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 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 Vermont there's no Affidavit procedure. You can use a summary probate procedure for estates if the decedent is survived by a spouse, civil union partner, or children and owned no real estate and the value of the personal property is $45,000 or less.

    Vt. Stat. Ann. 14 Section 1902.

• New York Estate Taxes:

  • The state of Vermont imposes an estate tax on property owned in Vermont. If you are inheriting property from the state of Vermont, it may be subject to estate tax if the overall value of the estate is more than $5,000,000.

• 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 Vermont is $13.67 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Green Mountain State must be paid at least $13.67 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 Vermont’s minimum wage at https://labor.vermont.gov/rights-and-wages/wage-and-hour.

• 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  or your employer are exempt. Exempt businesses include: 

    • retail and  service establishments
    • hotels, motels, and restaurants, and
    • certain amusement and recreational establishments.

    Learn more about Vermont's overtime rules and exemptions in A Summary of Vermont Wage and Hour Laws, available at the Vermont Department of Labor website. 

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

  • The Vermont Department of Labor has posted the form 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 $6.84 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $13.67 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 Vermont Department of Labor. 802-951-4083

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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 $80 per week to $705 per week.
  • Formula:

    In Vermont, your weekly benefit will be your total earnings in the two highest paid quarters of the base period, divided by 45. 

  • 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

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