{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "cpl", "section": "420.45", "citation": "CPL § 420.45", "heading": "Post-trial motion relating to certain instruments affecting residential real property", "text": ["§ 420.45 Post-trial motion relating to certain instruments affecting", "residential real property.", "1. When a defendant has been convicted after a trial or pled guilty to any crime that affects the title to, encumbrance of, or the possession of, real property and where there is an instrument that is material to such encumbrance, transfer or purchase of said real property, the district attorney, the attorney general, or any law enforcement agency may file a motion in the supreme court in the county where the property that is the subject of the instrument is located or the prosecution occurred on behalf of the victim to void said instrument. Such motion must be in writing and state the county or borough, if in the city of New York, and block, lot, street address of such property, and a description of such property, and include a copy of the judgment of conviction. Notice must be given to all persons who have an interest in the property.", "2. Within ten days after filing a motion pursuant to subdivision one of this section, the agency filing the motion shall record a copy of the notice of motion in the office of the clerk of the county in which the property is situated. The notice shall be indexed by the clerk in the manner prescribed by subdivision (c) of rule sixty-five hundred eleven of the civil practice law and rules for a notice of pendency of action and shall have the same effect as such notice.", "3. The supreme court must conduct a hearing and make findings of fact essential to the determination whether to declare the instrument described in subdivision one of this section void ab initio. There will be a rebuttable presumption that where a party is convicted after a trial or a guilty plea to any crime that affects the title to, encumbrance of, or the possession of, real property and where there is an instrument that encumbers or is material to the transfer or sale of real property, that such instrument is void ab initio.", "4. Upon the defendant's conviction of or guilty plea as described in subdivision one of this section, and after conducting a hearing pursuant to subdivision three of this section, a court shall make a determination and if appropriate shall order that the instrument described in subdivision one of this section be declared void ab initio or grant other appropriate relief to the victim. The order of the court shall describe the nature of the false statement or false information contained in such instrument. A copy of such instrument shall be attached to the order of the court.", "5. If the order relates to an instrument that has been filed with, registered, or recorded in a public office, a certified copy of such order shall be recorded in the office of the recording officer of the county in which such property is situated.", "6. For purposes of this section, \"all persons who have an interest in the property affected by such instrument\" shall mean all parties who have recorded an instrument affecting the real property that is the subject of the instrument described in subdivision one of this section, any last record owner and anyone in residence during the pendency of the prosecution and any party with a lien against the property that is unsatisfied, or any other party that may claim to have liens or an interest in the property, and any current residents of the property, as of the date of the filing of the criminal information or indictment.", "7. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to inhibit or prevent (a) relief otherwise provided by law, or (b) a party's right to appeal such order."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/420.45", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "- **1.** After conviction (trial or plea) for a crime affecting **title, encumbrance, or possession** of real property where an **instrument** is involved, the **DA, AG, or any law enforcement agency** may move in **Supreme Court** (county where property is or prosecution occurred) on the victim's behalf to **void the instrument.** The motion must be **written**, state county/borough, block, lot, street address, description, and include a copy of the judgment. **Notice** to all persons with an interest. ★\n- **2.** Within **10 days** of filing, the agency must **record a copy of the notice of motion** with the county clerk, indexed like a **notice of pendency (CPLR 6511(c))** and with the same effect. ★\n- **3.** Supreme Court must hold a **hearing** and make findings on whether to declare the instrument **void ab initio** (void from the start). ★ There's a **rebuttable presumption** that such an instrument is void ab initio.\n- **4.** After the hearing the court may declare the instrument **void ab initio** or grant other relief; the order describes the false statement, with a copy of the instrument attached.\n- **5.** If the instrument was filed/recorded publicly, a **certified copy of the order** is recorded with the county recording officer.\n- **6.** Defines \"all persons who have an interest\" — recorded-instrument holders, last record owner, residents during prosecution, unsatisfied lienholders, and current residents as of the filing date.\n- **7.** Nothing here blocks other legal relief or the right to **appeal**.\n\n---\n\n**★ Exam hits:**\n- **Restitution/reparation is paid BEFORE the fine**; cash bail applied restitution-first too.\n- Jail for non-payment caps: **felony ≤ 1 year, misdemeanor ≤ 1/3 max term, petty offense ≤ 15 days**; **surcharge/fees ≤ 15 days** (and only after a hardship finding).\n- A broke defendant can apply for **resentencing at any time**; incarceration alone ≠ inability to pay.\n- Money orders get filed with the **county clerk** and **docketed as a civil money judgment** (CPLR 5016/5017/5018); docketed **restitution is a first lien** on later-acquired realty (except government liens and purchase-money interests).\n- **Corporations pay at sentencing** or it's collected as a civil judgment (AG / county attorney / NYC corporation counsel).\n- **Surcharges and fees are essentially never waived or remitted** — narrow exceptions: prostitution/trafficking victims (§ 420.35(2)) and under-21 hardship/interest-of-justice (§ 420.35(2-a)).\n- § 420.45: motion to void a crime-tainted real-property instrument goes to **Supreme Court**, notice of motion recorded within **10 days**, **rebuttable presumption** the instrument is **void ab initio**.\n\n\n---\n*Verbatim statute:* [[CPL - Article 420]]", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/cpl/420.45", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}