Rhode Island Noncompete Agreement: What's Included and Enforceability
Quick Facts — Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Avg cost to draft a Non-Compete Agreement: $550.00
- Avg cost to review a Non-Compete Agreement: $360.00
- Lawyers available: 240 employment lawyers
- Clients helped: 337 recent noncompete agreement projects
- Avg lawyer rating: 4.98 (89 reviews)
Is a Non-Compete Agreement Enforceable in Rhode Island?
Yes. In Rhode Island, non-compete agreements are permitted, however these contracts must follow certain rules and exceptions.
Non-compete exceptions in Rhode Island include:
- Non-competes cannot be entered into by low wage workers. Low wage workers are those who make less than 250% of the federal poverty level. For 2023, that is $33,975 annually for a one-person household.
- Short-term employees or students who participate in internships cannot enter into non-compete agreements.
- Employees under the age of 18 cannot be restricted by a non-compete agreement.
How Long Does a Rhode Island Non-Compete Agreement Last?
Courts in Rhode Island have restricted non-compete maximum terms to one year. In addition, the geographic area is limited to only areas where the employer conducts business.
How Do You Get Around a Non-Compete Agreement in Rhode Island?
To get around a non-compete agreement in Rhode Island, an employee must show a court that the agreement does not adhere to the rules and regulations governing non-compete agreements set out by state laws and the supreme court. Some of these rules include:
- Protectable interest. The agreement must protect an employer’s legitimate business interests and cannot be used to limit competition.
- Reasonableness. The contract terms must be reasonable and cannot impose undue hardship on the employee.
- Consideration. A non-compete agreement must be supported by adequate consideration. In Rhode Island, continued employment is sufficient consideration.
If a non-compete agreement fails to follow these standards, an employee can move to have the agreement terminated.
What Voids a Rhode Island Non-Compete Agreement?
A non-compete agreement in Rhode Island is void if an employee can prove that they didn’t enter the contract voluntarily or if they entered the contract under fraud. All contracts must be signed free of coercion or threat. In addition, enticing someone to sign a contract under false pretenses will make the contract void.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Meet some of our Rhode Island Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
Moss S.
Over 30 years of experience practicing commercial real estate and complex business litigation law.
"Moss S was responsive and attentive to my needs and completed the task ahead of time and within budget"
Elizabeth W.
Liz is an experienced insurance professional, having worked with carriers and brokers for over 10 years. She can review or draft a variety of commercial agreements and is here to help your business. Specialties include: Master Service Agreements, business process outsourcing, marketing and partnership agreements, broker agreements, business associate agreements, and NDAs.
"Liz was very responsive, eager to do a good job, and a pleasure to work with."
Nicholas M.
Nicholas Matlach is a cybersecurity expert (CISSP) and an attorney who is dedicated to helping small businesses succeed. He is a client-focused professional who has a deep understanding of the challenges that small businesses face in the digital age. He also provides legal counsel to small businesses on a variety of issues, including formation, intellectual property, contracts, and employment law.
"Enjoyed his demeanor. Professional yet down to earth. The document created for me was very explicit and easy to read. I would recommend :)"
Paul M.
Transactional attorney and corporate in house counsel for 15 years. Draft all types of contracts and employment agreements.
"Paul was really great to work with. He was super responsive. I offered to give him more time to read my FDD and he had it done in under the time the website quoted. He gave me a thorough error up addressing all the issues. 10/10 would highly recommend."
March 8, 2025
David W.
David has experience assisting individuals, startups, mid-sized, and publicly traded companies with various business, corporate, and real estate matters including residential and commercial real estate sales, acquisitions, financing and leasing; contract drafting and negotiation; regulatory compliance; and business acquisition, sale, formation, and dissolution.
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Browse Lawyers NowLawyer Reviews for Rhode Island Noncompete Agreement Projects
Review Restrictive-Covenant Agreement for Employee in Massachusetts
"Paul was incredibly helpful in reviewing a non-compete agreement I needed to sign. He helped me understand the key risks, identify what was worth negotiating, and prepare redlines to bring the agreement more in line with Massachusetts law. He was knowledgeable, responsive, and practical throughout the process. I would definitely work with him again."
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Texas Post-Employment Non-Compete & Non-Solicit Review — 4 Written Questions, Flat Fee.
