New York County, NY Consumer Law

Tools and Resources for New York County, NY Consumers

New York Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• New York PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for New York County: Key information about your local probate court (Probate/City or Town Court in New York) for New York County.
• How Probate Works in New York: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at New York County's probate court.
  • Here are links to New York probate forms from the New York probate court website.
• Small Estates Procedures in New York: Learn how to use New York's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • In Rhode Island, there's no Affidavit procedure available. You can use summary probate if the estate has no real estate and the value of the property that would be subject to probate (not counting tangible personal property) is less than $15,000.  (Assets not subject to probate are life insurance, retirement accounts, and any other accounts passing by beneficiary designation.)

    R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24-1.

• New York Estate Taxes:

  • New York, like most states, does not impose an estate or inheritance tax. Only a few states do.

• Avoiding Probate in New York. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

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New York Wage & Hour Law

• New York Minimum Wage:  

  • The minimum wage in Rhode Island is $14 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees must be paid at least $14 an hour. 

    New York County Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in all of New York City, including New York County, is $15 an hour.

    New York City Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in New York City is $15 an hour. 

  • Find out more about the minimum wage in Rhode Island at https://dlt.ri.gov/wrs/laborstandards/.

• Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in New York and whether they apply to you.

  • If you work more than 40 hours in a workweek, your employer must pay you 1-1/2 times your regular hourly wage for each overtime hour you work, unless you are exempt. You are also entitled to 1-1/2 times our regular hourly wage for hours worked on Sundays or holidays, although these hours are not included when calculating weekly overtime hours. See Labor Standards FAQ, at the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training website, for more information on Rhode Island's overtime rules.

• Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in New York. 

  • The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training has posted the form and instructions to file a wage claim at its website. 

• Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in New York.

  • In New York, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $3.89 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $14 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

• State Labor Board:
  • Learn more about your rights under New York law from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. 401-462-8550

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New York Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in New York: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • In New York, unemployment benefits range from $66 per week to $705 per week.
  • Formula:

    In Rhode Island, your weekly benefit amount will be 3.85% of your average quarterly wages in the two highest paid quarters of the base period. 

  • Duration:

    In New York, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in New York.
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• Free New York MEANS TEST CALCULATOR for New York County (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for April 1, 2024)
• Free New York BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under New York law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
• New York BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Child Custody & Family Courts in New York 

• State Standards For Custody Decisions: How New York Courts make child custody decisions
• Family Court for New York County: New York County Family Court information, including maps, forms and links.
• Enforcement of Custody Orders: Can you enlist local police to help enforce a custody court order?
• Child Custody Lawyers: To help you handle your child custody matters.

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New York Obamacare

• Sign Up: We have the latest on how to sign up for Obamacare Insurance in New York!
• Is Health Insurance Mandatory in New York? Learn about whether New York imposes tax penalties for not having health insurance.
• Special Enrollment Periods: How to enroll because of a "special enrollment period."
• Rates & Providers in Your County: Information and rates for providers for New York County if you live in a state served by Healthcare.gov.

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Democracy In New York, New York County, New York 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in New York County, NY.
• Gerrymandering in New York: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 

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Find a Lawyer in New York County, NY

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration
• Legal Aid in New York:
  • Help RI Law 
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