Information on Answering a Notice of Petition and Petition (Eviction/Dispossess Papers for Non-Payment of Rent)
(Separate Website)
If you are in court for a "Non-Payment" case, because the Landlord claims you owe rent, you have the right to tell the Court the reason(s) why the rent may not be owed. Here are some reasons, called defenses, which the
Court can consider in deciding how much rent you may owe to your Landlord.
By: New York State Unified Court System
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Sample Cease Letter
(Separate Website)
Are debt collectors constantly calling you? Do you feel harassed by these calls? You can stop debt collection calls by sending a "cease letter" to the debt collector stating that you want them to stop contacting you. Here is an easy-to-use sample letter that you can type into directly or that you can print and fill out by hand.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project
INTERACTIVE FORM: Collection Agency "Stop Contact" Letter
(Separate Website)
The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act gives you the right to send a letter to a collection agency telling them to stop contacting you. The letter can also point out billing mistakes and request verification of the debt (such as a copy of the contract that you signed). You can write a "stop contact" letter now using this interactive form.
By: Legal Aid Network of Kentucky
Divorce Resources
(Separate Website)
This site provides information on obtaining a divorce in New York State. Here you will find general information and free divorce forms with instructions.
By: New York State Unified Court System
INTERACTIVE FORM: Family Court Paternity Petition Program
(Separate Website)
Paternity means fatherhood. You can use this free program to write a paternity petition. After you file the petition, there will be a hearing in Family Court to decide who is the child's biological father.
By: New York State Unified Court System
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
INTERACTIVE FORM: Online Support Modification Program
(Separate Website)
You can use the Support Modification Petition to ask (or "petition") the Family Court to change a support order if there is a "change in circumstances." This program will help you fill out the petition that you will need to file in Family Court.
By: New York State Unified Court System
INTERACTIVE FORM: Family Court Support Enforcement/Violation Petition
(Separate Website)
You can use the Support Enforcement/Violation Petition, if the support order is not being followed. This free program will help you fill out the petition that you will need to file in Family Court.
You can use this program:
- If you already have a support order signed by a judge.
- If you are the one who receives the support payment.
- If no person on the support order gets public assistance.
By: New York State Unified Court System
For order of protection forms and information, click here
(Separate Website)
PLEASE NOTE: You may want to speak with a lawyer before you file for an order of protection.
INTERACTIVE FORM: Online Name Change Program (Outside NYC)
(Separate Website)
The adult name change form is used to ask the NY State Supreme Court to change your name.
This program will help you create the petition. You can use this program if:
You are 18 years old or older and
You are not in prison, on probation or on parole
FAIR HEARING REQUEST FORM
(Separate Website)
This form can be used to request a Fair Hearing. You have a right to request a Fair Hearing to challenge virtually any action (or lack of action) that the Social Services agency takes on your request for benefits (welfare, food stamps, HEAP, child care, Medicaid, and other programs). You also have a right to request a Fair Hearing if Social Services makes a change to benefits that you already get, and you disagree with that change.
By: The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Request an Adjournment or Reopening
(Separate Website)
If you are unable to attend your scheduled hearing and your hearing date hasn't passed yet, you may request a new hearing date. Click on this link for information on how to request an adjournment
By: New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Printable Form for Requesting a Fair Hearing Adjournment/Reopening
(Separate Website)
Print, complete, fax or mail this form to request an adjournment/reopening of your fair hearing
By: New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Request Compliance With a Fair Hearing Decision
(Separate Website)
If you have received a fair hearing decision that says that your local agency should do something and you believe that they haven't done it, you may submit a Compliance Complaint to us.
By: New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
FORM - Request for Compliance
(Separate Website)
You can use this form if you feel that the local social service agency has not followed your Fair Hearing Decision
By: New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
ONLINE FORM: Appeal a disability decision online
(Separate Website)
If your Social Security Disability application has been denied, click here to appeal the decision online.
By: Social Security Administration
INTERACTIVE FORM: Online Small Estate Affidavit Program
This interactive interview will help you fill out an Affidavit of Voluntary Administration. You can use this form to divide the property of someone who died. You can only use this form if the person who died had less than $30,000 worth of property.
By: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® - Geneva Office
Other Formats:
Separate Website
Power of Attorney: New York Statutory Short Form Your Power of Attorney is an important document. As the "principal," you give the person whom you choose (your "agent") authority to spend your money and sell or dispose of your property during your lifetime without telling you.
By: City Bar Justice Center - Elderlaw Project
Power of Attorney: New York Statutory Gifts Rider - Authorization for Certain Gift Transactions This OPTIONAL rider allows you to authorize your agent to make gifts in excess of an annual total of $500 for all gifts described in (I) of the Grant of Authority section of the statutory short form Power of Attorney (under personal and family maintenance), or certain other gift transactions during your lifetime.
By: City Bar Justice Center - Elderlaw Project
General Eviction Information (Upstate)
(Separate Website)
An eviction is a court case that a landlord must file to remove a tenant from a rented apartment or house. This article has more information about evictions.
By: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® - Geneva Office
Illegal Evictions outside New York City
(Separate Website)
It is illegal for a landlord to evict you without going to court.
By: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® - Geneva Office
Fact Sheet #32 - Eviction
(Separate Website)
In New York State, an eviction of a tenant is lawful only if an owner has brought a court proceeding and obtained a judgment of possession from the court
By: New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Defending Yourself in an Eviction Proceeding
(Separate Website)
Going to court to defend yourself in an eviction proceeding can be a stressful experience. Preparing before you go increases the chance that you will win your case and be able to continue your tenancy. The following is a list of defenses you can use to try to get the judge to throw the landlord's case out.
By: Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
Non-Payment Proceedings - Tenant Tips
(Separate Website)
A landlord may bring a proceeding in court when you have not paid the rent. This is known as a non-payment proceeding.
By: Nassau/ Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc
Information on Answering a Notice of Petition and Petition (Eviction/Dispossess Papers for Non-Payment of Rent)
(Separate Website)
If you are in court for a "Non-Payment" case, because the Landlord claims you owe rent, you have the right to tell the Court the reason(s) why the rent may not be owed. Here are some reasons, called defenses, which the
Court can consider in deciding how much rent you may owe to your Landlord.
By: New York State Unified Court System
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Eviction Cases That are NOT About Rent (such as Holdovers)
Holdover Proceedings - Tenant Tips
(Separate Website)
A landlord may bring a holdover proceeding in court when your tenancy has ended and you have not moved
By: Nassau/ Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc
For information about rent assistance, click here
(Separate Website)
Learn about rent assistance programs such as:
- Emergency assistance
- Section 8
- Advantage (NYC only)
What You Should Know About Emergency Assistance and DSS/HRA
(Separate Website)
If you have an emergency, you may be able to get help from your local Department of Social Service (DSS) office. (If you live in New York City, you can ask for Emergency Assistance from your local Human Resources Administration (HRA) office)
By: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® - Geneva Office
Tenants in Foreclosed Homes
(Separate Website)
Your rights if your landlord is facing foreclosure.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project (NEDAP)
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
I do not speak English, what is my right to receive information in my language?
Video: How to Work with Interpreters
(Separate Website)
In this video, you will learn some basic tips that will allow you to communicate effectively and easily through an interpreter with a person who doesn't speak your language.
By: Legal Services of New Jersey
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Beware of Paying Your Rent With Money Orders
(Separate Website)
How you pay your rent can be very important. While money orders seem convenient, they may cause you a lot of problems and in some cases could lead to your eviction.
By: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® - Geneva Office
HUD in New York (English and Spanish)
(Separate Website)
Visit this website to get up to date news on housing developments in New York State and services available. This website is also available in Spanish.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
English-Spanish Glossary of Legal Terms & Phrases
(Separate Website)
Complaints About Attorneys
(Separate Website)
If you have a complaint against an attorney, you may contact the Attorney Disciplinary / Grievance Committee. The office you need to contact depends upon the location of your lawyer's office. Click for more information.
By: New York State Unified Court System
Help for Homeowners in Foreclosure
(Separate Website)
If you have trouble affording your mortgage, this page from the N.Y. State Banking Dept. offers assistance via a consumer help hotline and housing counselor program.
By: New York State Banking Department
What To Do When You Can't Afford Your Mortgage
(Separate Website)
If you have trouble making mortgage payments, this pamphlet from the N.Y. State Banking Dept. provides a time line of what to expect from your lender.
By: New York State Banking Department
Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure
(Separate Website)
Are you having trouble keeping up with your mortgage payments? Here are 10 tips from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
By: U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Foreclosure Prevention & Responsible Lending Act of 2008
(Separate Website)
Protect yourself! Learn more about the main points of this law.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project (NEDAP)
Mortgage Servicers and Loan Modifications: A Guide for NYC Homeowners
(Separate Website)
A quick guide to dealing with loan servicers, for homeowners having trouble affording their mortgages.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project (NEDAP)
The Foreclosure Process in New York (Diagram and Glossary of Terms)
(Separate Website)
A diagram explaining the process New York foreclosures can take, and a glossary of terms common to foreclosure actions.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project (NEDAP)
Top 10 Things Every Homeowner With A Settlement Conference Should Know This is a guide to the top things every homeowner with a settlement conference should do. A settlement conference is a meeting in court between you, the party that is suing you in the foreclosure action (the "plaintiff"), and a judge or judicial hearing officer. The settlement conference should help you take steps to resolve your foreclosure.
By: South Brooklyn Legal Services (A Program of Legal Services NYC)
Not Sure What Some of the Words Mean During Your Foreclosure Proceeding?
