Find Hamburg Family Court Records

Hamburg family court records are filed and kept at the Erie County Family Court in downtown Buffalo. The Town of Hamburg does not have a separate Family Court. All family law cases for Hamburg residents go through the Erie County courthouse at One Niagara Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202. You can search case information with the WebFamily online portal or call 716-845-7400 for records questions. The court is part of the 8th Judicial District and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There are no filing fees for Family Court petitions.

Erie County Family Court Serving Hamburg

The Erie County Family Court at One Niagara Plaza in Buffalo is the courthouse for all Hamburg family law matters. The main phone is 716-845-7400 and the fax is 716-845-2119. The court has ten judges who sit across Parts 1 through 8 on the sixth and seventh floors of the building. The Chief Clerk is Kelly Buckley (716-845-7444, kbuckley@nycourts.gov), and the Deputy Chief Clerk is Lisa A. Virgilio.

Hamburg is south of Buffalo and about a 20-minute drive to the courthouse. There is no direct NFTA Metro bus from Hamburg to the downtown court complex, so most Hamburg residents drive. Parking is available in nearby municipal lots and garages. Plan to arrive early, as security screening can take time during busy morning hours. The building is fully handicap accessible with ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms on every floor.

Judges serving Hamburg through the Erie County Family Court 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 NYS Navigator resource page for Erie County Family Court has contact details and service information for Hamburg residents.

The New York State courts portal shows the Family Court system that serves Hamburg and all Erie County communities.

Family Court Cases for Hamburg

Under the Family Court Act, the Erie County Family Court has jurisdiction over custody and visitation (Article 6), child support (Article 4), paternity (Article 5), child abuse and neglect (Article 10), juvenile delinquency (Article 3), family offenses including domestic violence (Article 8), PINS cases, adoption, guardianship, foster care review, and termination of parental rights. Hamburg residents file the same petitions and follow the same rules as anyone else in Erie County.

The court cannot grant a divorce. Only the Erie County Supreme Court can do that. If you need to file for divorce while also dealing with custody or support issues, you may have parallel cases in both courts. The Family Court handles the day-to-day support and custody matters, while the Supreme Court resolves the divorce itself. Your attorney can help coordinate both if needed.

Support Magistrates at the Erie County court handle child support and spousal support petitions. Their office is at 716-845-7465. If you are ordered to pay support, payments go through the New York State Child Support Processing Center, not directly to the court. Court Attorney Referees (716-845-7450) also assist with certain case types and can make recommendations to the judge. The 211 Western NY listing for Erie County Family Court is a useful resource for Hamburg families who need information about court services and community resources.

Note: Emergency petitions for custody, visitation, or family offenses must be filed at least 30 minutes before closing time for same-day review.

How to Get Hamburg Family Court Records

Family court records for Hamburg cases are stored at the Erie County Family Court Record Room. The Record Room phone is 716-845-7401 and the fax is 716-845-7562. Under Family Court Act Section 166, these records are not open to the public. They are available to parties in the case, their attorneys, and authorized agencies. If you are not a party, you must file a motion and get the judge's permission to see any file.

The rules under 22 NYCRR 205.5 set the framework for who can access family court files and under what conditions. Child protective records get extra protection under Social Services Law Section 422. If your case involves child abuse or neglect findings, those records have even tighter restrictions on who can see them.

Hamburg residents can use the WebFamily portal to look up basic case information from home. Search by file number or attorney name. The system covers Family Court and Integrated Domestic Violence cases across New York State. E-filing is available for custody, visitation, guardianship, paternity, and support cases through NYSCEF. This is free to use and gives you access to your e-filed documents around the clock.

Transcripts can be ordered up to five years after a court appearance. For proceedings that were electronically recorded, ask the General Clerk's Office for a list of authorized transcription firms. Transcript costs vary by length and complexity of the hearing.

Erie County Family Treatment Court

The Family Treatment Court at Erie County works with parents who have been found neglectful due to substance abuse. This court combines treatment programs with regular judicial check-ins to help parents get clean and keep their families together when it is safe to do so. The coordinator is Tari Ann McGinty, and the program can be reached at 716-845-2741. Hamburg residents who are referred to this program will attend sessions at the Erie County Family Court building in Buffalo.

The 8th Judicial District, which includes Erie County, 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. This law changed how the state treats youthful offenders, moving many cases out of adult criminal court and into the family court system.

Erie County Family Court Records

Hamburg is in Erie County. The Erie County Family Court at One Niagara Plaza in Buffalo handles all family court matters for Hamburg and its surrounding communities.

Nearby cities with family court pages include Buffalo, Cheektowaga, and Tonawanda. Visit the Erie County page for more court details.