Erie County Clerk's Office
The Erie County Clerk's Office is one of the oldest and most vital administrative arms of county government in Western New York, established alongside the count...
The Erie County Clerk's Office is one of the oldest and most vital administrative arms of county government in Western New York, established alongside the county itself in the early 19th century. Operating primarily out of Old County Hall on Franklin Street in downtown Buffalo, the Clerk's Office serves as the official register of deeds and mortgages, the clerk of the Supreme and County Courts, and the local agent for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Over the decades, the office has transitioned from maintaining hand-written paper ledgers to managing a highly sophisticated electronic record system that protects and preserves the legal history of the region.
Serving the entire population of Erie County—comprising nearly one million residents across cities, suburban towns, and rural municipalities—the Clerk's Office interacts with a broad demographic spectrum of the community. From first-time homebuyers recording their deeds and small business owners registering DBAs, to veterans seeking discharge paper certification and residents applying for passports, the Clerk's Office acts as a direct, everyday interface between the public and county government.
The primary mandate of the Erie County Clerk is to serve as the constitutional custodian of legal, court, and land records for Erie County, ensuring that all records are accurately processed, securely stored, and readily accessible to the public. Additionally, the office is mandated to collect state-legislated fees and transfer taxes, administer oaths of office, and oversee the operations of the Erie County Auto Bureau system in compliance with state motor vehicle guidelines.
The Clerk's Office operates a massive record room housing land deeds dating back to 1808, court filings, and historical naturalization records from 1827 to 1929, making it an invaluable resource for legal professionals, historians, and genealogists. The office oversees multiple DMV Auto Bureau branches, including a mobile outreach center that travels to underserved neighborhoods, libraries, and senior centers. Through popular community programs like the "Thank A Vet" discount initiative and mobile pistol permit clinics, the Clerk's Office directly impacts the daily lives and civic engagement of WNY residents.