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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can you explain what a (421-a) and a (J-51) is. There is a rent lock situation going on and im trying to get them lifted
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 6, 2024

Dear New York Apartment Building Investor:

This may surprise you, but there is no proper way to purchase an apartment building in NYC, let alone evaluate the property, without an attorney.

Both J-51 and 421-a are examples of long-term run 'with the land' real property tax...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can my landlord tell me to leave a month before lease ends because of issues with them trying to sell the property?

Nov 1st 2023 I have a 1yr lease agreement on a house that my landlord is now trying to sell. May 30th 2024 landlord stated he found a buyer and signed with them but didnt have an official closing date but told us house will be closed sometime before the end June and we should be gone by July.... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 6, 2024

Dear Queens Tenant:

The truth is that unless the lease allows the landlord a right to early termination, you do not need to accommodate the owner's house sale. Even a properly ended lease in New York does not require the tenant to move out voluntarily. The tenant could wait it out and...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: I'm trying to evict my girlfriend of 13 years from my home that is mine but she will not leave i live in n y
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 5, 2024

Any legal eviction in New York State requires an initial inquiry about the relationship of the Petitioner (the party initiating the lawsuit similar to the Plaintiff) and the Respondent (the other party, who may be either a tenant or a licensee). The paths to getting into court are different.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Yes my question is how can I evict my girlfriend of 13 years from my home i live in niagara falls new york i tried to
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 5, 2024

If your relationship with your live-in 'ex' fits a category of landlord/tenant or landlord/not tenant relationship, there is a form of summary proceeding available to use. Perhaps a holdover tenancy termination summary proceeding or a holdover Licensee holdover summary proceeding.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can my landlord shut off my hot water because I owe two months rent
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 5, 2024

If your landlord does so, that is a crime, and you could call the police.

'....engaging in a course of conduct which interferes with or is intended to interfere with or disturb the comfort, repose, peace or quiet of such occupant in the use or occupancy of the dwelling unit, to induce...
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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for New York on
Q: As the purchaser of a single-family home, can we hold the seller responsible for issues found after we move in?

We are concerned that we will find significant issues with the home after we move it but don't plan to move in for a couple years when we down-size our home.

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 6, 2024

The New York State mandatory real property disclosure form you received before you went to contract will hold the former owner accountable for false material reports about the condition of the property.... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law, Insurance Defense and Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Neighbor (or building's?) insurance adjuster asking for access - what's going on?

I live in a co-op building and the neighbors right below me had water damage. No idea what happened, but their insurance took care of everything a month or two ago. Now, the Super called me that the neighbors and the building management have been emailing for a date for someone to come in and... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Sep 3, 2024

Without knowing the details of the water damage, one possibility is that the insurance adjuster and building super want to confirm that the source of damage is not from directly above, which could make your unit the most likely possible source to look into. You mention feeling uncomfortable - you... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation for New York on
Q: Stored friend's box of things in storage unit free as a favor, but now lost, never told what is inside. What is she owed

My daughter and 3 of her friends split a storage unit during the summer between their Junior and Senior year. Another friend of theirs, Clara, who also has a storage unit in the same place, dropped off a box with her things, and asked one of the girls (not my daughter) to bring it to the 4 girls... View More

Neil P. Flynn
Neil P. Flynn
answered on Sep 3, 2024

The fifth girl is unlikely to prevail on a claim for damages. She chose to "bail" her box to the 4th girl. This means to temporarily put it into her possession. However, the 4th girl wasn't compensated for the bailment nor is she a professional in the practice, such as a car mechanic... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Immigration Law, Civil Rights and Constitutional Law for New York on
Q: What are the different statuses one can have other than citizen, and national?

So my friend is saying that do not fall into the category of citizen or national as they are not a citizen of the United States but are solely a national owing no allegiance to the United States (they call themselves an American State National). I told them that fine but in that case you would... View More

Cesar Mejia Duenas
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answered on Sep 2, 2024

No, your friend is incorrect. Under U.S. law, the two primary statuses are citizen and non-citizen national (8 U.S.C. § 1408). American citizenship can be acquired by birth or via naturalization. Non-citizen nationals (Samoa and Swain), still owe allegiance to the U.S.

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for New York on
Q: how can I stop my mom from starting a eviction case over and over again when it keeps getting dismissed.

my parents bought me and my kids a house on a foreclosure sale we have lived at the house for almost 9 years i have renovated the home with my own money with no help from them at all and i paid a monthly amount of 600.00 to pay them back 35,000 and I did because I trusted my parents. we had a... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 1, 2024

Dear West Valley Home Owner:

It would help to know what type of landlord-tenant proceedings were started and lost and the reasons for the cases' failures.

In New York State, the filed deed is evidence of owning real property. If your name is on the deed, you are the owner--not...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Divorce and Family Law for New York on
Q: I and my spouse have custody of my nephews and we split up do I automatically get joint custody with primary residency

Of my nephews since they are legally my blood relatives

Howard E. Knispel
PREMIUM
Howard E. Knispel
answered on Aug 31, 2024

Nothing is "automatic". Do you have a court order granting you custody? Does it grant it to you, or to you and your spouse? If there is no court order then you do not have legal custody and should go to court to seek custody or guardianship, whichever is appropriate in your case. Talk... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Tax Law for New York on
Q: A parent has a trust with 2 beneficiaries. Give a house to one kid now and give half the value to the other.

