Publications Library

The Office of the New York State Attorney General offers informational publications on a variety of issues important to New Yorkers. You can download copies by clicking on the links below. You can also request publications in print. In addition, you can request multiple copies or large-print format. There is no charge for this service.

How to order:

The most convenient way to order is by using our publications order form:

  1. Be sure to provide a street address for multiple copies. We cannot deliver packages to post office boxes.
  2. Indicate the quantity of each item being requested.
  3. In the comments section, let us know if you need large-print materials or if you wish to receive the material by a specific date.
Note: It may take as long as four to six weeks to receive some publications. Please call or email if you have any questions.

2022 Year in Review

Attorney General James published a 2022 year in review, informing New Yorkers of big cases and actions that the Attorney General's Office has undertaken to move the state forward.

Read 2022 year in review

 

Tenants' rights

An explanation of leases, rent, habitability requirements, safety issues, utility services, and tenants' personal protections. Does not address cooperative or condominium housing issues.

View publication

 

Search by topic

To search for a publication by topic, choose the option below that best corresponds to your query.

Autos


Lemon law brochure

This publication provides information about New York’s “Lemon Laws,” which provide legal remedies for buyers of new and used cars that don’t conform to warranties.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Spanish


Buying a car

This publication offers advice on researching vehicles, choosing a dealer, and knowing what to look for in a contract. 

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic  |  Bengali  |  Chinese  |  Haitian Creole  |  Italian  |  Korean  |  Polish  |  Russian  |  Spanish  |  Yiddish

Charitable giving

 

Tips on charitable giving

This publication provides tips on how to donate to charity safely and wisely.

View publication  |  Order publication

Charitable organizations
 

Guidance for charities on management of endowment funds

View publication  |  Order publication


Dissolution of not-for-profit corporations with assets

View publication  |  Order publication


Dissolution of not-for-profit corporations without assets

View publication  |  Order publication


Forming and changing a not-for-profit corporation

View publication  |  Order publication


Internal controls

View publication  |  Order publication


Mergers and consolidations

View publication  |  Order publication


Guidance for congregants whose houses of worship are or may be offered for lease or sale document

View publication  |  Order publication


Religious corporations: sales and other disposition of assets

A guide assists religious corporations and the lawyers who represent them in seeking approval of the Attorney General or the Court for sales, mortgages, and leases of their real property pursuant to Religious Corporations Law.

View publication  |  Order publication


Right from the start — responsibilities of directors of not-for-profit corporations

View publication  |  Order publication


Sales and other dispositions of assets

View publication  |  Order publication 


Hiring a professional fundraiser

View publication  |  Order publication

Civil rights and special needs


Equal pay

This brochure details your rights and helpful resources to ensure that you are paid fairly and equitably.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Italian | Haitian Creole | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish


Source-of-income discrimination

This brochure describes laws in some New York communities against discriminatory housing practices targeting those whose lawful incomes are derived from lawful sources other than wages.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Italian | Haitian Creole | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Hate crimes

This publication details the ways that you can protect yourself and others if you experience a hate crime.

View publication | Order publication


Marijuana legalization and record expungement

These detailed instructions provide information on how you can expunge marijuana-related convictions from your criminal record.

View publication | Order publication


Language access

This brochure discusses laws and regulations that ensure access to information and services, regardless of an individual's primary language or hearing impairment.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Religious rights in the workplace

This publication describes the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers in accommodating religious needs.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Fair housing

This publication discusses laws concerning discrimination in the rental, sale, or financing of homes.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Employment discrimination

This document discusses laws concerning discrimination in the workplace and possible actions for employees who face it.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Service animals brochure

This brochure discusses the laws that protect individuals who rely upon service animals, particularly in public accommodations and housing.

View publication | Order publication


Sexual harassment in the workplace

This publication explains what sexual harassment is, discusses the steps a victim of sexual harassment can take, and reminds the reader that retaliation for a sexual-harassment complaint is discriminatory and therefore illegal.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Spanish


Human trafficking

This publication details how to identify the signs of human trafficking and find help for yourself or someone else victimized by this crime.

View publication | Order publication

Consumer fraud


Deed theft

This publication provides tips on how to avoid deed theft and similar scams and keep possession of your home in safe hands.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Spanish | Russian | Yiddish


Telephone scams

Scammers use both live and robo calls to trick victims. Here are tips on how to avoid the scam.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Chinese | Spanish

Consumer tips
 

e-Bike safety

We know that you work hard and that your e-bike is valuable to you. Protect yourself by following our tips.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages:  Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Spanish


IRS scams

This brochure includes tips to avoid being scammed by con artists pretending to represent the Internal Revenue Service.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Spanish | Russian | Yiddish


Payday loans

Find information on payday loans, and other types of short-term, high-interest loans, and learn how to stay out of debt and avoid scams.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Korean | Spanish | Russian


Savvy consumers

This publication offers tips on making smart purchases and avoiding bad deals.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Korean | Spanish | Russian


Summer scams

Warm weather can bring out the scammers. This publication describes how to spot some common scams.

View publication  |  Order publication


After the storm

This document offers tips for dealing with repair contractors and avoiding price gouging in the wake of damaging storms.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Debt: Managing the overload

This publication includes information about dealing with debt collectors, and seeking help from credit counseling agencies.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Spanish


Protect your identity

This publication includes an explanation of what exactly identity theft is and how it works, along with a series of key precautionary tips for consumers, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the utmost reasonable privacy of personal information and monitoring credit reports.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Identity theft kit

Straightforward directions describe immediate steps to take if your identity or other personal information has been stolen.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish


Low-cost banking

This brochure discusses low-cost services that banks must provide consumers, as well as other options like prepaid debit cards.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: ArabicBengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Do your homework before hiring a home-improvement contractor

This brochure contains tips and other information you should consult before hiring a home-improvement contractor, as well as how to avoid scams and get your money's worth.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Spanish

Crime & safety


Crime Victims' Bill of Rights

This page provides a summary of victims' rights, discussing victims' right to know, victim involvement, making victims whole, protection for crime victims, and help for victims.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: ArabicBengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | ItalianKorean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Urdu | Yiddish

Environmental


Going solar: tips for homeowners

This brochure describes some common options and issues to consider for homeowners interested in installing solar panels.

