Find Records in the Lancaster Residents Directory

The Lancaster residents directory provides access to public records for this town in Erie County, New York, located east of Buffalo. Lancaster has a population of about 42,000 and includes the Village of Lancaster and the Village of Depew within its borders. The Erie County Clerk in Buffalo handles land records and court filings for the town, while local offices manage permits, assessments, and vital events. This guide covers how to search for records in the Lancaster residents directory.

Erie County Clerk and Public Records

Lancaster is in Erie County, so the county clerk at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo is the primary keeper of land records and court filings. The phone number is (716) 858-8865. The office is open Monday through Friday. All deeds, mortgages, liens, and UCC filings for property in Lancaster are recorded at this location. The clerk also manages Supreme Court and County Court records for Erie County in the 8th Judicial District.

The Erie County Clerk's online land records portal lets you search by name, document type, or recording date. Digital coverage goes back several decades for most instruments. Older records may require an in-person visit to the office in Buffalo. Standard copies are $0.25 per page under New York law. Certified copies carry a higher fee. The clerk's office handles a large volume of filings given Erie County's population of over 900,000.

Lancaster is about 15 minutes east of downtown Buffalo, making the clerk's office fairly accessible. Still, the online portal can save you a trip for routine lookups. For title searches or large requests, an in-person visit or a phone call to confirm availability can be worthwhile.

Residents Directory Court Records

The Lancaster Town Court handles traffic violations, small claims, and certain misdemeanors. The court is at 21 Central Avenue in the Town Hall. Court sessions are held on specific days, and the court clerk can help with scheduling questions and record requests. The Village of Lancaster and Village of Depew each have their own village courts as well, handling local matters within their respective boundaries.

The New York State eCourts system offers free online access to civil case data. Search by party name, index number, or attorney. Results cover Erie County Supreme Court and some lower courts. The system shows case type, filing date, and current status. No registration is needed.

Criminal record access is limited by New York law. Under Criminal Procedure Law Section 160.50, records are sealed when charges are dismissed or end in acquittal. Youthful offender cases are sealed under Section 720.35. Family Court records carry broad privacy protections. For public criminal records, the eCourts WebCriminal portal and the Erie County Clerk can help. You can also contact the specific court where a case was filed.

Lancaster Residents Directory Property Records

Property records for Lancaster are recorded at the Erie County Clerk's office in Buffalo. Every deed, mortgage, and lien filing goes through the clerk. The online search tool lets you look up recorded documents by name or instrument type. Tracing the ownership history of a parcel means following the chain of recorded deeds and checking for any encumbrances.

The Lancaster Town Assessor maintains the local assessment roll. Assessed values, property classes, and exemptions are available through the town or the Erie County Real Property Tax Service Agency. Lancaster has a diverse mix of older residential neighborhoods in the villages, newer suburban developments in the town, and some remaining agricultural and commercial parcels. Assessment grievances go through the town's Board of Assessment Review, which meets in the spring. You file using the state's RP-524 form.

Building permits, certificates of occupancy, and code enforcement records are kept by the town's building department. The Village of Lancaster and Village of Depew may also have their own building and code offices for properties within village limits. All of these records are public under FOIL. Combining county deed records with local assessment and permit data gives a comprehensive view of any property in the Lancaster area.

Vital Records and Voter Registration

The New York State Department of Health maintains birth, death, and marriage records for events in New York outside the five boroughs. Certified copies can be ordered online, by mail, or in person. The Lancaster Town Clerk serves as the local registrar for vital events within town limits. Marriage licenses are available from any municipal clerk, and the Lancaster clerk issues them during business hours.

Voter registration records are public in New York. The Board of Elections voter lookup confirms registration status using a name and date of birth. The Erie County Board of Elections maintains the local voter rolls. Bulk data is available under the election law for election-related use. This can confirm addresses or verify information about Lancaster residents.

State Databases for Lancaster

The New York State Open Data Portal publishes datasets from state agencies on topics like professional licenses, state contracts, and inspection records. Some datasets can be filtered by zip code or municipality, which is helpful for Lancaster-specific searches. The Sex Offender Registry is searchable by name, county, or zip code across all of New York State.

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision provides an inmate lookup tool. The New York State Archives hold historical records from Erie County, including court documents and government files. Lancaster was established as a town in 1833, so historical materials may go back nearly two centuries. The archives are open to researchers by appointment at the Cultural Education Center in Albany.

Lancaster Residents Directory FOIL Access

New York's Freedom of Information Law applies to the Town of Lancaster, Erie County, and all state agencies. Under Public Officers Law Sections 84 through 90, anyone can request records without a reason. Agencies must respond within five business days. Inspecting records is free. Copies cost up to $0.25 per page.

To make a FOIL request to the Town of Lancaster, write to the town clerk. Be specific about the records you need. If the request is denied, appeal within 30 days to the town supervisor. If that does not resolve the matter, the state Committee on Open Government can provide guidance, or you can file an Article 78 proceeding in court to challenge the denial.

Nearby Communities

Lancaster is part of the Buffalo metro area. These nearby communities have their own pages in the residents directory.