Erie County Court Records Search
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Erie County, New York, encompasses the city of Buffalo along with dozens of towns and villages stretching across the Niagara Frontier region. Its court system is organized under the New York State Unified Court System’s Eighth Judicial District and includes several tiers of courts: the Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, Surrogate’s Court, City Courts, and numerous Town and Village Justice Courts. Each court maintains its own case files, dockets, and record systems, but the Erie County Clerk’s Office serves as the central repository for Supreme Court and County Court records, while other courts manage their own archives independently.
Court records filed in Erie County can include case numbers, party names, pleadings, motions, exhibits, orders, judgments, transcripts, and docket entries. Residents researching a case, verifying a judgment, or conducting legal research have several pathways available depending on the type of proceeding and the court involved.
Searching for court records in New York can begin through official government channels, including courthouse clerk offices, public access terminals, and the state’s electronic filing portal. NewYorkCourts.us is one online resource through which users can locate aggregated New York court case information to help identify which court and record custodian to contact. The official New York State Unified Court System website at nycourts.gov also provides guidance on obtaining case information from individual courts, including instructions for using the statewide electronic filing system and requesting records from specific court clerks.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Erie County?
The starting point for most court record searches in Erie County depends on where the case was filed. Supreme Court and County Court cases that were electronically filed on or after April 4, 2012, are searchable exclusively through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (NYSCEF). Cases filed before that date may appear on the Erie County Clerk’s own public search portal. Because mandatory e-filing has been in effect for Erie County Supreme Court cases since October 1, 2013, the vast majority of current civil and criminal matters are accessible through NYSCEF.
For cases not covered by NYSCEF, the Erie County Clerk’s Online Public Record Search portal allows name-based searches. Users enter a last name followed by a first name with no comma between them to retrieve index entries. While the portal returns identifying information about a document, actual images are viewable only at the public computer terminals inside the Clerk’s Office. Separate searches are sometimes necessary across both platforms because not all case types are eligible for electronic filing.
Primary Online Search Tools
- NYSCEF — search Supreme Court e-filed cases by party name or index number; guest access is available without registration
- Erie County Clerk Public Record Search Portal — name-based index search for older and non-e-filed records
- New York State Unified Court System WebCriminal Portal — statewide criminal case lookup by defendant name
- NYS eCourts Civil Search — civil case information statewide
Erie County Clerk’s Office
Address: 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: (716) 858-8785
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
In-person records access (Basement Records/Actions & Proceedings): Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., excluding legal holidays
To request copies, requesters may use the Clerk’s online document request form, submit a mail request with a completed Copy Request Form or Search & Copy Request Form, or visit in person. Mail requests must include a postage-paid self-addressed envelope and payment by check or money order made payable to the Erie County Clerk, sent to 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. Divorce records and closed criminal records cannot be requested online and require their respective notarized forms submitted by mail.
Are Court Records Public in Erie County?
New York law establishes a general presumption in favor of public access to government records. The New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified under Article 6 of the New York Public Officers Law, grants the public the right to inspect and copy records maintained by government agencies, including county clerk offices. However, court records themselves are governed by court-specific access rules administered by the Office of Court Administration rather than by agency FOIL requirements.
Most unsealed court documents in Erie County are accessible to the public. The Erie County Clerk’s Office notes that, because the majority of its records are already public and accessible through its search portal or in-office computers, FOIL requests are generally unnecessary for routine record retrievals. For records maintained in formats not easily accessible, a FOIL request to the Clerk’s FOIL Officer is available.
Categories of Restricted or Confidential Records
The following types of records are not publicly accessible under New York law:
- Family Court proceedings, which are sealed by statute under Family Court Act §166
- Juvenile delinquency and persons in need of supervision (PINS) records
- Adoption records
- Grand jury proceedings
- Domestic violence victim information
- Sealed and expunged records under Criminal Procedure Law §160.50
- Mental health and involuntary commitment records
- Records of pending sealed matters or those subject to protective orders
When a document contains both public and restricted information, clerks are required to redact the confidential portions rather than withhold the entire record. Requesters denied access to a record are entitled to a written explanation citing the specific statutory basis for the denial.
