Buffalo Dissolution Of Marriage Lookup

Buffalo dissolution of marriage records are kept at the Erie County Clerk's Office on Franklin Street. Buffalo is the county seat of Erie County, so the courthouse and clerk's office are both right in the city. All dissolution of marriage cases for Erie County go through the Supreme Court here. If you need to search for a dissolution case, get copies of a judgment, or check the status of a filing, the Erie County Clerk handles it all. Buffalo City Court does not process divorces. Only the Supreme Court has that power in New York.

Erie County Clerk and Buffalo Dissolution Records

Buffalo residents file dissolution of marriage cases through the Erie County Supreme Court. The Erie County Clerk's Office Actions and Proceedings division is at 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. Phone: 716-858-8785. The clerk keeps every dissolution case file for the county. That includes all the papers from the initial filing through the final signed judgment.

To request records in person, visit the Actions and Proceedings Office at 92 Franklin Street. Public access terminals on the first floor and in the basement Records department let you search for cases on your own. You need a valid photo ID and the names of both parties. If you have the index number, even better. The staff can pull your file and make copies on the spot.

Mail requests need a notarized Divorce Record Request Form. Send it with your payment and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the clerk. The form is available at the office or you can call and ask for one. Processing takes a few business days once they get your request.

Buffalo City Court does not handle dissolution of marriage cases. It deals with civil matters up to $15,000 and criminal cases. All divorces must go through the Erie County Supreme Court.

Online Search for Buffalo Dissolution Cases

Erie County offers an online records portal where you can search for dissolution of marriage cases by party name, case number, or filing date. The search is free to use. You need to register for an account to view document images. Dissolution records are restricted from full public viewing under state law, but the search gives you case numbers and filing dates that you can use to request copies from the clerk.

The Erie County Clerk provides detailed information about requesting dissolution of marriage records on their website.

This page shows the procedures for in-person, mail, and online requests for divorce records in Erie County.

The WebCivil Supreme system also covers Erie County. Select Erie from the county list and enter a name. Results include the index number, party names, and case status. Full documents don't show up online because of the Domestic Relations Law Section 235 confidentiality rules. WebCivil is free and goes back to 1983.

The Erie County Clerk's online portal also provides more detailed information about available record types.

Registration on the portal gives you access to search results with additional case details beyond what WebCivil shows.

Buffalo Dissolution Of Marriage Fees

The search fee at the Erie County Clerk is $5.00 per name for each two-year period. For digitized records after 1988, this is the standard rate. Older manual records cost $10.00 for each two years searched. Copy fees are $1.30 for the first two pages and $0.65 for each extra page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first four pages.

Filing a new dissolution of marriage case requires $210 for the index number. The Request for Judicial Intervention is $95. A Note of Issue adds another $30. Fee waivers are available. Free uncontested divorce packets can be picked up at the Chief Clerk's Office at 25 Delaware Avenue or at the Court Resource Center at 77 West Eagle Street. You can also download them from the NYS Courts website.

Buffalo City Clerk

The Buffalo City Clerk is at 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202. Phone: 716-851-5431. This office deals with vital records like birth, death, and marriage certificates. It does not keep dissolution of marriage records. If you call asking about a divorce, they will point you to the Erie County Clerk at 92 Franklin Street.

For a dissolution of marriage certificate from the state, the New York State Department of Health has records for all cases since 1963. Mail orders are $30. Online orders are $45 plus a vendor fee. The toll-free number is 855-322-1022. These certificates show basic facts but not the full terms of the divorce.

Nearby Cities

These nearby communities also file dissolution of marriage cases through the Erie County system.