R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-19 § 34-19-5
Return of verdict
Operative Text
If, upon a full hearing of the cause, the jury shall find the complaint laid before them supported by the evidence, they shall sign and return to the court their verdict, in form following, to wit: At a court of inquiry held before one of the justices of the superior court within and for the county of at upon the day of in the year , the jury, upon their oaths, do find that the lands or tenements in aforesaid, bounded (or, described) as follows (as in the complaint), upon the day of in the year were in the lawful and rightful possession of and that did, upon the same day, unlawfully, with force and arms and with a strong hand, enter forcibly into the same, and (or, being lawfully upon the same) did unlawfully, with force and a strong hand, hold and keep out and that he or she still continues wrongfully to detain the possession from him or her, : whereupon the jury find, upon their oaths aforesaid, that ought to have restitution thereof without delay.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-19-5 establishes the specific form and language that a jury must use when returning a verdict in a forcible entry and detainer proceeding. If the evidence supports the complaint, the jury formally finds that the property was in the lawful possession of one party, that another party unlawfully entered or held the property by force, and that the rightful possessor is entitled to immediate restitution. The verdict form is prescribed by statute, meaning the jury's findings must follow this exact structure to be legally valid under § 34-19-5.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-19-5, a landlord who has been forcibly dispossessed of property and brings a complaint before the superior court should understand that the jury's verdict, if favorable, will take the specific statutory form outlined in this provision. A compliant operator in such proceedings ensures that the complaint accurately describes the property boundaries and the circumstances of the unlawful entry or holdover, since the verdict form directly mirrors the complaint's language. Familiarity with this prescribed verdict structure helps property owners understand what a successful outcome looks like procedurally in a Rhode Island forcible entry and detainer action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-19-5 governs the form of the jury's verdict in a forcible entry and detainer case, which means a tenant facing such a proceeding has the right to a full hearing before any verdict of restitution is entered against them. The jury must find, based on evidence, that the complaining party had lawful possession and that the entry or holdover was unlawful before ordering restitution under this provision. Tenants involved in a § 34-19-5 proceeding may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service to understand how the evidentiary standards and verdict requirements of this statute apply to their circumstances.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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