Erie County Divorce Decree Search

Erie County divorce decree records are held at the County Clerk's Office at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo. As the most populated county in western New York, Erie County processes a high volume of divorce filings each year through the Supreme Court. The clerk serves as the clerk of the Supreme Court and keeps all divorce decree files on record. You can search for case information online, visit the office in person, or send a mail request. Erie County is part of the 8th Judicial District, and the Supreme Court at 25 Delaware Avenue handles every divorce proceeding in the county.

Erie County Divorce Decree Office

The Erie County Clerk's Office at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo, NY 14202, is where all divorce decree records are filed. Call (716) 858-8868 to reach the office. The clerk maintains Supreme Court records going back to the mid-1800s. Divorce files, land records, court filings, and other public documents are all held here. Buffalo is the county seat and the second largest city in New York, so the office handles a large number of requests.

To get a certified copy of an Erie County divorce decree, bring a valid photo ID to the office. You will need the full names of both parties in the divorce. The index number speeds things up if you have it. A certified copy costs $5 for the first four pages and $1.25 for each page after that. The search fee is $5 for every two-year period. Plain copies are $0.25 to $0.65 per page. For mail requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a notarized letter with all the details about the case you need.

Here is the Erie County Clerk's main page, which lists the services available at the office in Buffalo.

The clerk's site covers court records, land records, and filing services. For divorce decree copies, you can visit in person or contact the office by phone or mail.

Search Erie County Divorce Decrees

Erie County Supreme Court is at 25 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo. Reach the court at (716) 845-7400. As part of the 8th Judicial District, this court handles all divorce proceedings for Erie County. Family Court does not grant divorces in New York. That is only done through the Supreme Court. After the divorce is finalized, the decree gets filed with the county clerk's office down the street.

WebCivil Supreme lets you search Erie County divorce cases for free online. You can look up cases by party name, index number, or attorney name. The results show case status, filing dates, and party information. The full text of the divorce decree is not available online because of privacy rules. But the search confirms whether a case exists and gives you the index number to use when requesting the record from the clerk.

The NYSCEF system is used for electronic filing in Erie County. Some divorce cases have documents filed through NYSCEF. You need an account to access it. E-filing for matrimonial cases in the 8th Judicial District may be mandatory for some case types and voluntary for others, so check with the clerk if you are not sure about a particular case.

Below is a look at the Erie County divorce decree records information, showing the types of documents on file.

This page covers the basics of getting a divorce record in Erie County, including contact details and the types of documents on file.

Divorce Decree Laws in Erie County

Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law makes all matrimonial files in Erie County confidential. The clerk cannot show the pleadings, testimony, findings, or the divorce decree to anyone who is not a party to the case or an attorney of record. This seal lasts for 100 years from the date of the final decree. After that, the records open up for public access. Anyone can request a certification of disposition, which is a short form that confirms the outcome without revealing the terms.

Judiciary Law Section 255 requires the clerk to search and copy records for eligible people who pay the correct fees. The clerk checks your ID before handing over any divorce file. Without being a party or having a court order, you are limited to the certification of disposition. The $5 per two-year search fee applies to all requests in Erie County.

Erie County Divorce Decree Access

For divorces finalized after January 1, 1963, the NYS Department of Health has a divorce certificate on file. This is not the full decree. The certificate just shows the names and the date the marriage ended. It costs $30 from the state. If you need the complete divorce decree with all the terms, property details, and custody orders, you have to get it from the Erie County Clerk.

The New York State Archives has information about very old divorce records. For cases before 1847, records may be at the state archives in Albany. Erie County records from 1847 onward are at the clerk's office in Buffalo. Older records that are past the 100-year mark are open to anyone, which is useful for genealogy research.

Erie County Divorce Decree Help

The NYS Unified Court System provides free divorce forms and step-by-step instructions. The 8th Judicial District, which covers Erie County, has a self-help center for people filing without a lawyer. The court recommends using a lawyer even for simple cases. The New York State Bar Association runs a referral service at 1-800-342-3661.

Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo serves Erie County residents who cannot afford private attorneys. They handle family law cases and can help with divorce-related questions. Ask a Law Librarian is a free service from the court system for research questions about divorce decree records. Buffalo also has a large number of private attorneys who practice family and matrimonial law.

The New York State Library has guides for vital records research. Erie County divorce decree records over 100 years old can be viewed by anyone.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Erie County and keep their own divorce decree records at their County Clerk offices.

Cities in Erie County

The following cities in Erie County have their own divorce decree information pages with details on local resources and where to get copies.