bill also increases fees for "writs of execution," which are court orders used to collect money after someone has won a lawsuit — for example, to garnish wages or seize property from someone who owes a debt.

Anyone who goes to court in Rhode Island could be affected by this change. This includes people filing civil lawsuits, individuals going through divorce or child custody cases in family court, businesses pursuing unpaid debts, and people responding to legal actions taken against them. Essentially, the cost of participating in the court system — whether you are the one filing or on the receiving end — would go up under this bill.

The bill has been moving through the Rhode Island Senate, with a judiciary committee recommending its passage and it being placed on the Senate Calendar in April 2026. The specific dollar amounts of the new fees are detailed in the full bill text. Supporters of such measures typically argue that updated fees help fund court operations, while critics often raise concerns about access to justice for lower-income residents. The bill does not change any court procedures or legal rights — only the cost of using the court system.