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Providence, Rhode Island city records

In Providence, deeds are recorded by the Recorder of Deeds; property values come from the Tax Assessor; court files are split between the Clerk, Superior Court, Providence/Bristol County and the Rhode Island Family Court.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Voter records
  12. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Providence records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Records that are not online: public records requests
  16. Questions people ask
  17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  18. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsRecorder of Deeds3Search deeds1$1.50 per page (state statute for recording officers, R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-13-9); currency accepted for copies2
Property values and ownersTax Assessor3Property search4—
Property tax billsTax Collector3Tax bill search5—
Court casesClerk, Superior Court, Providence/Bristol County6
Rhode Island Family Court6		Rhode Island Superior Court, Providence/Bristol County7
Rhode Island District Court7
Rhode Island Family Court7		—
Marriage recordsVital Records3—Certified copy fee: $22.00 walk-in / $25.00 mail-in; $18 each additional copy the same day8
Divorce recordsRhode Island Family Court, Domestic Relations Clerk's Office9——
Birth certificatesVital Records3—$22.00 walk-in / $25.00 mail-in; $18 each additional copy the same day8
Death certificatesVital Records3—$22.00 walk-in / $25.00 mail-in; $18 each additional copy the same day8
Probate and willsProbate Court of the City of Providence3—Certify/exemplify probate documents: $1.50 per page + $3.00 to certify10
Business names (DBA)City Clerk3——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Providence are recorded by the Recorder of Deeds.3

About this search
Land Records Document Search, 'Town Fusion'1
Who runs it
Kofile (Town Fusion / CountyFusion)1
Copy fee
$1.50 per page (state statute for recording officers, R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-13-9); currency accepted for copies2
Certified copy fee
$3.00 per certification (§ 34-13-9)2
How to order
In person at City Hall: title research room 506 (public computers and land records), recording at room 508; eRecording via CSC and Simplifile1
Recording fee
Deeds: statute $80 + $1 each additional page (§ 34-13-7). The city's posted 'Statewide Recording Fees' sheet (dated December 2012) lists warranty/quitclaim deeds at $84.00 + $1.00 each additional page.11
Recording fee sheet
Statewide Recording Fees sheet posted by the city, dated December 2012 (e.g., mortgage $64.00 + $1.00/page; discharge of mortgage $49.00 + $1.00/page)12
Records held
Non-archived land records: deeds, mortgages, liens, discharges; recorded maps and drawings1
Digital archives
Older digitized records via the City Archives' Preservica portal1
Payment
Checks, money orders and major credit cards for recordings; cash for copies only1

How deeds work in Rhode Island

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Tax Assessor sets property values3; the Tax Collector (City Collector's Office) bills and collects the tax3.

Property search
data.nereval.com/SearchInfo.aspx (Property Lookup, linked by the Tax Assessor)4
Tax bill search
providenceri.gov/… (Online Tax Payment System)5
Parcel map (GIS)
Tax Assessor Maps providenceri.gov/tax-assessors-maps4
Appealing a value
File with the Tax Assessor by November 15 of the tax year (online filing available); assessor decides by December 31; Local Tax Board of Review by January 31; then Superior Court13
Records at assessor
Real estate, tangible and motor vehicle tax records4
Municipal lien certificate
Tax Collector issues municipal lien certificates (request form online)5
Tax deadlines
FY2027 quarterly due dates Jul 24, Oct 24, Jan 24, Apr 24 (grace periods to month-end)5
Tax sale
Results of the May 21, 2026 tax sale posted5