Erie County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Erie County are handled at two primary levels. Felony charges and serious misdemeanors are prosecuted in Erie County Court, which shares a physical address with several Supreme Court parts in downtown Buffalo. City Courts, including Buffalo City Court, Lackawanna City Court, and Tonawanda City Court, handle misdemeanors, violations, and traffic infractions arising within those municipalities.
Erie County Court (Criminal)
Address: 25 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202
Chief Clerk’s Office Phone: (716) 845-9301
Fax: (716) 851-3293
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Buffalo City Court
Address: 50 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: (716) 845-2600
To search criminal case records online, the New York State Unified Court System’s WebCriminal portal allows case lookups by defendant name. Unsealed e-filed criminal case information is also available through NYSCEF. For the Erie County Clerk’s office records on closed criminal matters, requesters must submit the notarized Closed Criminal Record Request Form by mail. Local criminal record searches may be pursued using the Local Criminal Searches Form.
For a broader background check, the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) provides a statewide Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) for a fee of $95.00 per name and date of birth. This search draws on statewide conviction data and returns results typically within 24 to 48 hours for online submissions. New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) holds additional arrest and disposition data but those records are not public; individuals may request their own DCJS records by contacting DCJS directly at RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 457-5837.
The Erie County Sheriff’s Office provides local fingerprinting and personal arrest history checks at the Identification Bureau located at 134 West Eagle Street in Buffalo. A personal local police record history check costs $25.00 (with $1.00 for each additional copy), and the completed form must be notarized and presented in person. Each fingerprint card also costs $25.00. The Sheriff’s Office accepts money orders, Mastercard, or Visa, and appointments are required — call (716) 858-6566. Note that this check discloses only arrest records and is not a comprehensive background investigation.
Erie County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Erie County are primarily heard in the Supreme Court, which has general jurisdiction over civil cases of all monetary amounts, and County Court, which handles civil cases involving amounts under $25,000. Small claims cases fall under the jurisdiction of City Courts, Town Courts, and Village Justice Courts depending on the location of the parties.
Key Civil Court Locations
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Erie County Supreme Court (Chief Clerk) | 25 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202 | (716) 845-9301 |
| Erie County Court | 25 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202 | (716) 845-9301 |
| Buffalo City Court | 50 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202 | (716) 845-2600 |
| Lackawanna City Court | 714 Ridge Road, Lackawanna, NY 14218 | (716) 845-7220 |
| Tonawanda City Court | 200 Niagara Street, Tonawanda, NY 14150 | (716) 845-2160 |
Civil court records filed in Erie County Supreme Court are almost exclusively available through NYSCEF, as mandatory e-filing has applied to Erie County civil matters since 2013. These unsealed documents are available for public viewing immediately upon filing. Cases predating mandatory e-filing can be searched through the Erie County Clerk’s Public Record Search portal, though images are viewable only at in-office terminals.
Copy Fees (Erie County Clerk)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plain copies (first 2 pages) | $1.30 |
| Plain copies (each additional page) | $0.65 |
| Certified copies (first 4 pages) | $5.00 |
| Certified copies (each additional page) | $1.25 |
| Certified presented copies (first 8 pages) | $5.20 |
| Certified presented copies (each additional page) | $0.65 |
| Maximum charge for copies or certified copies | $40.00 |
Civil filing fees at the Supreme Court level include an index number assignment fee of $210.00, a Request for Judicial Intervention fee of $95.00, a motion filing fee of $45.00, and a residential mortgage foreclosure index number fee of $400.00. A complete schedule is available on the Erie County Clerk’s schedule of fees page.
Search fees apply when the Clerk’s staff must search records for a requester: $5.00 per name, per document type for digital searches (per two-year period), and $10.00 per name, per document type for manual searches.
