Title 34
Property
Chapter 18
Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-10
§ 34-18-10. Service of process for actions pursuant to chapter.
(a)(1) In actions for nonpayment of rent, the summons for eviction for nonpayment of rent
shall be in the form provided in § 34-18-56(g). At the time of filing of the complaint, the clerk shall enter the date of hearing
upon the summons, which shall be fourteen (14) to twenty-four (24) days after filing
of the complaint. For the purposes of this section only, the time of filing of the
complaint shall be the date upon which the clerk assigns a case number to the action
and the filing fee is paid to the clerk. On the same day that the complaint is filed,
the plaintiff’s attorney or, if pro se, the plaintiff, or if more than one, the person
filing the complaint shall mail a copy of the summons and complaint with the date
of the hearing and a blank answer form as provided in § 34-18-56(j) by first class mail, to the defendant, shall complete the proof of service on a copy
of the original summons and file the completed proof of service in the appropriate
court. The plaintiff shall deliver the original summons and a copy thereof, together
with a copy of the complaint and a blank answer form to the division of sheriffs or
any constable of the county in which the appropriate court is located. The officer
receiving the copies shall serve them by:
(i) Handing them to the defendant; or
(ii) Serving them at the defendant’s dwelling unit to a person of suitable age and discretion
then residing therein; or
(iii) If none be found, by posting them conspicuously on the door to defendant’s dwelling
unit.