Marriage Records in Erie County
Marriage records split by date. The Erie County Clerk's genealogy page says the office holds marriage records from 1878 to April 29, 1935. Everything after that date sits with the city or town clerk that issued the license. So a 1920 marriage may be at the County Clerk, while a 1990 marriage is at a municipal clerk's office.
Historical marriage files can be rich for family research. They may list the names of both spouses, the officiant, and witnesses. An affidavit for a license to marry can add residence, age, occupation, the wife's maiden name, birth country, the number of prior marriages, and the names of former spouses. That detail makes these records useful well beyond proving a marriage.
The split between offices is the main thing to get right. Many people call the County Clerk for a recent marriage and learn the file is at a town hall instead. The County Clerk's marriage holdings stop at April 29, 1935. After that, the record follows the license, which means the issuing municipality keeps it. Pin down the license date first and you save a wasted call.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
In New York, marriage licenses come from city and town clerks, not the County Clerk for modern records. Apply to the municipal clerk where you plan to get the license. The general steps are the same across the state.
- Both applicants appear together at the city or town clerk's office.
- Each person shows proof of age and identity.
- Pay the local license fee, which varies by the issuing city or town.
- Wait 24 hours after the license is issued before the ceremony, unless a judge waives it.
- Use the license within 60 days; it is valid anywhere in the state.
Because the fee and exact paperwork vary by municipality, call the clerk where you plan to apply before you go. The County Clerk does not issue modern marriage licenses.
Where Older Marriage Records Live
For the 1878 to April 29, 1935 window, the Erie County Clerk Record Room is the source. Call 716-858-8785 and choose the record room option, or visit 92 Franklin Street in person. After April 29, 1935, the city or town clerk that issued the license holds the record. Knowing the license date tells you which office to call first.
Buffalo Marriage Records
For marriages licensed in the City of Buffalo after the historical cutoff, the Clerk directs people to Buffalo City Hall. The Marriage Records office sits at 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202. That is the place to request a Buffalo marriage certificate or confirm a license. For suburban marriages, contact the town or village clerk that issued the license instead.
Buffalo Marriage Records
Buffalo City Hall
65 Niagara Square
Buffalo, NY 14202
Modern Buffalo licenses
Erie County Clerk Record Room
92 Franklin Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
716-858-8785
Historical marriage and divorce
Divorce Records Are Sealed
Divorce records get stricter treatment than marriage records. The Erie County Clerk records divorce files from the early 1800s to the present. But matrimonial records are sealed for 100 years under Domestic Relations Law § 235. Only the plaintiff, the defendant, or an attorney of record can get a copy. A nonparty needs a court order.
One detail trips people up. The key date for a divorce search is the action commencement date, not the judgment date. Someone who only knows the year a divorce was final may need a wider search. The requester must also provide proper identification, and sealed copies require a notarized written statement.
How to Request Divorce Copies
Because divorce files are sealed, the request process has extra steps. The online copy request cannot be used for divorce records. Follow the path below.
- Confirm you are a party, an attorney of record, or hold a court order.
- Gather the index number if known, party names, record type, and the commencement date or range.
- Prepare a written, notarized request with proof of identity.
- Add the search fee if the index number is unknown.
- Add the certified copy fees from the Clerk's schedule.
- Mail or submit the request per the Clerk's instructions.
For the full Clerk request process and forms, see the Erie County Clerk page.
Search and Copy Fees
The Clerk charges a search fee when the index number is unknown, plus copy fees for the record itself. Search fees differ for digitized and manual records. The table shows the key amounts.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Digitized record search, after 1988, per 2 years | $5.00 |
| Manual record search, per 2 years | $10.00 per name |
| Certified copies, first 4 pages | $5.00 |
| Certified copies, each additional page | $1.25 |
| Plain copies, first 2 pages | $1.30 |
Note: the marriage license fee is set by each city or town and is separate from these Clerk search and copy charges.
Family Court Orders vs Divorce Judgments
A divorce judgment is not the same as a Family Court order. Divorce, separation, and annulment go through Supreme Court, and the judgment is filed with the County Clerk. Custody, support, and paternity orders come from Family Court and stay with that court. A family with both a divorce and a support case will have records in two different places. For the trial court split, see the Supreme Court page.
Genealogy Uses
The Clerk's historical marriage and divorce holdings draw family historians from across the region. Records from the 1800s and early 1900s can fill gaps that newer vital records cannot. The Clerk offers in-person microfilm resources for some of this work. For probate and estate records that often round out a family tree, see the Surrogate's Court page.
The 100-year seal on divorce files shapes genealogy work too. Older divorce records eventually open as the seal lapses, while recent ones stay closed to nonparties. A researcher tracing a divorce from a century ago has a much easier path than someone seeking a file from the last few decades. Plan the request around that timeline and bring as much identifying detail as you can.