New York

Overview In New York, Small Claims Court is designed to provide a simple, quick, and low-cost way to resolve disputes involving limited sums of money. The decisions of small claims judges or arbitrators are final on questions of fact—but not necessarily on matters of law or procedure. If you believe that the court made a…

Overview New York’s Small Claims Court was designed to provide an accessible, affordable way for everyday people to recover money owed without needing an attorney. However, its convenience has jurisdictional limits. A frequent question arises: can you sue someone who lives outside New York State in a New York small claims court? The answer is…

Overview Winning a judgment in New York’s Small Claims Court is an important milestone, but it is not the final step. The court does not automatically collect money on your behalf. Instead, you—the winning party, called the “judgment creditor”—must take specific actions to locate the debtor’s assets, initiate collection, and document payments. The process is…

Overview When the defendant fails to appear in New York Small Claims Court, the court may enter what is known as a default judgment. This judgment awards the plaintiff the amount claimed (or a portion of it) based solely on the evidence presented, without the defendant’s input. Small Claims Court is designed for efficiency—hearings are…

Overview Small Claims Court in New York is a specialized division of the civil courts designed to resolve everyday money disputes quickly, inexpensively, and without attorneys. It provides ordinary people—tenants, consumers, contractors, or small-business owners—a venue to recover modest sums without navigating complex civil procedure. The idea is simple: if you are owed money and…

Overview A New York small claim is a simplified court process that allows individuals and small businesses to recover modest sums of money without hiring an attorney. The goal is quick, low-cost justice for ordinary disputes—unpaid rent, minor property damage, defective goods, or unreturned deposits. The process is intentionally informal: pleadings are short, discovery is…

Overview New York’s Small Claims Courts provide an accessible, affordable path for resolving disputes involving modest sums of money—without requiring lawyers or complex pleadings. They are governed by the New York City Civil Court Act Article 18 within New York City and by the Uniform City, Town, and Village Court Acts elsewhere in the state.…

Overview In New York, Small Claims Court provides an accessible way for individuals and small businesses to recover limited monetary losses without hiring an attorney or navigating complex litigation. The key defining feature is its financial ceiling: the maximum amount you can sue for in Small Claims Court. Within New York City’s Civil Court, the…

Overview The New York City Small Claims Court—officially known as the Small Claims Part of the Civil Court of the City of New York—is the most accessible division of the city’s judicial system for individuals seeking to recover modest sums of money without the complexity of formal litigation. Established under Article 18 of the New…

Recently updated on June 6th, 2025 at 07:06 pmIn New York, the laws governing Orders of Protection (commonly referred to as Protective Orders) are designed to prevent abuse, harassment, stalking, or threats from a specific person. These laws fall under New York Family Court Act § 812, and related sections. You may be eligible to…