R.I. Sup. Ct. R. Art. I, R. 3

(a) Filing the Notice of Appeal. An appeal permitted by law from a trial court to

the Supreme Court shall be taken by filing a notice of appeal in the trial court. Failure

of an appellant to take any step other than the timely filing of a notice of appeal or

payment of a filing fee as prescribed by these rules does not affect the validity of the

appeal, but is ground only for such action as the Supreme Court or trial court deems

appropriate, which may include dismissal of the appeal.

(b) Joint or Consolidated Appeals. If two (2) or more persons are entitled to

appeal from a judgment or order of a trial court and their interests are such as to

make joinder practicable, they may file a joint notice of appeal, or may join in appeal

after filing separate timely notices of appeal, and they may thereafter proceed on

appeal as a single appellant. Appeals may be consolidated by order of the Supreme

Court upon its own motion or upon motion of a party to the several appeals.

(c) Content of the Notice of Appeal. The notice of appeal shall specify the party

or parties taking the appeal and shall designate the judgment, order, or decree or part

thereof appealed from. The most current notice of appeal form is located on the

Judiciary’s website at www.courts.ri.gov under the heading of Public Resources,

Forms under the respective court.

(d) Service of the Notice of Appeal. The appealing party shall serve the notice of

appeal upon the attorney of record for each party, or, if a party is not represented by

an attorney, upon the party at his last known address. Service shall be sufficient

notwithstanding the death of a party or the party’s attorney.