Monroe County Court Records
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Monroe County, in western New York's Finger Lakes region with Rochester as its county seat, runs an extensive court system that handles a high volume of civil, criminal, family, and probate matters every year. Nearly all county-level courts are housed in the Hall of Justice in downtown Rochester, though the Monroe County Clerk's Office — which maintains Supreme and County Court records — sits in a separate building a short distance away. This guide walks you through how to search for, request, and obtain court records in Monroe County, along with the fees, offices, and rules that govern public access.
Residents and researchers looking for New York court records can draw on several official resources: clerk offices, courthouse public access terminals, and online case search tools run by the state judiciary. NewYorkCourts.us offers statewide court directory information and links to electronic search systems that can help you locate publicly available case data for Monroe County and other jurisdictions.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Monroe County?
Monroe County's courts are part of the 7th Judicial District of the New York State Unified Court System. Most courts are located at the Hall of Justice at 99 Exchange Boulevard in Rochester. The Monroe County Clerk's Office, which maintains Supreme and County Court case files, is at 39 West Main Street nearby.
Court Locations
| Court | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme & County Court | Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd., 5th Floor, Room 545, Rochester, NY 14614 | (585) 371-3758 |
| Family Court | Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd., 3rd Floor, Room 360, Rochester, NY 14614 | (585) 371-3544 |
| Surrogates Court | Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd., 5th Floor, Room 541, Rochester, NY 14614 | (585) 371-3310 |
| Rochester City Court Civil | Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd., Room 6, Rochester, NY 14614 | (585) 371-3412 |
| Rochester City Court Criminal | Public Safety Building, 130 S. Plymouth Ave., Room 123, Rochester, NY 14614 | (585) 371-3413 |
Monroe County also has 23 Town and Village Courts that handle local matters including traffic violations, small claims, and minor criminal offenses.
Online Search Tools
The eCourts portal run by the New York State Unified Court System gives you access to several search databases:
- WebCivil Supreme — Search civil cases filed in Supreme Court by party name, attorney or firm, index number, or calendar. Select Monroe from the court list.
- WebCriminal Supreme — Search felony and criminal cases in Supreme Court by defendant name, case identifier, or court calendar.
- WebCrims — Shows scheduling information for criminal cases with upcoming court dates.
- WebFamily — Contains information about certain Family Court proceedings.
- NYSCEF — The state's electronic filing system lets you view documents in cases filed electronically. Monroe County Supreme Court uses NYSCEF for most case types.
The Monroe County Clerk also runs an online records database (SearchIQS) where you can search court filings, judgments, liens, and land records. Guest searches are free, though subscription plans unlock expanded access.
In-Person Searches
The Monroe County Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you're visiting, enter the County Office Building via South Fitzhugh Street or Irving Place.
Monroe County Clerk's Office
Address: 39 West Main Street, Room 101, Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 753-1600
Customer Service: (585) 753-1620
Fax: (585) 753-1650
The office accepts cash, checks payable to Monroe County Clerk, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.
Mail and Fax Requests
Mail your written request for record copies to the Monroe County Clerk's Office at 39 West Main Street, Room 105, Rochester, NY 14614, along with a check for the applicable fees. You can also fax your request to (585) 753-1650 — a clerk's representative will follow up with the total charge. When submitting a request, include:
- The index number
- Type of record sought
- Filing date
- Names of the parties (or business name)
Are Court Records Public in Monroe County?
Court records in Monroe County are generally open to the public under New York Judiciary Law 255-b, which allows court clerks to let members of the public inspect court records during regular business hours. This covers most civil filings, criminal case documents, judgments, and probate files.
Records Available to the Public:
- Civil case filings (complaints, answers, motions, orders, decisions)
- Criminal case records for felony convictions filed with the County Clerk
- Judgments and liens
- Probate records, including wills admitted to probate
- Land records (deeds, mortgages, satisfactions)
- Business certificates
Records That Are Restricted or Sealed:
- Juvenile records and PINS (Persons in Need of Supervision) proceedings
- Adoption records, sealed under Domestic Relations Law 114
- Criminal records sealed under CPL 160.50 after a favorable disposition (dismissal or acquittal), or under CPL 160.59 for eligible individuals
- Youthful offender adjudications under CPL 720.35
- Grand jury proceedings
- Medical and mental health records
- Certain matrimonial financial disclosure documents
Under 22 NYCRR 202.5(e), parties must redact sensitive personal information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth — before filing documents with the court. Only the parties involved and their attorneys may inspect sealed records; everyone else must obtain a court order to access them.
Monroe County Criminal Court Records
Which court handles a criminal case in Monroe County depends on the severity of the charge. Felony cases are prosecuted in Supreme Court and County Court, both at the Hall of Justice. Misdemeanors originating in Rochester are heard in the Rochester City Court Criminal Division at the Public Safety Building. Lesser offenses throughout the county may be processed in one of the 23 town and village courts.
Where Criminal Records Are Filed
The Monroe County Clerk's Office is the official repository for criminal records filed by Supreme and County Courts. Only felony convictions are kept here. City, town, and village court criminal records stay with those courts — they are not filed at the County Clerk's Office.
To locate a criminal file, it helps to have the index number and year of filing. If you don't have the index number, the Clerk's Office charges a $5 search fee for every two years searched.
Certificates of Disposition
If you need an official summary of how a criminal case ended, you can request a Certificate of Disposition. Fill out the Criminal Certificate of Disposition Request Form with as many case identifiers as possible — you can look these up through the online records database — and submit it in person, by mail, or by email. The fee is $5. The County Clerk forwards the completed request to the Court, which prints, stamps, and seals the certificate and contacts you when it's ready.
Statewide Criminal History Record Search
The New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) offers a statewide criminal history record search (CHRS) for $95 per search. It runs on exact name and date of birth matching and returns public records for open, pending, and convicted criminal cases from courts across all 62 counties. Sealed records, youthful offender cases, non-criminal violations, and certain other dispositions are excluded. Submit your request online through OCA's Direct Access program, or mail the CHRS Application Form to:
NYS Office of Court Administration
Criminal History Record Search Unit
25 Beaver Street, Room 940
New York, NY 10004
Email: CHRS@nycourts.gov
Sheriff and Law Enforcement Records
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office, located at 130 South Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, NY 14614, Phone: (585) 753-4178, maintains arrest and booking records. You can request arrest records under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). For records related to incarceration, contact the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Monroe County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Monroe County spread across several courts depending on the dollar amount at stake and the nature of the dispute. Supreme Court hears cases involving claims over $25,000 and all matrimonial actions. County Court handles civil cases under $25,000. Rochester City Court Civil Division adjudicates smaller civil disputes, small claims, and housing matters. Town and village courts also handle small claims within their municipalities.
Filing and Searching Civil Records
A civil action in Supreme or County Court begins with an index number assigned by the Monroe County Clerk's Office. The filing fee is $210. After that, the case file includes all court orders, affidavits, summons, complaints, and other documents bearing that index number.
To search civil records online:
- Visit WebCivil Supreme.
- Select a search method — party name, attorney or firm, index number, or calendar.
- Choose Monroe from the court list.
- Enter the required details and click search.
For cases filed through the NYSCEF electronic filing system, documents are viewable online at no charge. Most Supreme Court actions in Monroe County now require or allow e-filing, though some categories — including matrimonial filings, Mental Hygiene Law matters, and Election Law proceedings — remain consensual or voluntary.
Local civil court cases in Rochester City Court and town and village courts can be searched through WebCivil Local.
Copy and Search Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies of records (per page) | $0.65 (minimum $1.30) |
| Certified copy (up to 4 pages) | $5.00 |
| Additional pages (certified copy) | $1.25 per page |
| Record search | $5.00 per 2 years searched |
| Index number assignment | $210.00 |
Monroe County Family Court Records
The Monroe County Family Court sits on the 3rd floor of the Hall of Justice and handles cases involving children, families, and domestic relationships.
Monroe County Family Court
Address: Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Boulevard, Room 360, Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3544
Fax: (585) 371-3585
Email: monroefamilycourt@nycourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Types of Cases Handled:
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support petitions and enforcement
- Paternity proceedings
- Orders of protection (domestic violence)
- Juvenile delinquency
- PINS (Persons in Need of Supervision)
- Guardianship of minors
- Foster care approval and review
- Adoption proceedings
- Family offense proceedings
Confidentiality Restrictions
Family Court records in New York carry heightened confidentiality protections under Family Court Act 166. Access to Family Court files is limited — only the parties, their attorneys, and authorized agencies may inspect records without a court order. Adoption records are sealed when the adoption order is entered under Domestic Relations Law 114, and they can only be opened by a court upon a showing of good cause.
Some ongoing family law matters can be viewed through the WebFamily search tool accessible from the eCourts portal. Divorce cases, since they are civil actions filed in Supreme Court, are searchable through WebCivil Supreme rather than Family Court systems.
Divorce Records
Dissolution of marriage records — including petitions, settlement agreements, custody orders, and decrees — are maintained by the Monroe County Clerk. Most matrimonial records are not open to general public inspection; typically only divorce judgments (decrees) are accessible. If you need copies, contact the Clerk's Office at (585) 753-1600.
Marriage Certificates and Vital Records
Marriage records in Monroe County are maintained by the clerk of the municipality where the license was issued. Birth and death records fall under Public Health Law 4174, which restricts access to authorized persons. New York permits public access to birth records 75 years after the date of birth (if the individual is deceased) and death records 50 years after the date of death.
Monroe County Probate Court Records
Probate and estate matters in Monroe County fall under the jurisdiction of the Monroe County Surrogates Court, on the 5th floor of the Hall of Justice.
Monroe County Surrogates Court
Address: Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Boulevard, 5th Floor, Room 541, Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3310
Fax: (585) 371-3313
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Matters Handled:
- Probate of wills
- Administration of intestate estates
- Accounting proceedings
- Trust disputes and administration
- Guardianship of incapacitated persons under Mental Hygiene Law Article 81
- Wrongful death proceedings
- Kinship proceedings
- Adoptions
Searching Probate Records
The WebSurrogate system is a free online tool for searching Surrogates Court files, retrieving documents, and viewing historical records that are considered public. Monroe County filings from February 2014 onward are generally available through this portal. You can search by name, file number, or old index via the WebSurrogate search page.
In-person searches can be done at the Surrogates Court Clerk's office during business hours. Whether you're visiting or submitting a written request, include the decedent's full name, approximate date of death, and file number if you have it.
Filing Fees
Surrogates Court fees are set by SCPA 2402 and calculated based on the gross estate value:
| Estate Value | Fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | $45 |
| $10,000–$19,999 | $75 |
| $20,000–$49,999 | $215 |
| $50,000–$99,999 | $280 |
| $100,000–$249,999 | $420 |
| $250,000–$499,999 | $625 |
| $500,000 and over | $1,250 |
Other fees to know: $6 per page for certified copies, $30 for a record search covering less than 25 years, $90 for a search spanning more than 25 years, and $20 for a transcript of a decree. No filing fee is charged for annual guardian accounts or for matters related to estates of individuals who died as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Fingerprinting for Guardianship and Adoption
Proposed guardians and adoptive parents seeking appointment through Surrogates Court must complete electronic fingerprinting. Schedule an appointment through IdentoGo or by calling (877) 472-6915. Monroe County's ORI number is NY027SC3J, with service code 153JT1.
Public Access to Probate Records
Probate records, including wills admitted to probate, are open to public inspection. Wills deposited for safekeeping but not yet probated are not available for public review. Guardianship files under Article 81 may contain confidential medical and financial information and could be subject to restricted access by court order.