Erie County Family Court Records
Erie County Family Court hears matters involving divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, child protective proceedings, persons in need of supervision (PINS), and foster care. The court operates under Article 6 of the New York State Constitution and the Family Court Act.
Erie County Family Court
Address: 1 Niagara Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: (716) 845-7444
Email: Eriefamilyhelp@nycourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; closed all state holidays
Petition Processing: (716) 845-7420
Family Court records are among the most restricted in New York’s court system. Under Family Court Act §166, Family Court proceedings are not open to the public as a general matter, and records are sealed from public access. Only parties to a proceeding, their attorneys, certain government agencies, and individuals with a demonstrated legal need may access Family Court documents. Those seeking to review their own Family Court file must present government-issued photo identification and, where applicable, proof of eligibility such as a certified birth certificate with a raised seal.
Divorce records are maintained separately at the Erie County Clerk’s Office rather than at Family Court. To request a certified copy of a divorce decree or judgment, requesters must submit the notarized Divorce Record Request Form by mail to the Erie County Clerk. Divorce records cannot be requested through the Clerk’s online submission system. Marriage records are maintained by the Erie County Clerk’s Office as part of the county’s vital records holdings, and requesters may contact the Clerk directly by phone or letter.
For birth and death certificates, the New York State Department of Health Vital Records unit processes statewide requests at a fee of $30.00 per certified copy for births, marriages, deaths, and divorce records when ordered through the NYS Vital Records mail request program. Payment must accompany the request by check or money order made payable to the New York State Department of Health.
Erie County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Erie County are administered by the Erie County Surrogate’s Court, which handles the administration of decedents’ estates, probate of wills, appointment of administrators, guardianships, adoptions, name changes, and related proceedings. The court is presided over by Surrogate’s Court Judge Honorable Acea M. Mosey.
Erie County Surrogate’s Court
Address: Erie County Hall, 92 Franklin Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14202
Main Phone: (716) 845-2560
Fax: (716) 845-7565
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; closed all state holidays
Email (general): eriesurrogatehelp@nycourts.gov
Guardianship Department: (716) 845-2124 | erieguardianship@nycourts.gov
Adoption Department: (716) 845-2579 | eriesurrogateadoptions@nycourts.gov
Help Center: (716) 845-7280 | eriesurrogatehelp@nycourts.gov
The public can search Surrogate’s Court records remotely through the WebSurrogate public access system, which allows searches from personal computers and mobile devices without traveling to the courthouse. In-person access is also available at public terminals in Room 201 on the 2nd floor at 92 Franklin Street.
Surrogate’s Court Filing Fees (Based on Estate Value)
New York statute sets probate filing fees on a sliding scale tied to the gross value of the estate:
| Estate Value | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | $45.00 |
| $10,000 to under $20,000 | $75.00 |
| $20,000 to under $50,000 | $215.00 |
| $50,000 to under $100,000 | $280.00 |
| $100,000 to under $250,000 | $420.00 |
| $250,000 to under $500,000 | $625.00 |
| $500,000 or more | $1,250.00 |
These fees, set by the New York State variable fee schedule, apply to petitions for probate or letters of administration. Additional costs arise when probate is contested, as objection filings carry separate charges. The Surrogate’s Court Help Center is available to assist self-represented individuals navigating estate proceedings, guardianship filings, adoptions, and small estate affidavits.
Guardianship matters — covering both minors and incapacitated adults — are handled by the Guardianship Department. Adoption records are treated as confidential under New York law, and access is tightly restricted to parties with a court order or statutory authorization. Name change petitions are public proceedings whose records may be accessed through the Clerk’s index.
For estates that do not require full probate proceedings, New York law provides a simplified small estate process. Requesters seeking older probate files, including historical wills and estate inventories, may find records available through the Erie County Clerk’s genealogy holdings, which include microfilm collections maintained in the Basement Record Room at 92 Franklin Street. Genealogical researchers may visit the Record Room Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to review available microfilm records.