New York Law: Plain-English Guides

Key New York facts

Security deposit deadline

14 days after the tenant vacates N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(e)

Eviction notice for unpaid rent

14-day written rent demand before filing a nonpayment proceeding. Separately, if rent is not received within 5 days of the due date, the landlord must send the tenant a certified-mail notice that rent was not received; N.Y. RPAPL § 711(2); N.Y. RPL § 235-e(d)

Small claims limit

$10,000 in New York City Civil Court; $5,000 in City Courts outside NYC and in the Nassau and Suffolk District Courts; $3,000 in Town and Village Justice Courts. NYC Civil Ct. Act § 1801; Uniform City Ct. Act § 1801; Uniform District Ct. Act § 1801; Uniform Justice Ct. Act § 1801

Small estate affidavit

New York uses 'voluntary administration' in the Surrogate's Court for small estates: available when the decedent left personal property worth $50,000 or less (not counting property set aside for the family under EPTL… N.Y. Surr. Ct. Proc. Act §§ 1301, 1302, 1303

Minimum wage

$17.00 per hour in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County; $16.00 per hour in the rest of the state. New York State Department of Labor, Minimum Wage

Final paycheck if fired

Final wages must be paid by the regular payday for the pay period worked, and mailed if the employee asks. New York State Department of Labor, Wages and Hours FAQ; Labor Law §191(3)

Time limit to sue on a debt

6 years for contract actions generally. But a lawsuit against a consumer arising from a consumer credit transaction (such as a credit card or consumer loan) must be brought within 3 years. N.Y. CPLR 213(2); CPLR 214-i