Important Eviction Legislation
On December 28, 2020 Governor Cuomo signed into law the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020. The Act provides immediate relief to respondents in residential eviction proceedings in New York City, including, among other things:
1. Staying pending residential eviction proceedings for sixty (60) days. 2. Staying residential eviction proceedings filed within thirty (30) days of December 28, 2020 for sixty (60) days. 3. Publishing form “Hardship Declarations” to be used by tenant-respondents in eviction matters in reporting financial hardship during or due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 4. Staying residential eviction proceedings until at least May 1, 2021 in proceedings where a tenant-respondent submits a completed Hardship Declaration.
Hardship Declarations
Hardship Declarations are to be used by tenant-respondents in eviction matters in reporting financial hardship during or due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hardship Declaration forms in several languages are available here:
You may submit your Hardship Declaration forms to the court by e-mail to the account associated with the county in which your eviction proceeding is taking place:
| Bronx | BronxHardshipDeclaration@nycourts.gov |
| Kings (Brooklyn) | KingsHardshipDeclaration@nycourts.gov |
| New York (Manhattan) | NewYorkHardshipDeclaration@nycourts.gov |
| Queens | QueensHardshipDeclaration@nycourts.gov |
| Richmond (Staten Island) | RichmondHardshipDeclaration@nycourts.gov |
Tenant Legal Service Organizations
The New York City Civil Court is maintaining a list of contact information for not-for-profit legal services providers handling housing matters in New York City, available here.
Request for Removal of Default Judgment
If a default judgment has been entered against you during the pandemic, you may make a request to the Court that the default be removed by completing and submitting this form.
Court Orders
In response to the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020, the Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts has issued the following administrative order and memorandum addressing eviction proceedings:
- Administrative Order AO/340/2020
- Memorandum of Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks dated December 30, 2020
