| County Clerk | Erie County Clerk — Public Record Search |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 |
| Phone | (716) 858-8785 |
| Hours | Confirm current hours with the clerk before visiting |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Erie County's County Clerk, at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo, serves as Clerk of the Supreme Court and County Court and offers an online Public Record Search covering court, land, and business filings. The office also handles e-filing for court matters through the statewide NYSCEF system.
As elsewhere outside New York City, felony criminal cases go to County Court and larger civil cases go to Supreme Court, both indexed by the County Clerk. Buffalo City Court handles misdemeanors and smaller civil claims within Buffalo city limits and keeps its own separate records, as do the county's other city and town/village justice courts. Family Court and Surrogate's Court in Erie County are likewise separate offices.
Search Erie County court records online
County Clerk
Erie County Clerk — Public Record Search
- Cost
- Free to search; fees for copies and certification
- Coverage
- Supreme and County Court civil and criminal case filings, judgments, and land and business records for Erie County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal
The Clerk's main site also links to e-filing for Supreme and County Court matters and a separate Property Alert fraud-monitoring tool.
Other courts
New York State Courts eCourts (WebCivil Supreme / WebCrims)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Statewide case index for Supreme Court civil filings and pending criminal cases, including Erie County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal
Useful for pending case status alongside the County Clerk's own filings search.
What is available online
The County Clerk's Public Record Search covers Supreme and County Court civil and criminal filings and land and business records. It does not include Buffalo City Court, Family Court, Surrogate's Court, or town and village justice courts, each of which is a separate system.
Which clerk has your record
In New York, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the New York page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| County Court | Felony criminal cases outside New York City; Civil cases up to $50,000 (concurrent with Supreme Court); Appeals from town, village, and city courts in some counties | County Clerk, acting as Clerk of the County Court |
| Family Court | Child custody and visitation; Child support and paternity; Abuse, neglect, and juvenile delinquency | Chief Clerk of the Family Court for that county |
| Surrogate's Court | Probate of wills; Administration of estates without a will; Guardianship | Surrogate's Court Clerk for that county |
| New York City Criminal Court and Civil Court | Misdemeanors and violations (Criminal Court); Arraignments and desk-appearance tickets (Criminal Court); Civil claims up to $50,000 and small claims (Civil Court) | Chief Clerk of the Criminal Court or Civil Court of the City of New York, by borough |
| District Court | Misdemeanors; Civil claims up to $15,000; Small claims | Clerk of the District Court |
| City Courts | Misdemeanors and violations within city limits; Civil claims up to the city court's jurisdictional limit; Small claims | City Court Clerk for that city |
| Town and Village Justice Courts | Traffic infractions and vehicle and traffic law violations; Local ordinance violations; Small claims | Court Clerk for that town or village justice court |
Request records in person or by mail
Erie County clerk offices
92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: (716) 858-8785
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Supreme and County Court records. Search the County Clerk's Public Record Search database online, or visit the office at 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo. Certified copies must be requested from the clerk's office with the certification fee.
Buffalo City Court records. Contact the City Court clerk directly; these records are not part of the County Clerk's system.
Family Court, Surrogate's Court, and justice court records. Contact the chief clerk of each court, or the individual town or village justice court that heard the case.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in New York |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Copy and certification fees charged by County Clerks are set under CPLR 8021 and related sections, but amounts and per-page rates are not uniform across every county's published fee schedule. Confirm the current fee with the specific clerk's office before mailing payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
New York court records are generally open, but several categories are restricted or sealed by statute:
The New York guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
How do I search Erie County court records online?
Use the County Clerk's Public Record Search database, which covers Supreme and County Court civil and criminal filings along with land and business records.
Does the Erie County Clerk handle Buffalo City Court cases?
No. Buffalo City Court keeps its own records for misdemeanors and smaller civil claims within city limits, separate from the County Clerk.
What is the Erie County Clerk's address and phone number?
92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202; (716) 858-8785.
Can I e-file court documents in Erie County?
Yes, for Supreme and County Court matters through the statewide NYSCEF e-filing system, linked from the Erie County Clerk's website.
Where do I get a Buffalo City Court record?
Contact Buffalo City Court directly. It is a separate office from the County Clerk and keeps its own index of misdemeanor and smaller civil filings within Buffalo city limits.
Does the Erie County Clerk keep Family Court or Surrogate's Court records?
No. Family Court and Surrogate's Court in Erie County each have their own chief clerk and courthouse, and neither is searchable through the County Clerk's Public Record Search.
Sources
- Erie County Clerk — https://www4.erie.gov/clerk/
- Erie County Clerk — Public Record Search — https://ecclerk.erie.gov/recordsng_web/
- New York State Courts eCourts — https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/ecourtsMain
- New York Courts — The Courts (structure overview) — https://www.nycourts.gov/courts
- WebCrims — https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/
- NYSCEF Case Search — https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/CaseSearch
- New York Official Reports (Court of Appeals and Appellate Division decisions) — https://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/Decisions.shtml
- DCJS Record Review Program — https://criminaljustice.ny.gov/ojis/recordreview.htm
- Criminal Procedure Law 160.50 — Sealing of favorable dispositions — https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/160.50
- Criminal Procedure Law 160.59 — Sealing of certain convictions — https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/160.59
- Domestic Relations Law 235 — Matrimonial action records — https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/DOM/235
- Judiciary Law 255 — Clerks to furnish copies — https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/JUD/255
- CPLR 8021 — Fees chargeable by county clerks — https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/8021
- PACER — Federal court records — https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
See also: all New York counties.