N.Y. Real Property Actions & Proceedings Law § 1941

§ 1941. When special proceeding to quiet title may be maintained.\nWhenever real property shall have been conveyed by a sheriff or referee,\npursuant to a judicial decree, which decree has been lost or destroyed,\nand the defendants (other than lienors or incumbrancers) named in the\nnotice of pendency of the action in which such decree was made, or those\nwho might claim under them, or either of them, are dead, unknown or\ntheir whereabouts can not after diligent inquiry be ascertained, the\nperson who has been, or he and those having his estate who have been,\nfor ten years in actual possession of such property claiming it in fee\nunder said sheriff's or referee's deed, which deed shall have been\nrecorded at least ten years, may maintain a special proceeding for the\npurpose of establishing judicially his or their title to such real\nproperty.\n