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John J. Yanas

Location: Albany, New York
Phone: 518-462-5300 (Ext. 222)
Fax: 518-436-0210
Email: firm@degraff-foy.com

Mr. Yanas has been engaged in the general practice of law for over 50 years, with the majority of his practice directed in the areas of trusts and estates, real estate (including mortgages, mortgage foreclosure, landlord and tenant), corporate organization and elder law.

Mr. Yanas is a graduate of Albany Law School of Union University where he received his L.L.B. in 1953 and an L.L.D. in 1989. He was Albany City Court Judge from 1973 to 1977 and is former counsel to the Albany County Public Welfare District, Commissioner of the Albany County and Albany City Civil Service Commissions and a member of the Albany Planning Board (1983-1995).

Past President of the New York State Bar Association (1989) and Albany County Bar Association (1978), Mr. Yanas served as Treasurer of the New York State Bar Association (1980-1986), Chair of the House of Delegates (1988), Real Property Law Section (1974), Committee on Continuing Legal Education (1977-1980), and Finance Committee (1987). He is a Fellow of the New York State Bar Association and American Bar Association, charter member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (1981-date), member of the Appellate Division, Third Department, Judicial Selection Committee (1993-2004) and Chair of the Mayor’s Judicial Selection Committee (City of Albany).

Mr. Yanas was a member of the Board of Trustees of Albany Law School (1975-2000; Chair 1993-1995) and past member of the Board of Trustees of Home & City Savings Bank (1979-1991), Monroe Abstract & Title Corporation of Rochester, New York (1983-1990) and Family and Children’s Service of Albany, Inc.

Year Joined Firm

  • 1989

Areas of Practice

  • 70% Trusts and Estates
  • 5% Corporate Organization
  • 5% Elder Law
  • 20% Real Estate
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents — Plaintiff
  • Personal Injury — Plaintiff

Bar Admissions

  • New York, 1954
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of New York, 1954
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1962

Education

  • Albany Law School Union University, Albany, New York
    • LL.D., Doctor of Laws – 1989

  • Albany Law School Union University, Albany, New York
    • LL.B., Bachelor of Law – 1953

  • Russell Sage College, Troy, New York
    • Honors: Pre-Law-2 Years, 1949-1950

Published Works

  • Real Estate Titles (“Chapter on Deeds”), New York State Bar Association, 1984
  • Real Estate Titles (“Chapter on Deeds”), Revised 1986, 1991, 1995, New York State Bar Association
  • Law Everyone Should Know (“Chapter on Real Estate”), New York State Bar Association, 1982
  • Law Everyone Should Know (“Chapter on Real Estate”), Revised 1986, New York State Bar Association

Representative Clients

  • Home & City Savings Bank
  • Christian Brothers Academy
  • Academy of the Holy Names

Classes/Seminars

  • Continuing Legal Education – Real Estate Law, New York State Bar Association, 1966 – 1996

Honors and Awards

  • Included in Who’s Who in American Law, 3rd Edition and Subsequent Editions, 1983 – 1984
  • Fellow, New York Bar Foundation, 1977 – 2010
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 1980 – 2010

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • New York State Bar Association, 1960 – 2010
  • Albany County Bar Association, 1955 – 2010
  • New York State Bar Association, President, 1989
  • Albany County Bar Association, President, 1978
  • Albany Law School, Board of Trustees, 1975 – 2000
  • Albany Law School, Board of Trustees, Treasurer, 1989
  • Albany Law School, Board of Trustees, Secretary, 1983 – 1998
  • Albany Law School, Chair, Board of Trustees, 1993 – 1996
  • Albany Law School, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, 1990 – 1992
  • Home & City Savings Bank, Board of Directors, 1979 – 1991
  • Academy of Holy Names, Board of Directors, 1983 – 1989
  • Monroe Abstract & Title Corp., Board of Directors, 1983 – 1990
  • Family & Children Service of Albany, Inc., Board of Directors, 1988 – 1994
  • Mayor’s Judicial Selection Committee, Chair, 1994 – 2010
  • American College of Real Estate Lawyers, Charter Member, 1981 – 2010

Past Employment Positions

  • Albany City, Court Judge, 1973 – 1977
  • Appellate Division, Third Department, Member, Judicial Selection Committee, 1993 – 2004
  • Casey, Yanas, Clyne, Mitchell & Amerling, Partner, 1969 – 1989
  • Dugan, Casey, Burke & Lyons, Partner, 1960 – 1969
  • Casey, Honikel & Wisely, Associate, 1954 – 1960

Pro Bono Activities

  • Board of Trustees, Christian Brothers Academy, 1972 – 1998
  • Chair, Board of Trustees, Christian Brothers Academy, 1992 – 1995
  • Letters of Benefaction from Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, 1984

Languages

  • English