Find Erie County Marriage License Records

Erie County marriage license records are available through city, town, and village clerks across the county. As the most populous county in Western New York, Erie County includes Buffalo, Amherst, Cheektowaga, Hamburg, Tonawanda, and many other communities. Each has its own clerk who can issue a marriage license. The City of Buffalo clerk's office in City Hall is one of the busiest in the region. This page covers everything you need to know about getting a marriage license in Erie County, from required documents and fees to where you can pick up certified copies of your marriage record.

Buffalo City Clerk Marriage License Office

The City of Buffalo clerk's office processes marriage license applications in Room 1301 at City Hall. Applications are accepted Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Both people must be there. You can download a NYS Marriage License Worksheet ahead of time to save some time when you visit.

Both applicants need to bring a current driver's license or state-issued photo ID, a certified birth certificate that lists both parents' names, and their Social Security number. If your birth certificate is in a language other than English, you must get a certified translation from the International Institute of Buffalo at 864 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14209, phone (716) 883-1900. Canadians should bring the long form of their birth certificate since the small card version does not have parents' names. Refugees without a birth certificate need a letter from their sponsoring agency on official letterhead, sealed in an envelope.

If you were married before, bring a copy of your final divorce decree with the county stamp showing where it was filed. If you had more than one divorce, you need the date for each one and the paperwork for the most recent. If a former spouse died, bring the death certificate instead. The fee is $40. You must be at least 18 years old.

Other Erie County Marriage License Locations

Besides Buffalo, several other communities in Erie County issue marriage licenses. The Town of Evans clerk handles licenses Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Both parties must come together and bring a current driver's license, a government-issued birth certificate with raised seal, divorce papers for all prior marriages, and $40. The Evans Town Clerk has marriage officers Kimberly Partridge and Paul T. Cooper on staff.

The Lackawanna City Clerk at 714 Ridge Road, Room 215, Lackawanna, NY 14218, also issues marriage licenses. Phone them at (716) 827-6453. They handle birth, death, and marriage certificates at $10 each for copies.

The Kenmore Village Clerk at 2919 Delaware Avenue, Room 17, Kenmore, NY 14217, does not issue marriage licenses. If you live in Kenmore, you should go to the Town of Tonawanda Clerk's Office instead at (716) 877-8800.

Erie County Clerk Records

The Erie County Clerk's Office is at Old County Hall, 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202, on the first floor. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Phone: (716) 858-8785. The county clerk handles land records, court filings, and other legal documents. For marriage licenses issued before 1935, press Option 4 for the Record Room when you call.

The Erie County Clerk's website shown above gives you access to county records and department contact information.

The Buffalo city website is another resource, especially for people who got their license through the Buffalo City Clerk.

The Buffalo city portal above links to the clerk's office and gives details on how to schedule wedding ceremonies at City Hall.

Marriage License Copies in Erie County

After the wedding, the officiant fills out the license and returns it to the issuing clerk. The clerk then sends a Certificate of Marriage Registration to the couple within about 15 days. This certificate is proof that your marriage is on file. Certified copies of the marriage record cost $10 from the town or city clerk who issued the license.

You can also get copies from the New York State Department of Health for $30 per copy. The state has records from 1881 onward, though records filed in Buffalo before January 1, 1914 are not held by the state. For those older Buffalo records, contact the Buffalo City Clerk directly. Regular state processing takes 10 to 12 weeks. Priority service costs an extra $15 and takes about two weeks.

For genealogy research, the state genealogy office charges $22 for a three-year search. The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library at 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203, has microfiche indexes to state vital records. Phone (716) 858-8900. The New York State Archives is another option for older records.

Erie County Marriage License Legal Requirements

New York State law under DRL Section 13 requires all couples to get a marriage license before their ceremony. The license is valid for 60 days after the 24-hour waiting period. Active military members get up to 180 days with proof of service. Under DRL Section 14, the clerk issues the license and records the marriage with the state after the ceremony is completed.

A marriage ceremony in Erie County can be performed by any person listed in Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law. This includes judges, town justices, mayors, ordained clergy, and spiritual leaders chosen by their group. The officiant does not need to be a New York resident. No set words are required. The couple just needs to state, in front of the officiant and at least one witness, that they take each other as spouses.

Cities in Erie County

Erie County has several large communities. All of them have their own clerks who can issue marriage licenses.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Erie County. You can get a marriage license from any town clerk in New York State.