Find Tonawanda Dissolution Of Marriage

Tonawanda dissolution of marriage records are held at the Erie County Clerk's Office in Buffalo. Tonawanda is a town in Erie County, and all divorce cases go through the Erie County Supreme Court system. The Tonawanda Town Clerk handles vital records like birth and marriage certificates but does not maintain dissolution records. If you want to search for a dissolution of marriage case, pull a copy of a judgment, or check a case status, the Erie County Clerk is where you need to go. The clerk's office in downtown Buffalo keeps all the case files.

Erie County Clerk and Tonawanda Dissolution Records

Tonawanda 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, from the first papers all the way through the final signed judgment. Erie County is one of the larger counties in the state, and the clerk handles a high volume of cases each year.

In-person requests are handled 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. Bring a valid photo ID and the names of both parties. Having the index number makes it faster, but staff can search without it. They pull the file and make copies while you wait.

For mail requests, you need a notarized Divorce Record Request Form. Send it with your payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the clerk's office. The form is available at the office or by calling them. It takes a few business days to process once they receive your request.

Online Search for Tonawanda Dissolution Cases

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

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

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

The WebCivil Supreme system also covers Erie County. Pick Erie from the county drop-down and enter a name. Results include the index number, party names, and case status. Full documents are not shown online because of the Domestic Relations Law Section 235 confidentiality rules. WebCivil is free and goes back to 1983.

Tonawanda Dissolution Of Marriage Fees

The search fee at the Erie County Clerk is $5.00 per name for each two-year period. Digitized records from 1988 onward use this rate. Older manual records cost $10.00 for every 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 case requires $210 for the index number. The Request for Judicial Intervention is $95. A Note of Issue costs $30 more. Fee waivers exist for those who qualify. Free uncontested divorce packets are available at the Chief Clerk's Office at 25 Delaware Avenue, at the Court Resource Center at 77 West Eagle Street, or from the NYS Courts website.

Tonawanda Town Clerk

The Tonawanda Town Clerk is at 2919 Delaware Avenue, Kenmore, NY 14217. Phone: 716-877-8802. This office deals with vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates. It does not keep dissolution of marriage records. If you call about a divorce case, they will refer you to the Erie County Clerk at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo.

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

Dissolution File Access in Tonawanda

Dissolution of marriage files in New York are sealed under Domestic Relations Law Section 235. Only the parties named in the case, their attorneys, or a person with a court order can view the full file. This applies to all cases in Erie County, including those from Tonawanda. The seal stays in place for 100 years from the date of filing.

A non-party who needs access must file a motion in Supreme Court requesting an order to release the records. The court decides whether to grant that order based on the circumstances. Without a court order, the clerk cannot show you the file. A Certificate of Disposition, which shows that a divorce was granted without giving details about the case, is available to anyone for a fee.

For genealogy and historical research, the FamilySearch wiki on New York divorce records explains how to locate older cases. The New York State Archives holds pre-1847 dissolution records for upstate counties. From 1847 forward, the county clerk where the case was filed keeps the records. After 100 years, sealed files become public and available for research.

Nearby Cities

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