Best of the Web

  • Section 161.01 of the New York City Health Code lists the animals that may not be kept as pets in New York City.
  • This site helps you request a free, annual credit report from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
  • Access brochures regarding animal rights, including "Providing For Your Pet in the Event of Your Death or Hospitalization," "Bringing Rex Home: A Veterinarian/Boarding Kennel's Right to Hold Your Pet Because of an Unpaid Bill in New York," and "Keeping Spot and Fluffy Home: Companion Animals in New York City Apartments."
  • Check out a business or charity, file a complaint online, and access publications offering guidance on a variety of consumer issues.
  • The Better Business Bureau offers online publications on a variety of consumer topics in English and in Spanish.
  • A publication of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York which deals with issues related to the payment of child support and the legal process involved.
  • Access Fact Sheets explaining what tenants should know about the court process, eviction, and other matters. Learn about the Task Forces telephone hotline and Information Tables which answer questions concerning landlord/tenant issues.
  • The regulations provided by this site oversee standards and methods of instruction, equipment and housing, catalogs, records, school advertisement, issuing certificates, teaching qualifications and a lot more.

  • This Manual from the NYS Consumer Protection Board addresses the most common consumer questions regularly presented to New York's consumer advocates. It also contains consumer contact source lists.

  • An overview of the structure of the New York State court system.
  • Contains basic contact information, as well as answers to frequently asked questions and a glossary of terms.
  • Provides concise address listings of major criminal justice agencies in New York State, including NYC courts, law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, parole offices, youth agencies, and prosecution and defense associations.
  • The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse provides sample letters: a short letter and a version that you can customize for your particular needs after you download it to your computer.
  • Complete text of the Fair Credit Reporting Act provided by the staff of the Federal Trade Commission.
  • Convenient question and answer format covers many useful subjects about debt collection, including how to report unfair practices or violation of law by debt collectors.
  • The Act specifies who a debt collector is and how they may acquire information. It also delimits the kinds of activities that constitute harassment or are abusive.
  • Information about identity theft from the Federal Trade Commission. Includes what to do if you suspect you have been a victim of identity theft.
  • The Website for the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, which collects and distributes information on hundreds of nonprofit organizations, offers charity reports, tips on charitable giving, and other useful information.
  • Learning center for philanthropy issues, database with information on more than 650,000 nonprofits, collection of articles and web links for nonprofit subjects.
  • Find a wealth of information on a nonprofit's operations, programs, finances, and personnel on this indispensable site.

  • This is the Federal Trade Commissions Website for information about identity theft. It includes steps to take, ways to place fraud alerts, and more. Additional useful links include access to federal and state laws [New York is NOT included], cases and scams.

  • The Legal Information Institute presents an overview of juvenile justice which includes federal and state statutes as well as New York Court of Appeals decisions.
  • Contains general information on the provisions of the laws governing the employment of minors in New York State.
  • A step-by-step tutorial on how to compile the legislative history of a New York State law.
  • This site will give you an opportunity to see if the school you are attending or plan to attend has any actions against it by the State Department of Education. It also provides you with a live link to The Directory of Schools which lists the most current and comprehensive roster of institutions licensed and registered by the Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision and their approved location(s) to conduct instruction.
  • A directory of legal Websites and resources pertaining to New York.

  • Search over 17,000 decisions decided by New York City agencies.

  • The Department of Buildings provides this Web version of the Building Code for reference and informational purposes only. The print version of the Building Code, together with any Local Laws (amendments) adopted by the City Council subsequent to the most recent update to the print version, remains the official version.
  • The Website of the New York State Legislature provides links to the online versions of the New York City Charter and Administrative Code. Click on the link "Laws of New York," and then scroll down to the bottom of the list to the "Miscellaneous Section." There you will find links to both the New York City Charter and Administrative Code.
  • Provides useful information from the Housing Court, Civil Court, and Small Claims Court regarding procedures and court related issues. Also includes hours of operations, travel directions, and judges profiles.
  • Detailed answers to questions about arraignments in New York City. Includes an alphabetical list of crimes that gives an idea of their seriousness by providing the offense level. Also helps find the penal law section number by the name of the crime.
  • Offers contact information, answers to frequently asked questions, and special projects regarding the Criminal Court.
  • NYC agency for consumer and business assistance, consumer protection, complaint filing, business license applications and informative publications.
  • Find contact information and links to downloadable Family Court forms.
  • TenantNet provides the important factual and legal issues of selected NYC Housing Court cases. Includes a keyword search form to access decisions going back to February 1996.
  • New York City's housing maintenance code from the Website of the New York City Rent Guidelines Board (RGB).

