Erie County Court Records

Erie County court records are managed by County Clerk Michael P. Kearns at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo, New York. As the most populous county in western New York, Erie County handles a large volume of court cases across its Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, Surrogate's Court, and Buffalo City Court. The county has been e-filing since April 2012 and offers WebSurrogate access since February 2014. Erie County court records can be searched online through several state portals and at the clerk's office in person.

Erie County Clerk's Office

Erie County Clerk Michael P. Kearns has his main office at 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. The phone number is (716) 858-8785. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The clerk serves as the custodian for Supreme Court and County Court records, a role transferred from the state in 1986. The office also handles land records, judgments, liens, business certificates, and passports.

Erie County has a public record search portal that lets you look up filed documents online. The county was an early adopter of e-filing, launching in April 2012. Cases filed electronically since that date have documents available through NYSCEF. WebSurrogate went live in February 2014, giving online access to Surrogate's Court filings as well. This means Erie County has more digital records available than many other New York counties, especially for newer cases.

For in-person visits, regular copy fees are $0.65 per page with a $1.50 minimum. Certified copies cost $5.00 extra per document. The staff can pull case files for you if you have a case index number or party name. Payment is accepted by money order, certified check, or in some cases credit card. Call ahead to confirm payment methods.

Court Locations in Erie County

Erie County has several court locations, all centered in Buffalo. Supreme Court is at 25 Delaware Avenue. This is where civil cases over $25,000, felony criminal matters, and divorce cases are heard. The Chief Clerk's office for Supreme Court can be reached at (716) 845-9301. The Chief Clerk is Billie Jo Zakia, with Deputy Chief Clerk Amanda Andersen.

Family Court sits at 1 Niagara Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202. Phone is (716) 845-7400. Family Court handles custody, child support, paternity, juvenile delinquency, and family offense cases. Most of these records are confidential and only available to the parties involved. Surrogate's Court is on the second floor of 92 Franklin Street, the same building as the County Clerk. Phone is (716) 845-2500. Surrogate's Court handles probate, estates, guardianships, and adoptions.

Buffalo City Court is at 50 Delaware Avenue. It handles misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims, civil cases up to $15,000, and housing court matters. City court records are separate from Supreme and County Court records. You need to contact Buffalo City Court directly for those files. The city court also has a commercial small claims part for business disputes.

Criminal Court Records in Erie County

Erie County has strong online coverage for criminal record searches. The WebCriminal portal specifically covers Erie County Court. You can look up pending criminal cases with future court dates for free. Search by defendant name, case number, or court calendar. The system shows charges, next court date, and case status. It does not include sealed cases or cases without upcoming court appearances.

County Court handles felony criminal matters in Erie County. Grand jury indictments, arraignments, plea negotiations, and trials all run through County Court. The records include indictments, bail orders, plea transcripts, trial records, and sentencing orders. Criminal records can be sealed under CPL Section 160.50 when a case ends in the defendant's favor. Dismissed charges and acquittals are sealed automatically. CPL 160.59 also allows sealing of some older convictions after 10 years.

For a statewide criminal search, the OCA Criminal History Record Search covers all 62 counties. The fee is $95 per name and date of birth. Results come by email the next business day. The DCJS maintains official fingerprint-based rap sheets. Your own record costs $14.25 if you are a New York resident. The DOCCS Inmate Lookup is free and shows people in state prison, including those sentenced in Erie County.

Court Records Access in Erie County

Under Judiciary Law Section 255, Erie County court records must be maintained and available for public inspection. You do not need to be a party to a case. You do not need a reason to view records. Walk into the clerk's office and ask. The main exceptions are matrimonial files (sealed from public view), family court records (mostly confidential), juvenile cases (sealed), and records sealed by court order or statute.

If records are wrongfully withheld, CPLR Article 78 gives you a path to challenge the denial in Supreme Court. You must file within four months. The custodian bears the burden of showing why the records should stay closed. Keep in mind that FOIL does not cover court case files. Courts are excluded from the Freedom of Information Law. Court records fall under Judiciary Law. FOIL only applies to the Office of Court Administration for administrative records.

How to Get Erie County Court Records

For Supreme and County Court records, go to the Erie County Clerk at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo. For Family Court records, contact the court at 1 Niagara Plaza. For Surrogate's Court, go to 92 Franklin Street, second floor. For Buffalo City Court records, go to 50 Delaware Avenue. Each court keeps its own records. The NYS Court Forms Repository has standardized forms for all court types if you need to file anything.

Mail requests for Supreme and County Court records go to the Erie County Clerk, 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. Include the case index number or full party name, the type of document you need, and a check or money order for the fees. Standard copies run $0.65 per page. Certified copies add $5.00. Allow a week or two for processing.

Cities in Erie County

Erie County has several major population centers. Court records for cases filed in Erie County are handled by the county courts and clerk regardless of which city you live in. Here are the major cities in the county.

Nearby Counties

Erie County borders several counties in western New York. Each has its own clerk and court system.