In a case pending in Supreme court in Westchester county, justice William Glacomo sitting in a foreclosure part dealt with an unusual issue. US Bank had brought a foreclosure proceeding. In the foreclosure case they had moved for summary judgement (this is a motion requesting a foreclosure order without the need for trial). They claimed Eisman, who is now deceased did not make his mortgage payments. An estate was formed for the decedent Eisman. The executor of the estate argued the estate didn’t receive the appropriate notice the home was going into foreclosure under the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law section 1304. This section requires a financial institution to give 90 days notice to a homeowner prior to initiating the foreclosure lawsuit.
90 Day Notice Required
Justice William Giacomo found the 90 day notice required under Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law section 1304, only applied to living persons not to estates. Because Eisman was dead he did not have to be served at the cemetery and the executor of the estate also did not have to be served.
Judge Giacomo’s rational was since the borrower was dead, there was no longer a notice requirement which needed to be given to this borrower. He therefore held that Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law section 1304 no longer applied.
The Estate Issue
When someone dies an estate is created, the executor if there is a will and the administrator, if there is no will, stands, in the shoes of the decedent. If an obligation was owed to decedent to provide 90 days notice prior to initiating a foreclosure lawsuit, why shouldn’t this also apply to the estate of the decedent? I believe this issue should be taken up on appeal.
Elliot S Schlissel and his associates are foreclosure lawyers who defend homeowners in the Metropolitan New York area.