  • Search for local laws and other legislation passed by the New York City Council since 1990. Searches are also available for Introductions and Resolutions.

  • View the lease renewal guidelines for rent stabilized apartments and hotels read consumer guides on tenant rights and apartment basics examine fact sheets with useful information for regulated tenants access the Housing Maintenance Code and e-mail housing questions to RGB staff.
  • The Department of City Planning provides access to the Web version of the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York.
  • Helps you to find and use the courts in New York State by providing courthouse information, a guide to selecting the right court for a particular problem, lists of court administrators, answers to frequently asked law questions, links to official court system forms, and other useful information.
  • Includes archived decisions of the New York Court of Appeals, the highest court of New York State, from 1990 forward.
  • Discusses Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT) procedures in the criminal justice system primarily in New York City. Offers detailed explanations of what offenses qualify for DATs, what DATs mean, how to hire a lawyer for a DAT, what to do, and more.
  • Provides information on specific charities and wise giving practices and also advises charities on how to meet and maintain high ethical standards of operation. Search their database for free charity reports.
  • Access recently released New York State court decisions (New York Court of Appeals, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court and other courts) that have not yet been edited for publication in the Official Reports, together with an electronic citation for each decision.
  • Search through current New York State bills by bill number or by keyword on the Website of the NYS Assembly.
  • Search or browse New York Consolidated Laws on the FindLaw site.
  • Consumer protection and education on lemon laws, credit reporting and ticket brokers, as well as information on scams involving home improvement, construction, telemarketing, mail, and senior citizens in New York State.
  • Many of the New York State Court System's decisions are available online. Select a court from the menu listed to search through its decisions.
  • Browse the Consolidated Laws, Unconsolidated Laws, Court Acts, Assembly Rules, Senate Rules, and the New York State Constitution.
  • Search the current database of NYS legislative bills, summaries, sponsor memos, floor votes, and resolutions on the Website of the NYS Legislature.
  • Access useful guides to courts throughout New York State, juror information, court rules, and the future court appearance system to find all pending cases.
  • This Website offers one-stop-shopping for links to legislation, Federal Register Notices, Policy Guidance, and Grant Applications for the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Links to Legislation, Regulations, and Policy Guidance for programs still being implemented under the Improving Americas Schools Act are also on this site.

  • Telephone numbers to call about noise in New York City, whether caused by garbage pickups, bars or other sources of noise.

  • Provides contact information and complaint forms for consumer disputes.
  • Lists useful numbers for seniors to call for help with housing or legal issues.
  • An FBI publication explaining the complexities of online child exploitation.
  • A pamphlet of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York covering child care and public assistance.
  • This NYS Department of Health Website offers links to "Your Rights as a Hospital Patient in New York State" (available in English and Spanish), a Consumers Guide to Arranging a Funeral, and Before Prepaying Your Funeral, Know Your Rights.
  • The laws governing the operation of non-public schools are available at this Website. Information provided covers licensing standards, disciplinary actions, tuition reimbursement and disclosure to students.
  • The association representing New York City property owners/agents provides links to relevant government agencies and private associations as well as relevant laws.
  • This site, created by the American Bar Association, provides tips for safely shopping online.
  • Covers the most common events and procedures in the Housing Part of the Civil Court of the City of New York, more commonly known as Housing Court.
  • Provides laws, how to organize tenant associations and links to existing associations, as well as New York City's Zoning Handbook.
  • Information about how to file a complaint, file a claim to the tuition reimbursement fund, obtain information about cancellation policies and regulations governing private school agents.
  • From this sites home page select the Your Action Center tab at the top of the page. This will lead you to many useful articles and resources concerning your rights with regard to medicaid, health insurance plans, hospital emergency treatment under federal law advocacy issues such as when to seek legal advice and how to prepare for a meeting with legal counsel.
  • Search for senior housing developments in New York State, learn about the different types of housing available, and find answers to critical questions regarding housing policies and services.