Free legal information · New York
Your rights in New York, in plain English
Clear legal information, practical guides and free tools to help you understand what you're owed and what to do next. Every page rests on New York or federal law and official sources, and says when it was last updated.
By topic
- Work & wagesUnpaid wages, overtime, final paychecks, getting fired, sick leave, pay frequency, deductions, tips, retaliation.22 pages
- Renting & housingSecurity deposits, repairs and habitability, rent increases, late fees, lease renewals, eviction notices, roommates.18 pages
- Consumer rightsRefunds, cancellations, defective products, subscriptions and auto-renewal, deceptive practices, home improvement, used cars.10 pages
- Debt & collectionsDebt collectors, validation letters, old debts and the statute of limitations, lawsuits over debts, judgments, garnishment, exempt income.10 pages
- Small claims courtWhere and how to file, limits, fees, serving the other side, the hearing, judgments and collecting.13 pages
- Contracts & servicesBreach of contract, demand letters, deposits, contractors, oral agreements, written-contract rules, cancelling a contract.7 pages
- FamilyDivorce, child support, custody and visitation, orders of protection, name changes — first orientation only.4 pages
- Wills & estatesWills, dying without a will, probate and administration, small estates, executors, who inherits.4 pages
- Accidents & insurancePersonal injury basics, property damage, insurance claim denials, deadlines to sue, no-fault car insurance.3 pages
- Cars & trafficBuying a used or new car, lemon laws, repairs, tickets, towing, license issues.3 pages
- Credit, banks & credit reportsCredit report errors, unauthorized charges, billing disputes, fraud and identity theft, bank fees.4 pages
- Privacy & onlineRecording calls, use of your photo or name, data breaches, robocalls and texts, online harassment.4 pages
- Unemployment & benefitsUnemployment insurance, paid family leave, disability benefits, workers' compensation — how to claim and appeal.5 pages
- Discrimination & civil rightsDiscrimination at work, in housing and in stores, harassment, reasonable accommodation, where to complain.4 pages
- Courts & lawsuitsBeing sued, answering a summons, deadlines (statutes of limitations), default judgments, representing yourself, appeals.7 pages
- Small businessClients who don't pay, freelancers' rights, contracts with suppliers, business names, sales tax basics.3 pages
Calculators
- New York minimum wage and overtime calculatorEnter where you work, your hourly rate and the hours you worked in a week. The calculator applies New York's minimum…
- Security deposit deadline calculator (New York's 14-day rule)New York gives a landlord 14 days after you move out to return your security deposit or send an itemized statement of…
- Rent late fee calculator: the most a New York landlord can chargeA New York landlord may charge a late fee only if rent hasn't been paid within 5 days of the due date, and the fee…
- New York statute of limitations calculator: how long you have to sueEvery claim has a deadline to start a lawsuit. Choose the type — a contract, a consumer debt someone is suing you for,…
- Which small claims court? New York court finder and limitsSmall claims limits in New York depend on the court: up to $10,000 in New York City, $5,000 in city courts outside NYC…
- Final paycheck calculator: when your last pay is due in New YorkNew York doesn't require final pay on your last day, but it does require it no later than the regular payday for the…
121 pages · 259 official sources · General information, not legal advice.