A parent has a trust with 2 beneficiaries. We would like to move a house into a separate trust with only one beneficiary. So the house is being given to one child but the other should get half of the 2024 value somehow

Not sure the best way to do this so the other child gets half the 2024... View More

Nina Whitehurst
PREMIUM
Nina Whitehurst pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Aug 30, 2024

Giving the house to one beneficiary now could have many unintended negative consequences such as loss of step up in basis at the death of the gift giver and a hefty Medicaid penalty period assessed against the gift giver on account of the lifetime uncompensated transfer.

This is not the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law and Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: My Motion to Dismiss in Nassau County Landlord-Tenant Court was denied, and I want to appeal it.

My Motion to Dismiss in Nassau County Landlord-Tenant Court was dismissed, and I want to appeal it. Can you tell me what forms I need and the procedure? I also need info on getting a stay of my eviction action while the appeal is pending.

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Aug 30, 2024

Dear Great Neck Tenant:

An appeal from Nassau County District Court is at the Appellate Term (9th and 10th Judicial Districts. You will need a form that I cannot discover online. (https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad2/appellateterm_forms.shtml

You also need a Request for Appellate...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: How to evict my Son from my Apartment?

I live in a NYCHA Apartment, and recently had my son removed from my lease. He promised to move in no more than 30 days, but now refuses to do so. How do I get him out of my apartment? I don't want to get in trouble with NYCHA because he refuses to leave. Can I ask NYCHA to start an eviction... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Aug 28, 2024

Dear NYCHA Tenant:

I am sorry that New York Housing Law gives no breaks to tenants looking to remove unwanted roommates and family members. You will end up needing a lawyer to evict your son.

I cannot say that NYCHA will not let you change the locks or prevent your son from entering...
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1 Answer | Asked in Education Law for New York on
Q: Can an educator sue the NYS Department of Education if they keep failing the teacher exams?
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Aug 28, 2024

There are attorneys here on this forum who are knowledgeable in this area, but your question remains open for a month. This is not my area of practice, but you could reach out to attorneys who practice in education and civil rights law (the latter if you suspect that you suffered discrimination in... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Immigration Law for New York on
Q: Hi good night every day I check my asylum clock and a day add on this morning I check it and the clock remains the same

Do you think my asylum clock as stop

Symantha Rhodes
Symantha Rhodes
answered on Aug 27, 2024

I cannot determine if your asylum clock has stopped based solely on the information you've provided. The status of your asylum clock depends on various factors. Missing an interview or court hearing can cause the clock to stop. Contact your immigration attorney to review your case in detail... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Criminal Law and Constitutional Law for New York on
Q: Does Buck V Kuykendall establish right to travel as long as you aren’t using the highways for buisiness?

My friend told me that the case Buck V Kuykendall establishes our right to travel and shows that the roads can only be regulated for those who are in commerce or using the roads for the propose of business. I tried to tell him that the case Hendricks V Maryland established in 1915 decided that the... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Aug 22, 2024

Buck held that a state may not require a license or fee to engage in interstate commerce using federal highways for the purpose of limiting competition.

It did not in any way hold that roads can only be regulated for those engaged in commerce.

It discussed that states could regulate...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Real Estate Law and Probate for New York on
Q: Hello, I want to know what my real estate and trustee rights are (I think?) for a family matter. Any help is appreciated

My mother and father bought a house in the late 90's. Because of my fathers credit, he could not be put on the mortgage - nor was he put on the deed. My mother and her mother signed all of the original paperwork, but my mother and father paid the mortgage - and that's how it remains.... View More

Cesar Mejia Duenas
Cesar Mejia Duenas pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Aug 22, 2024

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Legally, if your father was never on the deed, he doesn't have ownership rights to the house, even if he helped pay the mortgage. Since your mother passed away without her will being probated, your father may have some rights to her share of the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Immigration Law for New York on
Q: What would be an appropriate amount of salary decrement for an O-1 visa holder?

We are a small Inc. company incorporated in Delaware and are now considering reducing the salary of two founders. Both are O-1 visa holders and each earns around $9k/month. Specifically, we want to know:

- What happens if we reduce the salary and how much decrement is recommended?

-... View More

Cesar Mejia Duenas
Cesar Mejia Duenas pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Aug 22, 2024

Reducing the salary of O-1 visa holders can impact their visa status since the O-1 visa requires maintaining employment terms consistent with what was presented to USCIS. While no specific percentage is set for salary reductions, any significant decrease might trigger the need to notify USCIS and... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights for New York on
Q: THE BEST WAY TO SUE CPS AND ADULT PROTECTIVES AND HOSPITAL WHOM LET THIS RETARTED WOMEN WALK OUT THE HOSPITAL

SHE WALKED OUT THE HOSPITAL WITH MY NEW BORN BABY WHOM HAD TO BE TORTURED FOR 7DAYS AND WAS BUT IN THE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHOM WAS WATCHING THIS HAPPEN

Cesar Mejia Duenas
Cesar Mejia Duenas pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Aug 22, 2024

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. To sue Child Protective Services (CPS), Adult Protective Services, and a hospital, you need to establish that their actions or negligence violated your rights or caused harm. In New York, claims against government entities like CPS and Adult Protective... View More

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