Searching Erie County Court Records
The right tool depends on the record type and the court. These answers cover the main portals and how to start a search.
How do I search Erie County court records online?
Pick the portal that matches the record. Erie County Clerk BrowserView covers filed and recorded records, judgments, and liens. WebCivil Supreme covers civil Supreme Court status and calendars. NYSCEF holds e-filed documents. WebCrims covers eligible public criminal cases. WebSurrogate covers probate. If the case is in Buffalo City Court or a town or village court, contact that court directly. See the court records page for a full portal map.
What is the difference between a docket and a court record?
A docket is the running list of events in a case, such as filings, motions, and court dates. A full court record includes the actual documents behind those events. WebCivil and WebCrims are strong for docket and calendar data, while NYSCEF holds the e-filed documents. For docket and calendar lookups, see the court dockets page.
Can I view document images online through the Clerk?
Public BrowserView is a metadata search, and the Clerk says no images appear in public BrowserView. Registered users can view, save, and print images through the registered-user search. Document images are also viewable on public terminals inside the Clerk's Office. For the Clerk's search tools and request forms, see the Erie County Clerk page.
Erie County Clerk and Copies
The County Clerk handles recorded documents, copies, and historical records. These answers cover location, copies, and search limits.
Where is the Erie County Clerk located?
The Clerk is on the first floor of Old County Hall, 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. The main phone is 716-858-8785. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and asks filers to be in line with completed documents by 4:15 p.m. More detail is on the Erie County Clerk page.
How do I get a certified copy from the Clerk?
Use the Clerk's in-person, mail, or online request process. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first four pages and $1.25 for each additional page, with a $40 cap per document. If the Clerk must search, digital searches cost $5 per name per two-year period and manual searches cost $10. The Erie County Clerk page lists the full fee schedule.
Can I search Clerk records by property address?
No. The Clerk does not index or allow searches by street address. If you need a deed but only know the address, the Clerk points you to the Real Property Parcel Search to find the deed book and page first. Then you use that reference in the Clerk search. This is a common reason searches fail, as explained on the public records page.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate
These records are split across offices and carry their own access rules. Here is where each one lives.
Are Erie County divorce records public?
Not broadly. Matrimonial records are sealed for 100 years under New York law. Only the plaintiff, the defendant, or an attorney of record can get a copy, unless a nonparty obtains a court order. A sealed-record request needs proper identification and a notarized written statement. See the marriage and divorce records page for the request steps.
Where do I find old marriage records?
The Erie County Clerk holds marriage records from 1878 to April 29, 1935. Later records come from the city or town clerk where the license was bought. Buffalo marriage records go through Buffalo City Hall at 65 Niagara Square. The marriage and divorce records page explains which office to call by date.
Where is probate handled?
Probate is handled by Erie County Surrogate's Court, 92 Franklin Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14202, phone 716-845-2560. You can search WebSurrogate or visit the public access room. Adoption records and some sensitive filings are restricted. The Surrogate's Court page covers the process and search tools.
Inmates, Warrants, and Arrests
Custody and warrant data live with the Sheriff and the state and federal systems. These answers point you to the right one.
How do I find an Erie County inmate?
The Sheriff links inmate information to a public PDF roster. If the person is not on the county roster, check DOCCS for state prison, the BOP locator for federal custody, and VINELink for custody-status alerts. Court records can show bail, sentence, or warrant status. The inmate records page explains how to use the roster.
How do I search active warrants?
Use the Sheriff's warrants page. It supports filters for date, last name, and reason for the warrant, with sorting and pagination. Always verify a warrant with the Sheriff's Office, the issuing court, or counsel, because web lists can lag behind the courts. The warrant records page covers how to read an entry and resolve a warrant.
How do I find someone in state prison instead of the county jail?
Use the New York DOCCS lookup for sentenced state-prison custody. The county jail roster is for local custody only and does not replace DOCCS. The state lookup generally covers people confined since the early 1970s, but excludes youthful offenders and certain set-aside cases. After a recent sentencing, there can be a delay before someone appears. See the released inmates page.
Are mugshots public in Erie County?
The official sources do not provide a public county mugshot search. The Sheriff posts an inmate roster PDF, and warrant pages may include profiles, but there is no county mugshot portal. State law and policy also limit some booking-photo release. Be careful with third-party sites. The arrest records page covers what is and is not public.
Courts and Case Types
New York's court names confuse many people. These answers explain the structure and how to find the right court.
Why does New York call its trial court the Supreme Court?
New York uses Supreme Court for its general trial court, unlike most states where the supreme court is the highest court. In Erie County, Supreme Court handles major civil matters, divorce, foreclosure, and guardianship. The state's highest court is the Court of Appeals. A search for an Erie County district court leads to the wrong concept, so use the Supreme Court page instead.
Where are felony criminal cases handled?
Outside New York City, County Court is central for felony cases. Earlier proceedings may start in Buffalo City Court or a town or village court, and WebCrims may show pending criminal calendar data if it is public and eligible. For the arrest-to-court path, see the arrest records page.
What happens if I miss a court date?
It depends on the case. In a criminal or traffic matter, missing court can lead to a bench warrant, bail consequences, or license suspension. In a civil case, the court may enter a default. Contact counsel and the court right away. If a warrant appears, verify the warrant number and issuing court first, as covered on the warrant records page.
Public Records and FOIL
Agency records and court records follow different rules. These answers explain when to use FOIL and when not to.
How do I file a FOIL request?
Use Erie County's FOIL form for county departments. Independent offices such as the Clerk, District Attorney, and Sheriff must be contacted directly. The Clerk says most of its records are already public and do not need FOIL. Put the request in writing and describe the records clearly. The public records page walks through the process.
Can I use FOIL to get court records?
Often there is a better path. The Clerk says most of its records are already public through the search site or in-office terminals, so FOIL is not needed for a specific document. Court records also follow Judiciary Law and CPLR fee rules. For case files, start with the court portal and copy process, as shown on the court records page.
Still Have Questions About Erie County Records?
If your question is not here, the best step is to contact the office that holds the record. The Clerk handles recorded and filed documents, the courts handle case files, and the Sheriff handles custody and warrants. Each page on this site lists the right phone number and address for its topic. Start with the record type and the office follows.