R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-16-10

The court may at any time after such notice and upon such terms as it shall determine allow any claim or answer to be amended. No formal pleadings other than the statement of their respective claims in writing shall be necessary to define the issue between the parties, and the hearing of all such causes shall be informal with the sole object of dispensing speedy and final justice between the parties. The witnesses in the hearings shall be sworn and depositions may be used at the hearing, provided the depositions have been taken according to law.