Find Buffalo Family Court Records

Buffalo family court records are filed and maintained at the Erie County Family Court in downtown Buffalo. The court is at One Niagara Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202, and serves the entire county including the city of Buffalo. You can reach the court at 716-845-7400. To search for case information, use the WebFamily online portal or call the Record Room directly at 716-845-7401. There are no filing fees for Family Court petitions. The court runs Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Erie County Family Court in Buffalo

The Erie County Family Court is at One Niagara Plaza in downtown Buffalo. It is part of the 8th Judicial District. The court has a large bench with ten judges spread across Parts 1 through 8 on the sixth and seventh floors. The Chief Clerk is Kelly Buckley, reachable at kbuckley@nycourts.gov or 716-845-7444. The Deputy Chief Clerk is Lisa A. Virgilio.

Judges serving Buffalo and Erie County include Hon. Jeffrey M. Harrington (Part 1, 716-845-9490), Hon. Sharon LoVallo (Part 2, 716-845-7453), Hon. Kelly Brinkworth (Part 3, 716-845-7487), Hon. Shannon Filbert (Part 4, 716-845-7481), Hon. Kevin Carter (Part 5, 716-845-7484), Hon. Thomas DiMillo (Part 5, 716-845-2771), Hon. Kara Buscaglia (Part 6, 716-845-9435), Hon. Deanne Tripi (Part 7, 716-845-7496), Hon. Mary G. Carney (Part 8, 716-845-7493), and Hon. Brenda M. Freedman (716-845-7475).

The Erie County Family Court page on the NYS Courts website has full details on judges, staff, and court services for Buffalo residents.

The official court page lists all judges, contact numbers, and department information for Buffalo's family court.

Family Court Cases in Buffalo

The Erie County Family Court handles custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, adoption, paternity, abuse and neglect, family offenses (domestic violence), juvenile delinquency, and PINS cases. The court cannot grant a divorce. That goes to Erie County Supreme Court.

Support Magistrates handle the financial side of family cases. The Support Magistrates Office is at 716-845-7465. Magistrates include Tina Kasperek, Wendy Peterson, Delroy Pinnock, Marissa Washington, and John S. Wiencek. Court Attorney Referees include Kathleen A. Crowley, Donna M. Castiglione, Margaret Logan, Ashlea Palladino, Ayoka A. Tucker, and Christopher J. Brechtel. They can be reached at 716-845-7450.

The court has a cutoff time for same-day hearings on petitions. If you need an emergency hearing for a custody, visitation, or family offense matter, file your petition early in the day to have it reviewed before the cutoff. Call the Petition Processing office at 716-845-7420 for the current policy.

The 211 Western NY listing for Erie County Family Court confirms that no filing fees apply to family court petitions, making the court accessible regardless of income.

Buffalo's family court bench includes experienced judges across multiple parts handling different case types.

How to Get Buffalo Family Court Records

Family court records in Buffalo are governed by Family Court Act Section 166. Records are not open to the general public. Parties, attorneys, and authorized agencies can access records under 22 NYCRR 205.5. Others must get court permission.

The Record Room at 716-845-7401 handles records requests. Bring photo ID. The fax for records is 716-845-7562. You can also use the WebFamily portal to search case info by file number or attorney name from any computer.

The building is fully handicap accessible. Multiple language interpreters are available for non-English speaking litigants. The court provides accessible bathrooms and telephones for persons with disabilities. Buffalo residents can reach the court via NFTA Metro Bus routes that serve downtown.

Note: The Youth Part Intake has moved to Erie County Court, so juvenile matters may involve coordination between courts.

Buffalo Family Treatment Court

The Family Treatment Court at Erie County provides enhanced services to parents found neglectful of children due to substance abuse. The coordinator is Tari Ann McGinty, reachable at 716-845-2741. The program combines treatment, judicial oversight, and family support services to help parents recover and reunify with their children.

The 8th Judicial District, which includes Erie County and Buffalo, has also set up Raise the Age Accessible Magistrates. These judges handle cases involving older adolescents and young adults under New York's Raise the Age legislation, which changed how the state treats youthful offenders in the justice system.

Erie County Family Court Records

Buffalo is the county seat of Erie County. The Erie County Family Court at One Niagara Plaza serves Buffalo and all surrounding communities in the county.

Nearby cities with family court pages include Amherst and Rochester.