News outlets recently reported the tragic death of Shannen Doherty at the young age of 53.  Ms. Doherty was best known for playing “Brenda Walsh” in the series “Beverly Hills, 90210.”  She was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and bravely fought against the disease until her death.  The actress was survived by her mother, brother and estranged third husband, as well as her dog.  She did not have children.  Knowing that she was terminally ill allowed her to make  appropriate personal and legal plans. It has been reported that Ms. Doherty made her funeral wishes and pr ..read more

Weiss & Weiss would like to wish everyone a happy Indpendence Day ..read more

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Weiss & Weiss would like to wish all a Happy Memorial Day and remember those who served to protect us ..read more

We would like to inform our readers that Transfer on Death Deeds (“TOD”) will become an option for property transfers in New York as of July 19, 2024.  Real property such as a house, condominium unit or vacant land is currently transferred by deed.  There are currently various types of deeds available for property transfers in New York State.  A Referee’s Deed applies to the transfer of property by the Court appointed Referee after a foreclosure sale.  An Administrator’s or Executor’s Deed is used by the fiduciary appointed by the Surrogate’s Court in an estate matter  ..read more

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Recently in the news are stories about squatters taking over properties in New York.  A recent blog post addressed the question of who is legally defined as a squatter, and how such a person could be evicted.  The reason for this prior analysis is that, under then-current New York law, anyone occupying a property for at least thirty days was legally considered a “tenant” and had to be evicted through the Court system, most often in the local landlord-tenant Court. Allowing such persons the same protections under the law as actual tenants (generally meaning those who had a lease and w ..read more

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We have previously posted concerning a significant amendment to the property condition disclosure law in New York.  Previously, sellers of residential real estate were required to complete a detailed questionnaire concerning property conditions or issue a $500 credit at the closing for failure to deliver the document.  Many sellers, especially those in downstate NY, as serviced by our firm, preferred to issue the $500 credit instead of completing the form. The new law, which becomes effective on March 20, eliminates the seller’s option to issue the $500 credit.  Instead, it re ..read more

Recently in the news is a story about a couple who purchased a house in Queens after foreclosure.  After they completed their purchase, they discovered a “squatter” living in the house.  This story raises the question of who is legally defined as a squatter, and how can such a person be evicted? First, let it be said that this is by no means an unusual course of events in New York.  New York State laws, as well as many Judges in the landlord-tenant Courts, are notoriously “pro-tenant,” making it difficult to evict anyone, even squatters.  Changes in New York Real Property A ..read more