The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) provides free valuable information to New Yorkers about how the legal system affects everyone in its Know Your Rights pamphlet series. NYSBA announced the addition of three new pamphlets which brings a total of 13 different legal topics in the series.

The pamphlets provide New Yorkers information about the legal system in easily understandable language free of dense legal jargon that is found in most legal writing.

According to Philip Furgang of New York, chair of the NYSBA Committee on Public Relations, which oversees the pamphlet series, "The legal system will only be effective if each citizen is able to understand and effectively use the legal system. We hope to make the process less confusing by providing clear and concise information about how the legal system can best serve each person."

The new NYSBA titles are: Living Wills and Health Care Proxies; The Role of the Lawyer in Home Purchase Transactions; and Your Rights to an Appeal in a Civil Case.

The Living Wills and Health Care Proxies pamphlet identifies the purpose served by a living will and health care proxies. It gives a concise overview of when each document is used, how to produce a living will or health care proxy and finally what each document should contain.

A person is able to purchase a car or stocks without a lawyer. Why then is it necessary for a lawyer to be involved in the process of purchasing a home? The Role of the Lawyer in Home Purchase Transactions pamphlet succinctly answers why a lawyer is needed and outlines exactly what is the lawyer's role in the process.

Your Rights to an Appeal in a Civil Case outlines the process that must be followed in order to have a case appealed to a higher court. The cost and time line of the appeal process are highlighted in this brochure.

Other titles available for the NYSBA in this series are:

You and Your Lawyer; Divorce and Separation in New York State; Adoption in New York; Why You Need a Will; Buying and Selling Real Estate; Rights of Residential Owners and Tenants; AIDS and the Law; If You Have an Auto Accident; and Your Rights if Arrested and Your Rights as a Crime Victim.

The pamphlets are updated annually by the NYSBA substantive law sections. The NYSBA also publishes additional pamphlets on new subjects of interest, as needed. Single copies of pamphlets are available free of charge by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Pamphlets, New York State Bar Association, One Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207. Desired titles should be indicated on the envelope.

For Internet users, 12 of the 13 pamphlets can be viewed on NYSBA's website at http://www.nysba.org/public/public.html.

The 67,000 member New York State Bar Association is the official statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation.