Nassau County Foreclosure Defense cases have several steps. Knowing the procedure of the foreclosure case can dictate which steps should be taken at any particular moment throughout the course of the litigation. The following is a quick summary of the options that may be available in a Nassau County Foreclosure Defense case after the summons and complaint have been served on the home owner.
Gathering information necessary to the defense of the action is probably the most overlooked and underrated step that both pro-se litigants and attorneys make in defending foreclosures. Simple research such as ordering a foreclosure search should be part of the due diligence undertaken prior to litigating. Other methods such as discovery devices can be used to gather additional information during the pendency of the foreclosure litigation.
Responsive pleadings including affirmative defenses and counterclaims where applicable should be filed in a timely fashion. Responsive pleadings in foreclosure actions will often depend greatly on the information gathered about the property and circumstances surrounding the loan origination and servicing.
Motion practice can be used as part of a foreclosure defense strategy. Motions can accomplish several goals that can be of great importance to the preservation of the home owners rights.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy should also be discussed as part of a comprehensive foreclosure defense strategy. Deciding on the appropriate time for filing of a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy to aid in a foreclosure defense will depend on a myriad of factors. Some cases dictate that a Chapter 7 should be filed prior to responsive pleadings. Some cases dictate that Chapter 7 should be filed after settlement conference negotiations have broken down. Other cases dictate that Chapter 7 will be of no use to a home owner in foreclosure.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is an extremely useful tool for foreclosure defense planning. Chapter 13 filings are often times more effective earlier in the process for certain logistical reasons. If the default in mortgage payments were in the not to distant past, the use of Chapter 13 is more likely to be successful.
Federal loss mitigation applications should be considered when weighing bankruptcy options. For its brief existence, this program seems to be very successful and worth the effort to apply.
Please understand that loan modification applications should be submitted in completed form as quickly as possible to initiate loss mitigation negotiations. This is not separate from any of the options listed herein for foreclosure defense, but rather as a supplement. As always, case specific facts will determine which options each individual will proceed with after detailed discussions with an attorney.
Foreclosure Defense Attorney in Nassau County
If you or someone you are concerned about are facing foreclosure, call the Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC at 516-858-2620 today. Remember, successful litigation is no accident.
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90 Day Pre-Foreclosure Notice
I just received a 90 day pre-foreclosure notice; what does this mean?
NY foreclosure law now requires that a 90-day pre-foreclosure notice be sent to many homeowners facing foreclosure. The 90-day notice requirement must be sent to homeowners, at risk of foreclosure, who own and occupy a 1-4 family dwelling as their principal residence.
The notice has to be in 14 point type and sent at least ninety (90) days before a lender, an assignee or a mortgage loan servicer commences legal action against the borrower. The 90 day foreclosure notice shall include the following:
“YOU COULD LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING
NOTICE CAREFULLY”
“As of ___, your home loan is ___ days in default. Under New York
State Law, we are required to send you this notice to inform you that
you are at risk of losing your home. You can cure this default by making
the payment of _____ dollars by ____.
If you are experiencing financial difficulty, you should know that
there are several options available to you that may help you keep your
home. Attached to this notice is a list of government approved housing
counseling agencies in your area which provide free or very low-cost
counseling. You should consider contacting one of these agencies
immediately. These agencies specialize in helping homeowners who are
facing financial difficulty. Housing counselors can help you assess your
financial condition and work with us to explore the possibility of
modifying your loan, establishing an easier payment plan for you, or
even working out a period of loan forbearance. If you wish, you may also
contact us directly at __________ and ask to discuss possible options.
While we cannot assure that a mutually agreeable resolution is
possible, we encourage you to take immediate steps to try to achieve a
resolution. The longer you wait, the fewer options you may have.
If this matter is not resolved within 90 days from the date this
notice was mailed, we may commence legal action against you (or sooner
if you cease to live in the dwelling as your primary residence.)
If you need further information, please call the New York State
Banking Department’s toll-free helpline at 1-877-BANK-NYS
(1-877-226-5697) or visit the Department’s website at
http://www.banking.state.ny.us”
Ideally, the 90 day pre -foreclosure notice is sent prior to the start of the foreclosure action and allows a homeowner to work with their lender to prevent the foreclosure of their home. If you have received a 90 day foreclosure notice, you should consider calling a foreclosure defense attorney to discuss your options.
Long Island Foreclosure Attorneys
As always, the Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC is here to assist you. We are conveniently located in the heart of Nassau County, Long Island, NY. Contact us at (516) 858-2620 to arrange a consultation with a foreclosure defense attorney.
Please visit our Foreclosure category to learn more about foreclosure issues.
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