"Delivered the scoped work product ahead of the agreed deadline. The memorandum was clear, well-organized, and the analysis was actionable. Texas covenant knowledge as advertised. One caution: the bid listed a deliverable that was later recharacterized, and all requests were answered with strict scope language. Ensure everything from the bid appears in the engagement letter before signing. Work quality: strong. Style: strictly transactional."
Reply From Philips V.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. This engagement was a limited‑scope project focused on providing written legal analysis to the four specific questions in your bid request. You selected my bid after your clarifying questions were fully answered, and the engagement letter reflected that scope as written. The work product delivered matched the scope requested and agreed to in the engagement letter. Clear deliverables upfront make short, fixed‑fee engagements efficient and predictable, and they help ensure competitive bids are evaluated on a consistent scope. We all expect a level playing field with fixed goal posts. I am glad to hear the memorandum was clear, well organized, and actionable, and that the work quality and timeliness met your expectations. I appreciate the opportunity to assist with your Texas covenant review.
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A seasoned attorney dedicated to navigating complex legal issues and devising strategic solutions for my clients.
"He keeps in constant contact with me. He has been very fast and very helpful If your looking for a great lawyer, He is your lawyer! I highly recommend hiring him!"
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
Washington
Noncompete agreement and public policy?
I recently accepted a job offer with a new employer who asked me to sign a noncompete agreement. I am concerned that the agreement may not be in line with public policy and wanted to get a professional opinion from a lawyer to make sure I am not putting myself in a difficult situation.
Merry K.
If you are in Washington State, where I'm licensed, as opposed to D.C., please let me know what kind of help you are looking for - have you already signed the agreement? I've been a WA State attorney for nearly 38 years, and specialize in employment law.
Contracts
Noncompete Agreement
Florida
Noncompete agreement choice of law?
I recently accepted a job offer with a new employer and they sent me a Noncompete Agreement to sign. I have some questions about the agreement, specifically related to the choice of law. My former employer and I are in different states, and I want to make sure I understand the implications of the agreement before signing.
Venus C.
Congratulations on your new job. Generally, a choice of law clause contained in a non-compete agreement indicates which state law will govern the contract. By way of general example, let's pretend we have a non-compete agreement that states the choice of law is Florida. Let's also pretend the parties to this agreement had a dispute and one party filed a lawsuit against the other in the state of New York. In this pretend scenario, because the parties agreed Florida to be their choice of law for the non-compete agreement, the court in New York would abide by that contractual agreement and apply Florida law. While choice of law clauses are commonly used to indicate what law will apply to a contract, the language used or omitted plays a significant role in their interpretation and enforceability.
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
Washington
Noncompete agreement termination options?
I recently left my job after signing a Noncompete Agreement. I am looking for a new job, but I am concerned about the restrictions in the Noncompete Agreement and how it might affect my ability to find a new job. I am looking for advice on my options for terminating or modifying the Noncompete Agreement so that I can find a new job without having to worry about any potential legal repercussions.
Merry K.
I am a WA State employment attorney. If you didn’t receive anything in return for signing the non-compete, it may be relatively easy to get out of it. If, however, you signed in return for something, such as a severance package, it will be challenging to get out of the agreement. However, many non-compete agreements are written overly broadly and may not be enforceable under the laws of WA and other states. You may want to consult with a WA State employment attorney for a review of the documents and law(s) of the state(s) where you may want to work or set up a business. (A WA State attorney can only provide legal advice in WA, but can help you find applicable law/case decisions for other states but without providing anything beyond information, much like a law librarian).
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
Connecticut
Noncompete agreement and promotions?
I recently accepted a promotion within my company and was asked to sign a noncompete agreement. I am concerned that if I accept the promotion and then leave the company, that I will not be able to take a similar position with another company. I am also worried that if I don't accept the promotion, I may be at risk of being terminated. I need to know what my rights are and what the implications are of signing the noncompete agreement.
Thomas L.
It depends on the terms of the non-compete and the size of your employer. Without seeing the agreement and knowing the size of your employer, I can't offer more advice.
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
Delaware
Employee contract, such as non compete/non solicit, could having this contract ever result in criminal/jail time?
If someone accuses you of fraud, because they believe you never had intended to honor your employment contract such as non-compete/non-solicit. Could this ever become a criminal case, resulting in criminal/jail time?
Matthew S.
No, at worst, it is a breach of a contract which is a civil matter to be handled in civil court.
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