Neighbor disputes in New York often involve issues such as noise, trespassing, property boundaries, nuisance conditions, or animal-caused damage. In some situations, these problems can lead to legal claims if a neighbor’s actions interfere with property rights or cause measurable harm. New York law provides several ways to address these conflicts, ranging...
A charitable lead annuity trust provides high-net-worth individuals with a structure for donating to charity and giving a gift to another person or entity. Importantly, the gift recipient does not need to be a charitable organization. Thus, you can donate to your favorite hospital foundation and leave a gift to your nephew...
Builder contracts follow the same rules as other service agreements, and breaking one can lead to serious financial consequences. Once you sign, your ability to back out is limited and depends on the contract terms, any conduct by the builder that raises concerns, and how much work has already been done.
Property law uses many archaic terms that are unique to the use and transfer of real estate. “Deed” is one of these terms, which simply refers to a document used to convey property ownership interests. You can think of a deed as a type of contract, although it has many formal...
Buying and selling a home can be a stressful process, especially with all of the contracts and paperwork. Within your real estate contract, you may find contingency clauses, which could affect your transaction.
What is a contingency clause?When something is “contingent,” it means something...
When it comes to buying and selling property, you can expect to encounter many real estate terms you may not be familiar with — “as-is” is one of those terms. It is critical to look out for these terms in your contract and understand what they could mean for you and...
Land encroachment refers to the illegal occupation of land that belongs to someone else. This type of activity can happen in many ways. If you are the victim of encroachment of property, reach out to a real estate attorney at Merlino & Gonzalez.
Encroachment of property can result in...
Estate planning is critical to ensure that your assets and property are distributed according to your wishes after you pass away or become incapacitated. But those with blended families often experience unique estate planning challenges.
This is especially true when a blended family includes children, stepchildren, or grandchildren....
Real estate mediation is an ideal method for resolving disputes without taking on the expense and stress of court proceedings. Ideally, successful mediation will put an end to a dispute in a way that leaves both sides satisfied.
The key to making the most of real estate mediation is...
A quiet title action is a lawsuit filed in court to establish clear ownership of a property and remove competing claims, liens, or defects affecting the title. In New York, this type of legal action allows a judge to determine who holds valid ownership rights when records are unclear or in...
