Erie County Death Index
The Erie County death index covers death records across the most populous county in western New York, home to Buffalo and several large suburban communities. Death records in Erie County are not held by the County Clerk. Instead, you get them from the city or town clerk where the death took place. Buffalo City Hall has death records from 1886 for deaths within the city limits. The Erie County Clerk at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo handles court records, marriage records, and naturalization records, but death certificates go through a different path. This is a key distinction that trips up many researchers.
Erie County Death Index Overview
Where to Find Erie County Death Records
Death records in Erie County come from the local clerk where the death happened. This is not the County Clerk. That office at Erie County Hall, 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 handles other types of records. For death certificates, you need the city or town clerk.
For deaths in Buffalo, contact Buffalo Vital Records at 1302 City Hall, 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202. Buffalo has maintained death records since 1886. Copies issued for genealogy are marked "For genealogical purposes only."
For deaths in other Erie County communities like Amherst, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, or Hamburg, contact the town clerk in that municipality. Each town clerk keeps their own set of death records as the local registrar.
The New York State Department of Health also holds Erie County death records from 1880 onward. Mail requests to PO Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Phone inquiries go to 855-322-1022.
How to Search the Erie County Death Index
Start with the statewide death index for records over 50 years old. The index is public after that period. Entries show the deceased person's name, date of death, place, and a state file number. Use the file number to request a copy.
The New York State Archives has microfiche indexes you can view for free. This is helpful for genealogy searches where you don't have exact dates. The microfiche covers multiple decades of death records across all of New York State, including Erie County.
Buffalo City Hall can search their own records back to 1886. Call or visit in person. For records from the surrounding towns, contact the individual town clerk. The Erie County Clerk's office at (716) 858-8785 can point you in the right direction if you are unsure which municipality to contact, though they do not issue death records themselves.
Erie County Death Certificate Fees
Local town and city clerks in Erie County charge around $10 for a certified copy of a death certificate. Buffalo Vital Records follows this same general fee structure. Genealogy copies may be available at a reduced cost from some offices.
State-level fees through the NYS Department of Health are higher. A search of one to three years costs $22. The fee goes up with wider search ranges. Searching 81 to 90 years costs $202. State genealogy copies are stamped and cannot be used for legal purposes.
Wait times vary. Local clerks in Erie County tend to process requests within a few weeks. The state can take eight months or more for genealogy orders. Plan ahead if you are working on a time-sensitive project.
Other Records at the Erie County Clerk
While the Erie County Clerk does not handle death records, the office holds several other record types useful for research. Marriage records from 1878 through April 1935 are on file. Divorce records from the early 1800s are also available, though New York law seals divorce records for 100 years.
The County Clerk also has naturalization records from 1827 to 1929. Census records on microfilm cover 1850 through 1925. Buffalo birth records are available for a narrow window: September 17, 1881 through December 15, 1913. Those birth records are on microfilm with no index and can only be searched in person.
These records can help piece together a family history when death records alone don't give the full picture. Marriage and census records often list ages and birthplaces that connect to death records in other jurisdictions.
Erie County Death Index and Genealogy
Erie County is one of the most researched counties in New York for genealogy. The population is large. The history runs deep. And the record collections are extensive, even if they are spread across multiple offices.
The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library has a strong genealogy collection. They hold local history materials, newspaper archives, and cemetery records that can supplement death index searches. The Western New York Genealogical Society is another resource worth contacting.
Cemetery records throughout Erie County have been transcribed by volunteers and are available through various genealogy websites. Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, one of the oldest and largest in the region, has its own records office that can help locate burial information.
Local registrars in Erie County can issue uncertified genealogy copies of death records under New York regulations. This option can be faster than the state route. Contact the town or city clerk where the death occurred and ask about genealogy copies.
Legal Framework for Death Records
New York law restricts death record access for 50 years. Only qualified applicants can get certified copies during that time. After 50 years, the index is public. The rules are in 10 NYCRR 35.4 and New York Public Health Law.
Vital records cannot be obtained through FOIL. This is a common point of confusion. FOIL covers government documents generally, but vital records fall under separate statutes with their own access rules.
Cities in Erie County
Erie County has several large communities. These cities and towns have their own clerks who handle death records.
Nearby Counties
Deaths sometimes get recorded in a neighboring county, especially near border areas. Check these adjacent counties if your search comes up empty in Erie County.