RPAPL § 746

§ 746. Stipulations. 1. In any proceeding under this article, if a stipulation is made, on the occasion of a court appearance in the proceeding, setting forth an agreement between the parties, other than a stipulation solely to adjourn or stay the proceeding, and either the petitioner or the respondent is not represented by counsel, the court shall fully describe the terms of the stipulation to that party on the record.

2. No stipulation required to be on the record by subdivision one of this section may be approved by the court unless the court first conducts an allocution on the record that shall, at a minimum, find the following:

(a) the identity of the parties and whether all necessary parties have been named in the proceeding;

(b) the authority of the signatory to the stipulation if the named party is not present; and

(c) shall further find:

(i) that the unrepresented party understands that he or she may try the case if he or she does not agree with the proposed stipulation or if an acceptable stipulation cannot be negotiated;

(ii) where the other party is represented, whether the party's attorney inappropriately gave legal advice to the unrepresented litigant or whether the unrepresented litigant is agreeing to the proposed stipulation as a result of undue duress;

(iii) whether the unrepresented respondent agrees with or contests any allegation in the petition and predicate notices;

(iv) that the unrepresented party is aware of and understands claims or defenses he or she may have in the proceeding and is aware of the available options in light of those claims or defenses, especially where the stipulation provides for a surrender of the dwelling unit or the conversion of a nonpayment proceeding into a holdover proceeding;

(v) that the unrepresented litigant's claims or defenses are adequately addressed in the stipulation;

(vi) that the unrepresented party understands and agrees to the terms of the stipulation;

(vii) that the unrepresented party understands the effect of non-compliance with the terms of the stipulation by either side and what the deadlines and procedures are for addressing such non-compliance, including how to restore the case to the court calendar to obtain relief under or from the stipulation;

(viii) in all non-payment cases, including where the unrepresented party indicates that he or she intends to apply for public assistance benefits or to a charity to pay rent that is sought in the proceeding and that the court has determined to be owing to the petitioner, that an appropriate rent breakdown is included in the stipulation; and

(ix) that the unrepresented party understands the implications of a judgment against him or her and the legal requirement that the petitioner provide a satisfaction of judgment upon payment.

3. The court may use a court attorney to conference a case to determine the unrepresented party's claims or defenses and his or her understanding of all available options in light of those claims or defenses, or any of the other elements of the allocution required by this section. However, such conference may not substitute for an allocution by the court and, where it is used, the results shall be reported to the court, which shall note on the record that such conference occurred.

4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where the court, in its discretion, determines that, in the interests of justice, inclusion in the allocution required by subdivision two of this section of one or more findings described in paragraph (c) of such subdivision is or are not necessary given the history of the case, prior appearances or other factors, excluding a court attorney conference provided for in subdivision three above, such finding or findings may be omitted and the reason for such omission shall be set forth on the record.