Except as provided in section 7508, the award shall be in writing, signed and affirmed by the arbitrator making it within the time fixed by the agreement, or, if the time is not fixed, within such time as the court orders. The parties may in writing extend the time either before or after its expiration. A party waives the objection that an award was not made within the time required unless he notifies the arbitrator in writing of his objection prior to the delivery of the award to him. The arbitrator shall deliver a copy of the award to each party in the manner provided in the agreement, or, if no provision is so made, personally or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.
§ 7507.Award; form; time; delivery
Article 75. Arbitration · Last amended 1981 · Last verified July 21, 2026
In one sentenceCPLR 7507 requires an arbitration award to be written, signed, and made within the deadline the agreement or the court sets, and it tells the arbitrator how to deliver a copy and how a party must object to a late award.
Full Text of CPLR 7507
Plain-English Summary
CPLR 7507 sets the basic form for an arbitration award. It has to be in writing and signed by the arbitrator who makes it, and it has to come within whatever time limit the agreement fixes — or, if the agreement doesn't set a deadline, within whatever time the court orders. The parties remain free to extend that deadline in writing, whether they do it before or after time runs out.
The section also protects the finality of an award against a party who sits on an objection. If a party believes the award came in too late, that party has to tell the arbitrator in writing before the award is delivered — waiting until afterward to complain waives the objection. Once the award is ready, the arbitrator delivers a copy to each party the way the agreement specifies, or, if the agreement says nothing about delivery, in person or by registered or certified mail with a return receipt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an arbitrator have to issue an award in New York?
The arbitrator must issue the award within the time the arbitration agreement sets, or, if the agreement is silent, within the time the court orders under CPLR 7507.
Does an arbitration award have to be in writing?
Yes. CPLR 7507 requires the award to be in writing and signed by the arbitrator who makes it.
Can the parties extend the deadline for an arbitration award?
Yes. CPLR 7507 lets the parties extend the time for an award in writing, either before or after the original deadline passes.
What happens if I think an award came in too late?
You have to notify the arbitrator in writing before the award is delivered to you — CPLR 7507 treats a later complaint as a waiver of that objection.
How is an arbitration award delivered to the parties?
CPLR 7507 requires delivery the way the agreement specifies, or, absent such a provision, personally or by registered or certified mail with a return receipt requested.
Advisory Committee Notes
This section is based on CPA § 1460 and Uniform Arbitration Act § 8. The acknowledgment requirement is retained because it is often not clear when an award is final and not subject to change by the arbitrators, except for formal changes under § 7509. The section uses the act of acknowledgment to signify that the award has been so made. However, the analogy to a deed in CPA § 1460 is omitted because the award is not to be recorded as a deed or used for any other comparable purpose. See Sturges, Some General Standards for a State Arbitration Statute, 7 Arb J (ns) 194, 198 (1952).
Despite the provision in CPA § 1460, awards were seldom filed; this section continues only the requirement that the award be delivered.
A large number of arbitrations are conducted by the American Arbitration Association and under their rule VIII, the award must be rendered within thirty days after the close of the hearings. Other agreements may specify the time when awards must be rendered. For those arbitrations that do not come within these private rules, this section leaves the setting of a time limit in the discretion of the court.
The last sentence of the subdivision makes it clear that a method of delivery specified in the agreement would govern.
Amendment History
Add, L 1962, ch 308; amd, L 1981, ch 952, § 1, eff July 31, 1981.
Source & verification. Provision text, History, and Advisory
Committee Notes are reproduced verbatim from the Consolidated Laws of New York.
Last verified July 21, 2026.
· Official source
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