Erie County Marriage Records

Marriage records for Erie County are maintained by the County Clerk's office in downtown Buffalo. Erie County is the most populous county in western New York and includes the city of Buffalo along with dozens of surrounding towns and villages. The Erie County Clerk records a wide range of legal documents and serves as the central filing point for marriage certificates across the county. Town and city clerks in each of Erie County's 23 municipalities also issue marriage licenses and hold copies. One important note for researchers: Buffalo city records from before 1914 are not part of the NYS Department of Health collections and must be obtained from the Buffalo City Clerk directly.

Erie County Clerk's Office

Michael P. Kearns is the Erie County Clerk. The main office is at 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. Call (716) 858-8785 for questions. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office records deeds, mortgages, court documents, and other legal papers for the county. It is also where you can request certified copies of marriage certificates that have been filed with the county.

When visiting the Erie County Clerk, bring a valid photo ID. You should know the full names of both spouses and the approximate date of the marriage. The staff will search their records and can provide a certified copy for $10. Same-day service is typical for in-person requests if the record is on file. Mail requests are accepted too. Send a written request with all the details and a check for $10 payable to the Erie County Clerk at 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. Mail processing takes about two to three weeks.

Erie County is a busy office. Buffalo alone accounts for a large share of the marriage licenses issued in the county each year. The clerk's staff handles thousands of recording requests annually, so having your information ready when you visit will speed things up considerably.

How to Find Erie County Marriage Records

The fastest way to get a marriage record in Erie County is to contact the town or city clerk who issued the license. Erie County has 23 municipalities: Alden, Amherst, Aurora, Boston, Brant, Cheektowaga, Clarence, Colden, Collins, Concord, Eden, Elma, Evans, Grand Island, Hamburg, Holland, Lancaster, Marilla, Newstead, North Collins, Orchard Park, Sardinia, and Tonawanda. Each of these has a clerk who can look up local marriage records and issue copies.

For Buffalo specifically, the Buffalo City Clerk handles marriage licenses for the city. This is where things get a bit different from other places. Marriage records for Buffalo from before 1914 are not in the state Department of Health's files. If you need a Buffalo marriage record from that era, you must contact the Buffalo City Clerk. This is a well-known gap that catches researchers off guard. For marriages after 1914, both the city clerk and the NYS Department of Health should have copies.

The state health department holds marriage records for Erie County from 1881 forward (with that Buffalo exception noted above). You can order by mail for $30 or online for $45 plus a processing fee. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15, the information collected on marriage licenses includes names, ages, birthplaces, and details about prior marriages. This data is the same regardless of which office you contact.

The Erie County Clerk's office is shown below. This is where you go for county-level marriage record requests in the Buffalo area.

Getting a Marriage License in Erie County

Both people must appear in person at a town or city clerk's office. No proxies. No remote applications. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver's license or passport. If either person was married before, you need proof the prior marriage is over. A certified divorce decree or death certificate will work. The license fee is $40 anywhere in Erie County outside of New York City.

After the clerk issues the license, you wait 24 hours. That is the mandatory waiting period under New York law. A court can waive it in urgent situations but this is rare. The license is valid for 60 days. Military personnel on active duty can extend this to 180 days with documentation. Once the ceremony happens, the officiant has five days to sign the license and return it to the clerk who issued it. The clerk files the completed certificate and sends a copy to the state.

You do not have to live in Erie County to get a license here. Any couple can apply at any clerk's office in New York State. The NY.gov marriage services page has more details on statewide requirements. The only rule is that the license can only be used for a ceremony within New York State.

Erie County Marriage Records Access and Fees

Certified copies from the Erie County Clerk or any local town clerk cost $10. The state charges more. A mail order through the Department of Health is $30. Online orders cost $45 plus vendor fees. Going local saves money and time.

Access restrictions apply to recent records. Marriage certificates less than 50 years old are restricted to the spouses, their legal representatives, or someone with a proper purpose as defined by state law. Records older than 50 years are open to the public. The New York State Archives has indexes to older records that are useful for genealogical research. The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library also holds microfiche copies of state marriage indexes, which researchers can use on-site at no charge.

For people doing family history research in Erie County, it helps to know that the county has been a major population center for over 150 years. Marriage records here can sometimes be found in church records, newspaper announcements, and other local sources in addition to the official government files. The Erie County Historical Society and local genealogical groups can be useful for tracking down hard-to-find records.

Cities in Erie County

Erie County includes several major communities with their own clerks who handle marriage records. The following cities and towns have dedicated pages with more details.

Neighboring Counties

If the marriage record you need is not in Erie County, try one of these neighboring counties.