New York Legal Guide
Full guide · Updated for 2026
Small Claims
$5,000
Filed in Small Claims Part, City/Town/Village Court. No lawyer required below this amount.
Open the calculator →Security Deposits
14 days
Deadline for landlords to return a deposit or send an itemized deduction list after move-out.
What to do if it’s late →Eviction Notice
14 days
Minimum written notice a landlord typically must give before starting eviction proceedings.
Statute of Limitations
6 years
Time limit to sue over a breached written contract in New York.
Employment
At-will
Employers can generally terminate without cause, subject to federal anti-discrimination and retaliation protections.
Check overtime pay owed →What Makes New York Different
New York tightened its deposit-return deadline to 14 days statewide under 2019 tenant-protection reforms.
New York’s $5,000 small claims limit sits below the 50-state median of 7500 — so a larger dispute may need to go through regular civil court instead of small claims, where legal representation becomes more common.
On security deposits, New York gives landlords 14 days to act — above the 50-state median of 30 days. That's a tighter window than most states, which works in tenants' favor: less time passes before you can act on a missed deadline. Once that window closes without an itemized deduction list, you have real leverage to demand the full amount back — see our Security Deposit Checker to see exactly where you stand.
For eviction, New York generally requires 14 days’ written notice before a landlord can start formal proceedings — regardless of that number, only a court can order an actual eviction; a landlord changing your locks or removing belongings without a court order is illegal self-help eviction in every state, New York included.
Free Tools & Guides for New York
Every link below is a working tool or guide — not a placeholder.