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Monroe County, New York public records

In Monroe County, deeds are recorded by the Monroe County Clerk; property values come from the Monroe County Real Property Tax Service; court files are divided among the Monroe County Clerk, the Monroe County Surrogate's Court and the Monroe County Family Court.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Voter records
  12. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Monroe County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Records that are not online: public records requests
  16. Questions people ask
  17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  18. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsMonroe County Clerk4Search deeds2365¢ per page, $1.30 minimum; $5 per 2 years searched when a search is needed4
Property values and ownersMonroe County Real Property Tax Service2——
Property tax billsMonroe County Department of Finance – Treasury / Property Tax2——
Court casesMonroe County Clerk5
Monroe County Surrogate's Court6
Monroe County Family Court2		—criminal Certificate of Disposition $57
Marriage recordsCity or town clerk that issued the license (City of Rochester and 20 towns/villages; phone list on the Clerk page)8——
Divorce recordsMonroe County Clerk5——
Birth certificatesMonroe County Department of Public Health – Office of Vital Records2—$30 per certified copy9
Death certificatesMonroe County Department of Public Health – Office of Vital Records2—$30 per certified copy9
Probate and willsMonroe County Surrogate's Court6—Certified copy of a will or any paper on file $6.00 per page (SCPA 2402)10
Business names (DBA)Monroe County Clerk2—DBA filing $25 (individual or partnership); form $1; certified copy $5; discontinuance no fee ($2 forms)11

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Monroe County are recorded by the Monroe County Clerk (Downtown Filing Office).4

Cost
Account3
Who runs it
IQS (searchiqs.com), linked from the County Clerk pages3
Years online
Many records from the 1970s to the present12
Copy fee
65¢ per page, $1.30 minimum; $5 per 2 years searched when a search is needed4
Certified copy fee
$5 for a document up to four pages, plus $1.25 per additional page4
Search fee
$5 for every 2 years searched4
How to order
In person; by mail with a check to the Monroe County Clerk (39 W. Main Street, Room 105, Rochester, NY 14614); by fax to 585 753-1650; by phone 585 753-1600; or the online Request Copies of Documents form. No payment by phone/email for the online form; certified copies are hard copy only.4
Recording fee
Deed: $50.00 for one page, $5 each additional page; TP-584 $5; RP-5217 $125 or $250; transfer tax $4 per thousand; additional $10 per residential deed (since March 11, 2020)4
Payment
Cash, checks payable to "Monroe County Clerk," Visa, Master Card and Discover13
Historical guide
Guide to Search for Historical Property Deeds (PDF, updated 2020)14

How deeds work in New York

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Monroe County Real Property Tax Service (assessments are made by the 21 town/city assessors) sets property values2; the Monroe County Department of Finance – Treasury / Property Tax bills and collects the tax2.

Property search
Monroe County Real Property Portal (property information, taxes, historical sales, online payment)15
Tax bill search
Same Real Property Portal; county Treasury collects town/county taxes (City of Rochester bills separately)16
Tax calendar
Town & County bill mailed by December 31, due in full February 10 or in four installments (Feb 10, Feb 28, Mar 30, Apr 30); school bills mailed by August 31, due October 1 or three installments16
Assessors
21 assessing jurisdictions; contact list of town assessors and tax receivers on the county site15
Appealing a value
Towns: file a complaint with the Board of Assessment Review by Grievance Day, the 4th Tuesday of May; City of Rochester has its own calendar18
Parcel map (GIS)
Monroe County GIS Hub19
City of rochester
City of Rochester property records: cityofrochester.gov/property-information (linked from the county FOIL page)20

How property tax works in New York

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
New York State Supreme Court and Monroe County Court (files kept by the County Clerk)Civil actions (Supreme), felony cases (County Court); only felony convictions are filed with the Clerk7Monroe County Clerk (as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts) County Clerk online records (IQS) for court documents; NYSCEF for e-filed cases; eCourts WebCivil Supreme statewide20
Monroe County Surrogate's CourtWills, estates, guardianship (estate and guardianship calendars)21Monroe County Surrogate's Court WebSurrogate (eCourts)22
Monroe County Family Court—Monroe County Family Court—
Rochester City Court (Criminal and Civil Divisions)Criminal Division at 150 S. Plymouth Ave.; Civil Division at 99 Exchange Blvd.6— eCourts WebCivil Local / WebCriminal (statewide, free)22Free search
Town and village justice courtsNot filed with the County Clerk: city and town proceedings stay with those courts7——
Fees
Index number $210; $5 per 2 years searched if index number unknown; criminal Certificate of Disposition $57
Certificate of disposition
Criminal Certificate of Disposition: form to the County Clerk (in person, mail or email), $5 copy fee; the Court prints and seals it4
Efiling
NYSCEF (NYS Unified Court System)4

Criminal records and background checks

County
County Clerk: felony convictions from Supreme and County Courts; sealed records only to parties/counsel or by court order7
Statewide
OCA statewide Criminal History Record Search $9523

How New York courts keep their files

Marriage records

City or town clerk that issued the license (City of Rochester and 20 towns/villages; phone list on the Clerk page); not the County Clerk8

Local
Copies from the office of the clerk who issued the license; City of Rochester 585-428-66178
State
NYS DOH Vital Records (since 1881, outside NYC); $30 by mail, $45 + vendor fee online24

New York marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Monroe County Clerk (divorce files sealed; parties, defendants or attorneys of record only, with ID; others need a court order)25

How to order
In person, by notarized letter mailed to 39 West Main Street, Room 105, Rochester, NY 14614, or via Customer Service 585-753-160025
State
NYS DOH Certificate of Dissolution (divorces since 1963)26

New York divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Monroe County Office of Vital Records: births in Monroe County 1880 to present (full images only from 1928)9

Fee
$30 per certified copy9
How to order
Online, by appointment (no walk-ins), or mail-in application; ID required9
Processing time
In-office certified copies usually take minutes; genealogy requests 8-10 weeks9
Not at clerk
Not recorded at the County Clerk8
State
NYS DOH Vital Records (since 1881, outside NYC); pre-adoption birth certificates only from the state27

Ordering a New York birth certificate

Death certificates

Monroe County Office of Vital Records: deaths in Monroe County 1880 to present9

Fee
$30 per certified copy9
State
NYS DOH Vital Records28

Ordering a New York death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Monroe County Surrogate's Court.6

Copy fee
Certified copy of a will or any paper on file $6.00 per page (SCPA 2402)10
Decedent index
Surrogate's Court posts a Monroe Decedent Index (2023 PDF)21
Payment
Checks payable to "Monroe County Surrogate's Court"21

Finding a will or probate case in New York

Business names (DBA)

Kept by the Monroe County Clerk.2

Fee
DBA filing $25 (individual or partnership); form $1; certified copy $5; discontinuance no fee ($2 forms)11

Voter records

Kept by the Monroe County Board of Elections.2

Historical records

Naturalization
County Clerk holds naturalization records 1821-present for naturalizations in Monroe County5
County archives
Monroe County Historical Archives (being processed; searchable via Rochester Public Library Archives)29
Engineering records
GIS Records and Archives room: county road/sewer record drawings back to 1876, aerial imagery from the 1930s (appointment)30
Genealogy vital
Genealogy copies of birth/death records by mail from Monroe County Vital Records (8-10 weeks)9

Good to know about Monroe County records

  • Since April 1, 2026, viewing document images on the County Clerk's online records (IQS) requires a paid subscription; guests still see the index, and terminals in the office remain free.3
  • Unlike most New York counties outside NYC, Monroe County runs a county Office of Vital Records issuing birth and death certificates for events in the county from 1880.9
  • The County Clerk keeps naturalization records from 1821 to the present.5
  • Restrictive Covenant Modification: from June 3, 2026, owners can record a free form removing unlawful discriminatory covenants (RPL § 327-a).4
  • Transfer-on-death deeds: the Clerk requires its own TOD forms with added fields.4

Office addresses, phones and hours

Monroe County Clerk (Downtown Filing Office)

Address
Office of the Monroe County Clerk, County Office Building, 39 West Main Street, Room 101, Rochester, New York 14614 (enter via S. Fitzhugh Street or Irving Place)13
Mail
Monroe County Clerk's Office, 39 W. Main Street, Room 105, Rochester, New York 14614 (mail-in copy requests)4
Phone
(585) 753-1600; Customer Service (585) 753-1620; fax (585) 753-165013
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 am-5:00 pm; to record the same day be in line by 4:3013

Monroe County Clerk

Address
39 W. Main St, Room 101, Rochester, NY 146145

Monroe County Clerk (as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts)

Address
39 W. Main St, Room 101, Rochester, NY 146145

Monroe County Supreme & County Court (Hall of Justice)

Address
Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd., 5th Floor, Room 545, Rochester, NY 146146
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.6

Monroe County Surrogate's Court

Address
Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd., 5th Floor, Room 541, Rochester, NY 1461421
Phone
585-371-3310 (all initial inquiries)21
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.21

Monroe County Family Court

Address
Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd., 3rd Floor, Room 360, Rochester, NY 146146
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.31

Monroe County Department of Finance – Treasury / Property Tax

Address
County Office Building, Room B2, 39 W. Main Street, Rochester, NY 1461416
Phone
585 753-1200; fax 585 753-116616

Monroe County Real Property Tax Service (assessments are made by the 21 town/city assessors)

Address
304 County Office Building, 39 W. Main Street, Rochester, NY 1461415
Phone
585 753-1125; fax 585 753-119215

Monroe County Department of Public Health – Office of Vital Records

Address
740 East Henrietta Rd, Rochester, New York 14623 (by appointment only)9
Phone
(585) 753-5141 (call M-F 9am-3pm); fax (585) 753-59619
Hours
Appointments M-F 9am-3:30pm; no walk-ins, no same-day appointments9

Monroe County Board of Elections

Address
435 Smith St, Rochester, NY 1460832
Hours
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm32

Monroe County Sheriff's Office

Monroe County Geographic Information Services (GIS)

Address
City Place, 50 West Main St., Rochester, New York 1461419

Office of the Monroe County Historian (Office of Rochester & Monroe County History)

Address
2nd Floor, Rundel Memorial Building, Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County, 115 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 1460429
Hours
10 am-1 pm Mondays; 1-4 pm Tuesdays; by appointment Wednesday-Saturday (closed Saturdays in July and August)29

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it
Records Access Officer for the County of Monroe, Communications Department, 108 County Office Building, 39 West Main St., Rochester, NY 14614; 585 753-1080; fax 585 753-1068; [email protected]33
Fees
Up to 25¢ per photocopy (up to 9 x 14 in.)33
Appealing a value
Appeal within 30 days of a written denial33

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Monroe County?

The Monroe County Clerk (Downtown Filing Office) keeps deed records. To order copies: In person; by mail with a check to the Monroe County Clerk (39 W. Main Street, Room 105, Rochester, NY 14614); by fax to 585 753-1650; by phone 585 753-1600; or the online Request Copies of Documents form. No payment by phone/email for the online form; certified copies are hard copy only. Plain copies: 65¢ per page, $1.30 minimum; $5 per 2 years searched when a search is needed. Certified copies: $5 for a document up to four pages, plus $1.25 per additional page.4

How much is a birth certificate in Monroe County?

$30 per certified copy.9

Where do I get a divorce decree in Monroe County?

Divorce decrees are court records; ask the Monroe County Clerk (divorce files sealed; parties, defendants or attorneys of record only, with ID; others need a court order).25

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Monroe County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in New York with a full guide: Albany County, Bronx County, Broome County, Chautauqua County, Clinton County, Dutchess County, Erie County, Kings County, New York County, Oneida County, Onondaga County, Orange County, Queens County, Rensselaer County, Richmond County, Saratoga County, Schenectady County, Suffolk County, Sullivan County, Ulster County, Westchester County. Every county in the state: New York county list. Looking for another Monroe County? Monroe County, Indiana; Monroe County, Michigan; Monroe County, Pennsylvania.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 34 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  2. Monroe County, NY home pageMonroe County
  3. County Clerk's Online Records SubscriptionMonroe County Clerk
  4. Land RecordsMonroe County Clerk
  5. County ClerkMonroe County Clerk
  6. Home - Monroe County (court locations)NYS Unified Court System, 7th Judicial District
  7. Court FilingsMonroe County Clerk
  8. Clerk - Other ResourcesMonroe County Clerk
  9. Vital Records - Birth/Death CertificatesMonroe County Department of Public Health
  10. SCPA 2402 Fees of the clerk of the surrogate's courtNew York State Senate (Consolidated Laws)
  11. Clerk - DBA (Doing Business As)Monroe County Clerk
  12. Clerk's Office Online Document Request FormMonroe County Clerk
  13. Clerk - Hours, Location & Contact InfoMonroe County Clerk
  14. Guide to Search for Historical Property Deeds (PDF)Monroe County Clerk
  15. Real PropertyMonroe County Real Property Tax Service
  16. Treasury / Property TaxMonroe County Department of Finance
  17. Town Assessors and Tax ReceiversMonroe County Real Property Tax Service
  18. Town and City Property Assessment DatesMonroe County Real Property Tax Service
  19. Geographic Information Services (GIS)Monroe County
  20. Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Request FormMonroe County Department of Communications
  21. Monroe County Surrogate's CourtNYS Unified Court System, 7th Judicial Districtarchived copy
  22. eCourtsNYS Unified Court System
  23. Criminal History Record Search (CHRS)NYS Unified Court System
  24. Marriage CertificatesNew York State Department of Health
  25. Divorce RecordsMonroe County Clerk
  26. Divorce CertificatesNew York State Department of Health
  27. Birth CertificatesNew York State Department of Health
  28. Death CertificatesNew York State Department of Health
  29. Office of the County HistorianMonroe County
  30. GIS Records and ArchivesMonroe County
  31. Monroe County Family CourtNew York State Unified Court System
  32. Contact the Board of ElectionsMonroe County Board of Elections
  33. Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)Monroe County Department of Communications
  34. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau