Erie Public Records

Erie County is a large area in the western part of the state of New York. This large county boasts a population of more than 919,000 as of the 2010 U.S. census. The county gets its name from Lake Erie, which borders the area, and the Erie tribe of American Indians that used to live in the region. Erie County officially became a county of the state in 1821 and features a rich history that is a significant piece of the American heritage. Erie County public records allow interested individuals to explore a part of that history, through the lives and deaths of the people who once called Erie County home.

There are a number of sources for finding public records in Erie, including:

Erie County Public Records Available through the Clerk’s Office

The Erie County Clerk is the go-to place for Erie County’s public records of all types. This office is primarily responsible for real estate records, but also offers a limited number of birth and death records for the county. Additional birth, death and marriage records for Erie can be found through individual cities or towns – through the Registrar for Vital Statistics for that city. Since 1993, this office has been making Erie County, NY public records available electronically and provides a special service for this purpose.

New York State Department of Health Offers Online Public Records for Erie County

Another good source for conducting an Erie County, NY public records search is the New York State Department of Health. This agency features a variety of New York public records, including birth and death records, as well as marriage and divorce certificates. These documents are available by visiting the Department of Health in person, or sending requests by mail. The agency also contracts with VitalChek to offer public records online for Erie County. There is an additional fee for using the VitalChek service, but requests are typically processed more quickly and from the comfort of home.

What You can Find in Erie County Public Records Online

With many online public records for Erie County available today, it is easy to find the documents you are looking for any time and from any location. Keep in mind that even though documents are available online, official copies must still be ordered from the appropriate government agency. There is also typically a fee for copies of documents, although free public records searches for Erie County are available.