How property tax works in Rhode Island

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Rhode Island Superior Court, Providence/Bristol CountyFelony criminal and major civil cases (state court)Clerk, Superior Court, Providence/Bristol County (state court)publicportal.courts.ri.gov/PublicPortal Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal : public remote access to the register of actions/docket only (the Judiciary page states no fee and does not call it free); documents viewable at courthouse terminals7Free search
Rhode Island District Court (Garrahy Judicial Complex)Misdemeanors, small claims and lesser civil matters (state court)—publicportal.courts.ri.gov/PublicPortal Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal : public remote access to the register of actions/docket only (the Judiciary page states no fee and does not call it free); documents viewable at courthouse terminals7Free search
Rhode Island Family CourtDivorce, custody, support, juvenileRhode Island Family Court (Garrahy Judicial Complex)publicportal.courts.ri.gov/PublicPortal Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal : public remote access to the register of actions/docket only (the Judiciary page states no fee and does not call it free); documents viewable at courthouse terminals7Free search
Court system
Unified, state-run Rhode Island Judiciary: Supreme, Superior, Family, District and Workers' Compensation Courts and the Traffic Tribunal (no county-run courts). Probate courts are municipal.7
Fees
Superior Court civil entry fee $160 by statute (§ 9-29-18); the Superior Court FAQ states a total filing fee of $180.75 for a TRO or a restitution case; writ of execution $50; citation $25. Family Court $120 per petition/complaint (§ 9-29-19).14
Records center
Older court records: Judicial Records Center, 5 Hill Street, Pawtucket6
City courts
City also runs a Municipal Court and a Housing Court (city ordinance matters)3

Criminal records and background checks

State check fee
$5 state background check15

How Rhode Island courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by Vital Records (Office of Vital Statistics).3

Marriage license
$24.00 + $3.00 processing fee; both parties in person, Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.8
Certified copy fee
$22.00 walk-in / $25.00 mail-in; $18 each additional copy the same day8
How to order
In person (form + photo ID), by mail (form, ID copy, payment, self-addressed envelope), or online through the state8
Payment
No cash; check, money order, debit or credit card; checks payable to City of Providence8

Rhode Island marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Kept by: Rhode Island Family Court, Domestic Relations Clerk's Office9

Birth certificates

Kept by Vital Records (Office of Vital Statistics).3

Fee
$22.00 walk-in / $25.00 mail-in; $18 each additional copy the same day8
Eligibility
Per the city: immediate family (mother, father, brother, sister, grandparents) and attorneys with bar card and ID8
Any town hall
Births 1960 and later can be obtained at any RI city or town hall8
How to order
In person, by mail, or online (state link); birth/death requests also via the city's online form portal8

Ordering a Rhode Island birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by Vital Records (Office of Vital Statistics).3

Fee
$22.00 walk-in / $25.00 mail-in; $18 each additional copy the same day8
Filing
The office files records for deaths that take place in Providence8

Ordering a Rhode Island death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Probate Court of the City of Providence.3

Jurisdiction
Decedents' estates (testate and intestate), adult and minor guardianships, adult adoptions, name changes16
Copy fee
Certify/exemplify probate documents: $1.50 per page + $3.00 to certify10
Fee schedule
Fee schedule effective December 1, 2022 (e.g., $30 filing fee + $4 state surcharge + advertising; 1% of personal estate up to $1,500 for appointments)10
Rules
Municipal probate court of each city/town (records requested from the city or town clerk); appeals go to Superior Court17

Business names (DBA)

Kept by the City Clerk.3

State
Trade names (DBAs) are now kept by the RI Department of State; municipalities transferred active trade-name records before January 1, 202618

Voter records

Kept by the Board of Canvassers.3

Check your registration
Voter Information Center at vote.sos.ri.gov19

Historical records

City Archives (est. 1978): nearly 40,000 cubic feet of municipal records from 1636 to the present; digital archives and online research requests20

Good to know about Providence records

  • In Providence the City Clerk does not issue birth, death or marriage certificates; a separate Vital Records office in City Hall does, and land records are with a separate Recorder of Deeds.21
  • Rhode Island has no county recording: Providence deeds are recorded only at Providence City Hall.1
  • The City Archives on City Hall's 5th floor hold nearly 40,000 cubic feet of records spanning 1636 to the present.20
  • The City Archives offers a Military Discharge Papers Index online.20
  • Providence's probate judge and probate clerk are elected by the City Council for six-year terms.22
  • The Licht Judicial Complex was originally named the Providence County Courthouse (built 1928-1933).6

Office addresses, phones and hours

Recorder of Deeds

Address
City Hall, 25 Dorrance Street, Room 508 (recording), Providence, RI 02903; research room 5061
Phone
401-680-5545; fax 401-278-06141
Hours
Recording 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (summer 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)1

Vital Records (Office of Vital Statistics)

