About This Handbook

This handbook provides an overview of some of the legal issues that small business owners and nonprofit organizations may face if their business was displaced or disrupted as a result of the World Trade Center disaster. The handbook may not answer all of your questions; rather, it is designed to set out some of the legal issues you may need to consider, to help you understand the basics about each issue, and to point you in the right direction for help. This handbook is targeted to businesses located in New York State. It is also available online at www.abcny.org.

When considering the legal issues that your business faces, it may be helpful or even necessary to have the assistance of a lawyer. If you do not have an attorney, free legal advice and referrals are available to those in need who are affected by the events of September 11, 2001. You may contact the Legal Referral Service of the New York City and County Bar Associations at (212) 626-7373 (www.ilawyer.com - click on "New York City"); or the New York State Bar Association help line at (877) 435-7321 or its lawyer referral service at (518) 487-5709 (www.nysba.org). You may also visit one of the small business relief centers in Manhattan at the following locations:

110 Maiden Lane (at 80 Pine St.), Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 3pm;
633 Third Avenue (at East 41st), 32nd Floor, Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm;
21 South End Ave., Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 3pm;
62 Mott St., Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 3pm; and
141 Worth St. (at Centre St.), Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 3pm.