Frequently asked questions

No. New York prohibits landlords from self-help eviction — changing locks, cutting utilities or removing possessions — and doing so can expose you to liability and undermine an otherwise strong position. The statutory process must be used.

No. The papers mean the process has started; you have a defined period to respond and an opportunity to appear. The worst course is not appearing, which usually leads to a default judgment.

A co-owner generally has the right to seek partition, and where physical division isn't feasible the court can order a sale. So refusal usually delays the timeline rather than changing the outcome.

It's worth pursuing. Employers are generally required to keep hours and pay records, and where they can't produce them an employee's reasonable estimate may be accepted. Scheduling messages, commuting records and colleagues' accounts help reconstruct the picture.

Quite possibly. Paying a day or monthly rate doesn't automatically remove the overtime obligation; what matters is actual hours worked and the nature of the role. Long hours in food service, retail and personal care frequently leave a shortfall.