(Separate Website)
Print a copy of this glossary of key terms to help you during your foreclosure proceedings.
By: CNYCN - Center for New York City Neighborhoods
Tenants in Foreclosed Homes and Apartment Buildings
Notice to Tenants of Buildings Sold at Foreclosure after May 20, 2009
(Separate Website)
Information for tenants who rent property that is being foreclosed on
By: Nassau/ Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc
Tenants in Foreclosed Homes
(Separate Website)
Your rights if your landlord is facing foreclosure.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project (NEDAP)
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Information for Military Personnel Regarding Mortgage Relief and Foreclosure Protection
(Separate Website)
Information about payment relief and protection from foreclosure provided by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (formerly known as The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940)
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developement
About Foreclosure Rescue Scams
(Separate Website)
Many loan modification companies and foreclosure rescue companies violate New York State law and make false promises to homeowners. Learn what to look out for and how to find a legitimate agency to help you.
By: New York State Attorney General's Office
Dreams Foreclosed: Saving Older Americans from Foreclosure Rescue Scams Overview of how to identify foreclosure "rescue" scams and how to avoid them.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Helpful Tips and Links
(Separate Website)
Tips for homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments.
By: New York State Attorney General's Office
Home Equity Theft and Foreclosure Rescue Scams
(Separate Website)
If you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments and your home is in foreclosure or default, be aware that you and your home may become targets for home equity theft or foreclosure rescue fraud scams. Click to learn more.
By: New York State Banking Department
VIDEO: How to Avoid Foreclosure Rescue Scams
(Separate Website)
This website provides information and a video on how you can protect yourself from foreclosure rescue scams.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Video: How to Work with Interpreters
(Separate Website)
In this video, you will learn some basic tips that will allow you to communicate effectively and easily through an interpreter with a person who doesn't speak your language.
By: Legal Services of New Jersey
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
HUD in New York (English and Spanish)
(Separate Website)
Visit this website to get up to date news on housing developments in New York State and services available. This website is also available in Spanish.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
What You Should Know About Emergency Assistance and DSS/HRA
(Separate Website)
If you have an emergency, you may be able to get help from your local Department of Social Service (DSS) office. (If you live in New York City, you can ask for Emergency Assistance from your local Human Resources Administration (HRA) office)
By: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® - Geneva Office
Complaints About Attorneys
(Separate Website)
If you have a complaint against an attorney, you may contact the Attorney Disciplinary / Grievance Committee. The office you need to contact depends upon the location of your lawyer's office. Click for more information.
By: New York State Unified Court System
Mortgage Fraud: How to Avoid Being a Victim
(Separate Website)
Avoid getting scammed, find out what you can do!
By: FBI
Home Equity Theft and Foreclosure Rescue Scams
(Separate Website)
If you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments and your home is in foreclosure or default, be aware that you and your home may become targets for home equity theft or foreclosure rescue fraud scams. Click to learn more.
By: New York State Banking Department
Home Equity Theft Prevention Act: Your Rights Under The Law
(Separate Website)
The law can help protect you against scams. This pamphlet from the N. Y. State Banking Dept. explains your rights if you are planning to sell your home when you are in default or foreclosure.
By: New York State Banking Department
Home Equity Loans: The Three-Day Cancellation Rule
(Separate Website)
Detailed information on the right to cancel a home equity loan contract for any reason within three days of signing the agreement.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Home Equity Theft Scams: How They Work and How to Avoid Them
(Separate Website)
This pamphlet from the N.Y. State Banking Dept. explains how to avoid foreclosure scammers who may defraud you of your home.
By: New York State Banking Department
About Foreclosure Rescue Scams
(Separate Website)
Many loan modification companies and foreclosure rescue companies violate New York State law and make false promises to homeowners. Learn what to look out for and how to find a legitimate agency to help you.
By: New York State Attorney General's Office
Financing Homes: Avoid Predatory Lenders
This article provides an outline of how to spot and avoid dishonest lenders.
By: AARP Legal Services Network
Helping Elderly Homeowners Victimized by Predatory Mortgage Loans
This article provides an overview of how to identify predatory mortgage loans and overcome the legal challenges to these types of loans.
By: National Consumer Law Center
High-Cost Home Loans: Don't Be a Target Tips on how to protect yourself when shopping for home loans.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Read this in:
Chinese / 中文
,
Spanish / Español
High-Cost Home Loans: Your Legal Protections
This article provides an overview of your legal rights in regards to loans with high interest rates or high fees, otherwise known as HOEPA loans.
By: AARP Legal Services Network
Refinancing Scams
(Separate Website)
A breakdown of common refinancing scams.
By: Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
Home
(Separate Website)
Separate Website
Choose Another City, County or Zip Code
Albanian / shqip