Address
City Hall, 25 Dorrance Street, Room 104, Providence, RI 029038
Mail
Department of Vital Records, 25 Dorrance Street, Providence RI 029038
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. July and August); marriage licenses Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (3:00 p.m. July-August)8

Tax Assessor

Address
City Hall, 25 Dorrance Street, Room 208, Providence, RI 029034
Phone
401-680-5229; fax 401-421-59024
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. July and August)4

Tax Collector (City Collector's Office)

Address
City Hall, 25 Dorrance Street, Room 203, Providence, RI 029035
Phone
401-331-5252; fax 401-454-82475
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. July and August)5

Probate Court of the City of Providence

Address
City Hall, 5th Floor, 25 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 0290322
Mail
Probate Court of the City of Providence, City Hall, 5th Floor, 25 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 0290322
Phone
(401) 680-5307; fax (401) 861-620822
Hours
Office open Wed and Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Mon, Tue, Thu 12:30-4:30 p.m. (closed mornings)22

City Clerk

Address
Providence City Hall, 25 Dorrance Street, Room 311, Providence RI 0290321
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (July, August 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.)21

City Archives

Address
City Hall, 5th floor, 25 Dorrance Street, Providence RI 0290320
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. July and August)20

Board of Canvassers

Clerk, Superior Court, Providence/Bristol County (state court)

Address
Licht Judicial Complex, 250 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 0290324

Rhode Island Family Court (Garrahy Judicial Complex)

Address
J. Joseph Garrahy Judicial Complex, 1 Dorrance Plaza, Providence, RI 029036
Phone
(401) 458-3200 (Domestic Relations Clerk's Office, Providence/Bristol County)25

Records that are not online: public records requests

Request page
providenceri.nextrequest.com (APRA requests, linked by the Law Department)26

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Providence?

The Recorder of Deeds keeps deed records. Plain copies: $1.50 per page (state statute for recording officers, R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-13-9); currency accepted for copies. Certified copies: $3.00 per certification (§ 34-13-9).32

How much is a birth certificate in Providence?

$22.00 walk-in / $25.00 mail-in; $18 each additional copy the same day.8

Where do I get a divorce decree in Providence?

Divorce decrees are court records; ask the Rhode Island Family Court, Domestic Relations Clerk's Office.9

How do I look up who owns a property in Providence?

Use the property search of the Tax Assessor: data.nereval.com/SearchInfo.aspx4

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Providence office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other towns and cities in Rhode Island with a full guide: Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, East Providence, Johnston, North Providence, Pawtucket, South Kingstown, Warwick, West Warwick, Woonsocket. Every town and city in the state: Rhode Island town and city list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 27 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Recorder of DeedsCity of Providence
  2. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-13-9 Fees for copies of recordRhode Island General Assembly (State of Rhode Island General Laws)
  3. Department DirectoryCity of Providence
  4. Tax AssessorCity of Providence
  5. Tax CollectorCity of Providence
  6. Courthouse and Facility LocationsRhode Island Judiciary
  7. Access to Case InformationRhode Island Judiciary
  8. Vital RecordsCity of Providence
  9. About the Family CourtRhode Island Judiciary
  10. Probate Court - Payment ScheduleCity of Providence
  11. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-13-7 General recording feesRhode Island General Assembly (State of Rhode Island General Laws)
  12. Statewide Recording Fees (PDF posted by the Recorder of Deeds)City of Providence
  13. Real/Tangible Property Tax AppealsCity of Providence
  14. R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-29-18 Superior court feesRhode Island General Assembly (State of Rhode Island General Laws)
  15. Get a Background CheckRhode Island Office of the Attorney General
  16. Probate CourtCity of Providence
  17. Judicial Records Center - List of RecordsRhode Island Judiciary
  18. Trade Names - Municipal Transfer DatesRhode Island Department of State
  19. Open Government CenterRhode Island Department of State
  20. City ArchivesCity of Providence
  21. City ClerkProvidence City Council
  22. Probate Court - Information + HoursCity of Providence
  23. Board of CanvassersCity of Providence
  24. Superior Court - Know Your Courts (PDF)Rhode Island Judiciary
  25. Contact the Court (Rhode Island Judiciary)Rhode Island Judiciary
  26. Law DepartmentCity of Providence
  27. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau