Foreclosure help in Queens County

Specific to Queens County

Navigating Foreclosure in Queens County

A residential foreclosure in Queens takes place through the Queens County Supreme Court, Civil Term. From responding to the initial summons to attending your court conference, knowing the specific rules of the Jamaica courthouse helps you protect your home and assert your legal rights.

Foreclosure Cases in Queens County Supreme Court

Every residential foreclosure in New York is a judicial proceeding filed in the county Supreme Court. In Queens, the lender initiates the lawsuit by filing a summons and complaint with the Queens County Clerk, located in Room 106 at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica.

Your deadline to respond depends strictly on how you received the court papers. If you were served in person in New York, you have 20 days to file a formal answer. If you were served by any other method, you have 30 days. Homeowners who do not have an attorney can use the New York court system's step-by-step program to prepare an answer. If you miss this deadline, the court may enter a default judgment against you.

The lender must also file a notice of pendency with the Queens County Clerk at least 20 days before any final judgment can be granted. You can review deeds, mortgages, and recorded notices through the NYC Department of Finance ACRIS database, or check active court filings by looking up your index number in eCourts.

The Queens Settlement Conference Part

Under CPLR 3408, the court must schedule a mandatory settlement conference within 60 days after the lender files proof of service. In Queens County, these matters are assigned to the Residential Foreclosure Part and Foreclosure Conference Part, based out of Room 42A at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard.

Conferences in Queens are conducted remotely by video before a court attorney-referee, with sessions running Monday through Friday. Both sides are required by state law to negotiate in good faith to see if a loan modification, repayment agreement, or other loss-mitigation option is possible.

The Queens foreclosure part provides important protections for homeowners who attend without an attorney. You do not waive any jurisdictional defenses merely by appearing at your conference. At your first appearance, you may also be deemed to have applied to proceed as a poor person, and the referee generally grants one adjournment upon request. You can direct inquiries about your conference calendar to [email protected].

Foreclosure Auctions in Courtroom 25

If a case proceeds to a final judgment of foreclosure and sale, the property is scheduled for a public auction. Under statewide Administrative Order 35/22, the referee or plaintiff must request an auction date from the Supreme Court clerk, who assigns the specific time and location.

In Queens, public foreclosure auctions are held on Fridays in Courtroom 25 on the second floor of the courthouse at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard. Auctions run in two sessions, at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., with a strict limit of no more than 60 properties per day.

An auction will not go forward if it is not listed on the official court calendar in eCourts. The published notice of sale provides the date, time, and terms of sale under RPAPL 231. Under New York law, your right of redemption ends when the auction gavel falls, and there is no post-sale redemption period. Any surplus funds remaining after the judgment debt is satisfied are paid into the court.

Free Foreclosure Help in Queens

Queens homeowners have access to free local resources funded through the New York State Attorney General's housing counseling network. Certified counseling agencies assist homeowners with loan modification paperwork, hardship letters, and conference preparation.

Local organizations serving the borough include Chhaya Community Development Corporation in Jackson Heights, Margert Community Corporation in Far Rockaway, Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica, and Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens in Elmhurst. You can also reach the statewide homeowner protection hotline at 1-855-466-3456.

An attorney can review where your case stands and explain what legal options remain open to you, and the initial review is free.