Foreclosure help in Kings County (Brooklyn)

Specific to Kings County

How Foreclosure Works in Kings County (Brooklyn)

A residential foreclosure in Kings County is a lawsuit filed in Kings County Supreme Court at 360 Adams Street. Knowing how Brooklyn handles court appearances, document filings, and auctions helps you take control of your case and protect your rights as a homeowner.

Where Kings County Foreclosure Cases Are Heard

Foreclosure lawsuits in Brooklyn are filed in Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term. Because New York is a judicial foreclosure state, your lender cannot take your property without filing a summons and complaint in this court.

Once you are served with foreclosure papers, you must file a formal written answer with the court. You have 20 days to answer if the papers were delivered to you in person within New York State, or 30 days if served by any other method. The court system provides a free online program that helps self-represented homeowners draft an answer step-by-step. Failing to answer can result in a default judgment against you.

Settlement Conferences in the Kings County Foreclosure Part

Under CPLR 3408, the court must hold a mandatory settlement conference within 60 days after the lender files proof of service. In Kings County, the dedicated Foreclosure Office and Foreclosure Settlement Conference Part manages these appearances in Room 361 at 360 Adams Street.

Brooklyn routes foreclosure cases through specialized conference calendars, including the Foreclosure Pre-Settlement (FPS) calendar, Foreclosure Settlement Conference Part A (FSC-A), and the Foreclosure Screening Settlement Part (FSSP). Both you and the lender must negotiate in good faith to see if you can reach an agreement, such as a loan modification, repayment plan, or short sale. Only the lender or loan servicer has the legal authority to approve loss-mitigation options.

Checking Your Kings County Case and Property Records

Your lender must file a notice of pendency with the Kings County Clerk at least 20 days before a final judgment can be granted. The Kings County Clerk is located in Room 189 at 360 Adams Street, with physical records accessible in Room 079.

You can inspect land records, including mortgages and deeds, online through the Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS) run by the New York City Department of Finance. To review court filings and look up upcoming court appearance dates, you can search the state court system's online records using your party name or index number.

How Brooklyn Foreclosure Auctions Are Conducted

Foreclosure auctions in Kings County are conducted every Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in Room 224 of the Supreme Court building at 360 Adams Street. The court maintains a public scan list showing properties scheduled for each weekly sale.

Under Administrative Order 35/22, a plaintiff or court-appointed referee cannot hold a sale without formal scheduling approval from the Supreme Court Clerk, who assigns the specific date, time, and room. Details are published in the legal notice of sale under RPAPL 231. Once an auction takes place, your right of redemption ends immediately, as New York does not have a post-sale redemption period. If the property sells for more than the debt owed, the surplus money is paid into the court for distribution.

Free Foreclosure Help in Kings County

Homeowners in Brooklyn have access to free housing counseling through organizations funded by the New York State Attorney General's Homeowner Protection Program. Counselors can help you organize loss-mitigation packages, communicate with your loan servicer, and prepare for court conferences.

Local counseling groups serving Kings County include the Brooklyn Neighborhood Improvement Association, Community Organization Of Southern Brooklyn, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, MHANY Management, and multiple branches of Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn. Homeowners can reach the statewide counseling network directly by calling 1-855-466-3456.