Buffalo sits in Erie County, New York, so family court is handled at the county level. How and where to file family court papers from Buffalo: the right clerk of court, e-filing, filing fees, and self-help for custody, child support, and divorce.
Buffalo sits in Erie County, New York. Family court matters for Buffalo residents are filed with the clerk of court for the Erie county. Start with the Erie county court resources linked on this page to confirm the family division, courthouse location, hours, and accepted filing formats. FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help resource and not a law firm.
New York uses NYSCEF for electronic court filings. Whether self-represented filers in Buffalo can e-file depends on the court and case type, so confirm with the clerk before you submit. Where e-filing is not open to you, the clerk will accept paper filings in person or by mail.
Divorce filing fee: ~$210-$335. The exact amount is set by the clerk and changes over time, so verify the current schedule before filing. If you cannot afford the fee, New York courts let you ask for a fee waiver based on income.
Yes. New York maintains a statewide self-help resource for people without a lawyer, and many clerks run a local self-help center too. Use those official resources for forms and procedure, and use FamilyCourtHelp.com to organize your case, draft documents, and prepare. This page is educational and not legal advice.
Buffalo is served by the Erie county court in New York. Divorce, custody, child support, and parenting-plan cases for Buffalo residents are heard in that court's family division.