Rhode Island
Lien Waiver Forms
Rhode Island lien waivers: advance waivers are void, payment-time waivers are valid
State Rules
How Rhode Island treats lien waivers
Rhode Island does not prescribe a statutory lien waiver form, so our general-purpose conditional and unconditional progress and final waivers apply. Timing, however, is regulated: R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-28-1(b) voids any agreement in or collateral to a construction contract that bars filing a notice of intention or enforcing a lien, as against public policy. The one exception is a written waiver executed and delivered simultaneously with or after payment for the labor or materials it covers, so waivers should be exchanged payment by payment, not signed up front.
What to know about Rhode Island lien waivers
- Rhode Island voids advance lien waivers (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-28-1(b)): a waiver is only valid if written, executed, and delivered simultaneously with or after the payment it covers. Exchange each waiver at or after payment rather than waiving in the contract, and never waive the right to record the § 34-28-4 notice of intention up front.
Rhode Island lien waiver forms we generate
Four house forms cover every payment on a Rhode Island project: conditional or unconditional, progress or final.
Conditional Waiver and Release of Lien: Progress Payment
Signed when a progress payment is promised: the waiver only takes effect once that payment actually arrives.
Unconditional Waiver and Release of Lien: Progress Payment
Signed after a progress payment has been received: immediately waives lien rights for work through the covered date.
Conditional Waiver and Release of Lien: Final Payment
Signed when the final payment is promised: waives all remaining lien rights, but only once the payment clears.
Unconditional Waiver and Release of Lien: Final Payment
Signed after the final payment is in hand: a complete, immediate waiver of lien rights on the project.
Rhode Island has no statutory waiver form to download blank. The generator above fills in a general-purpose form with Rhode Island's signing rules built in instead.
Signing a lien waiver in Rhode Island
Execution rules (the form's wording, notarization, witnesses, and whether an electronic signature works) are set by state law. Here's what applies in Rhode Island, built into every waiver we generate.
Advance waivers
R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-28-1(b): any covenant, promise, agreement or understanding in, in connection with, or collateral to a construction contract purporting to bar the filing of a notice of intention or the taking of any steps to enforce a lien is against public policy, void and unenforceable, except a written waiver executed and delivered simultaneously with or after payment for the labor performed or materials furnished.
Rhode Island execution rules
- ⚖ No prescribed statutory form: our attorney-reviewed house forms apply.
- ✓ Notarization: not required in Rhode Island.
- ✓ Witness: not required in Rhode Island.
- ✓ E-signature: available. Send Rhode Island waivers for electronic signature and get the signed copy stored with a tamper-evident audit certificate.
Rhode Island lien waiver questions
Which lien waiver forms does Rhode Island use?
Do Rhode Island lien waivers need to be notarized?
What is the difference between a conditional and an unconditional lien waiver in Rhode Island?
What is the difference between a progress and a final lien waiver in Rhode Island?
Is a lien waiver signed in advance enforceable in Rhode Island?
Create a free Rhode Island lien waiver
The correct Rhode Island form, filled in and ready to download in about two minutes. Free to generate and download. Upgrade only when you want e-signature and automatic reminders.
More Rhode Island lien tools
Bordering states
Every state's waiver rules are different. Check before you sign.