View publication  |  Order publication


Lead paint poisoning

This publication offers tips for avoiding and testing for lead paint poisoning, as well as a discussion of consumer rights when renting, owning, and improving your home.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Mold in your home

This brochure offers advice on removing mold from your home in the aftermath of a storm and flooding.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Spanish


Green tips: fighting climate change on the road

This publication provides tips on what you can do to fight climate change and pollution generated by transportation and fossil fuels.

View publication | Order publication

Health 


Abortion is legal and protected in New York 

Even with Roe v. Wade overturned, the state of New York has robust protections in place to ensure that anyone who can get pregnant — including transgender men and nonbinary people — can get an abortion.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Protecting access to reproductive health care services

This publication explains state and federal laws to both provide and obtain reproductive health care services in New York.

View publication  |  Order publication


Victims of domestic violence

This publication describes the laws of New York protecting victims of domestic violence, particularly in housing and employment.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Advance directives: making your wishes known and honored

This document recommends that New Yorkers plan in advance for end-of-life health care. It gives reasons for doing so, as well as information on advance directives, pain management, hospice care, and organ donation, among other topics.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Mold in your home

This brochure offers advice on removing mold from your home in the aftermath of storms and flooding.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Spanish


Indoor tanning

Know the facts: This publication dispels myths and misconceptions

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Health care helpline

This brochure explains how the Office of the New York State Attorney General's Health Care Bureau safeguards consumers’ health care rights by mediating disagreements, providing information, and investigating cases of fraud and abuse.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Spanish | Russian | Yiddish


Mental Health Parity Laws

Ensuring equal access to coverage of treatment for mental health.

View publication | Order publication


Health & Rx discount cards

This brochure explains how discount cards are supposed to work and gives advice on making smart purchases and avoiding deceptive scams. It also describes some alternatives and offers services from both the Consumer Frauds and Protections Bureau, as well as the Health Care Bureau, of the Office of the Attorney General.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Urgent care centers

Explains how urgent care centers can fit into consumers' health care options.

View publication | Order publication

Housing


Tenants' rights

This publication provides an explanation of leases, rent, habitability requirements, safety issues, utility services, and tenants' personal protections. It does not address cooperative or condominium housing issues.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Spanish | Russian


Law enforcement tenants' rights guidance

This memorandum provides guidance to law enforcement throughout the state of New York responding to complaints by landlords, superintendents, or other persons that tenants or their invited guests are improperly organizing or meeting within a building or its common grounds.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Spanish | Russian | Yiddish


Demonstrating financial hardship under the Tenant Safe Harbor Act

This publication offers guidance about the Tenant Safe Harbor Act (TSHA) and information about how to demonstrate financial hardship with both traditional and nontraditional income types to ensure that tenants remain in their homes and have access to the protections offered under the law.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | French | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Spanish | Russian | Urdu | Yiddish


Deed theft

This publication discusses how to avoid deed theft and similar scams and keep possession of your home in safe hands.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Bengali | Chinese | Creole | Korean | Spanish | Russian


Tenant harassment — New York City

This brochure provides tips on what you can do as a tenant to protect yourself from harassment by your landlord.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Spanish | Russian | Yiddish


Tenant harassment — outside New York City

This brochure provides tips on what you can do as a tenant to protect yourself from harassment by your landlord.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Spanish | Russian | Yiddish


Fair housing

This document discusses laws concerning discrimination in the rental, sale, or financing of homes.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish

 


Immigrant tenant rights

This publication discusses the rights of immigrant tenants in New York, and provides resources for more information and guidance.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Understanding and dealing with a co-op board of directors

This piece discusses rules regulating and powers designated to the board of directors of cooperatives, provides information about leases and other documents, and offers tips for tackling problems.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Spanish

Immigration fraud


Immigration services fraud

This brochure is designed to inform immigrants about their rights under the law and provides tips to avoid scams that target them and the services they utilize.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish

Labor


Equal pay

This brochure details your rights and helpful resources to ensure that you are paid fairly and equitably.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Italian | Haitian Creole | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish


On the job: employees' rights

New York protects the rights of all workers throughout the state. This brochure discusses those rights and where to find help if rights are violated.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Spanish

Seniors


Smart seniors, smart investors

This publication offers tips for older adults about making smart investments and avoiding investment fraud.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Smart seniors

This booklet is aimed at helping senior citizens better understand how to protect themselves against scams, threats to their health, and elder abuse.

View publication  |  Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish


Grandparent scheme

This publication provides tips for avoiding scams that target grandparents.

View publication | Order publication

Additional languages: Arabic | Bengali | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Italian | Korean | Polish | Russian | Spanish | Yiddish

Students and finances


Students, credit cards, and banking

Raise your financial IQ: This document provides tips on applying for and using credit cards and banking services.

View publication  |  Order publication


Paying for college

Raise your financial IQ: This publication offers smart tips for understanding and financing college expenses.

View publication  |  Order publication

For questions about publications, including requesting copies, determining needed quantities, or obtaining special formats, please contact:

Public Information
Office of the New York State Attorney General
publications@ag.ny.gov
518-776-2357
Fax 518-650-9401