Monroe County Court Records

Monroe County court records are documents and files containing information about court cases within the county. They typically include the following:

• Case details: Case type, case number, and names of parties involved
• Docket entries: Chronological list of events and filings in a case
• Pleadings: Complaints, answers, and motions
• Evidence: Transcripts, exhibits, and witness statements
• Judgments and orders: Court decisions, sentences, and fines
• Trial records: Verbatim transcripts of court proceedings

Monroe County court records may be obtained from the following types of cases, including the following:

• Civil Cases: Personal injury, tort, libel, slander, employment disputes, and foreclosures
• Criminal Cases: Felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic violations
• Family law Cases: Child support, alimony, adoption, and divorces
• Probate Cases: Wills, estates, and guardianship

The administration of justice in Monroe County depends heavily on the accessibility of court records. Access to Monroe County court records has the following benefits:

• Accountability and transparency
• Background checks
• To understand specific case laws
• To establish legal precedents
• Genealogical research
• Aiding journalism and media investigations
• Academic research

Are Court Records Public in Monroe County?

Court records in Monroe County are usually accessible to the general public. The New York Consolidated Code, Chapter 30, Article 8 Section 255-B, authorizes court clerks to provide public access to court records during ordinary business hours. However, some Monroe County court records are not publicly available to protect sensitive information. Typically, the following court records are closed to the public and can only be accessed by authorization:

• Juvenile Records
• Adoption Records
• Confidential information such as Social Security Number and driver’s license number
• Records protected by state or federal laws
• Financial account numbers
• Medical and mental health records

Monroe County Court Records Search

Monroe County court records are available both online and offline. Using the New York State Unified Court System eCourts portal, anyone can look up public court documents in the county. They can also use reliable third-party websites to access the county’s public court records. In addition, interested parties may request public court records via mail or in-person visits to the courts where a matter was heard or at the Monroe County Clerk's Office. However, to protect privacy and sensitive information, some court records in Monroe County are sealed by court orders or law. These records are not open to the public but can only be accessed by authorized persons.

Monroe County Court Records Search by Name

Name-based search is one of the most popular methods for locating court records in Monroe County. The name of the record owner must be used as the search parameter when conducting a name-based search of court documents. This can be accomplished by using the name of a party in a civil dispute or the defendant in a criminal case. The New York State Unified Court System eCourts platform allows record seekers to search Monroe County court documents by name. Court records are classified as criminal, family, civil, and supreme categories on the eCourts platform.

Monroe County Courts

The Monroe County court system comprises supreme, county, surrogate, family, city, and village/town courts. The county’s Supreme Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases but typically handles cases beyond the purview of other courts. It hears civil matters with over $25,000 claims and all marriage termination-related cases. The Monroe County Court hears most felonies, civil cases with claims under $25,000, and crimes arising from the same conditions as felonies. Juvenile and family law matters, such as paternity, child support, adoptions, child custody, and spousal support, are handled by the Monroe County Family Court. Probate matters in the county are handled by the Monroe County Surrogate Court, while the Monroe County City, Town, and Village courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and municipal ordinance violations within their jurisdictions.

The following are the various Monroe County courts and their contact information:

Monroe County Supreme Court

Monroe County Supreme Court
Hall of Justice
99 Exchange Boulevard, Room 545
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3758
Fax: (585) 371-3780

County Courts in Monroe County

Monroe County Court
Hall of Justice
99 Exchange Boulevard, Room 545
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3758
Fax: (585) 371-3780

Monroe County Family Courts

Monroe County Family Court
Hall of Justice
99 Exchange Boulevard, Room 360
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3544
Fax: (585) 371-3585

Monroe County Surrogate Courts

Monroe County Surrogate’s Court
Hall of Justice
99 Exchange Boulevard, Room 541
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3310
Fax: (585) 371-3313

City Courts in Monroe County

Rochester City Court - Civil Division
Hall of Justice
99 Exchange Boulevard, Room 6
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3412
Fax: (585) 371-3427

Rochester City Court - Criminal Division
Public Safety Building
130 South Plymouth Avenue, Room 123
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3413
Fax: (585) 371-3430

Monroe County has 23 Town and Village Courts.

Monroe County District Court Records

Monroe County District Court records document legal proceedings and prosecutions in the county's District Court. Unlike several states where the District Court is the highest court in the counties, in New York State, the Supreme Court is the highest court in any county. Records from the following cases are generated in Monroe County Supreme Court:

• Civil Lawsuits
• Criminal cases
• Juvenile cases
• Marriage termination cases, including divorce, annulment, and legal termination cases
• Probate Cases

Interested persons can access Monroe County Supreme Court criminal case records by doing the following:

• Open the New York State Unified Court System eCourts platform
• Select the WebCriminal Supreme link
• Select a preferred search option from the defendant's name, case identifier, and court calendar
• Provide the required information and select Monroe Supreme Court from the list of courts
• Click search

To access Monroe County Supreme Court civil case records, take the following steps:

• Open the New York State Unified Court System eCourts platform
• Click the WebCivil Supreme link
• Select the criteria for searching: attorney/firm search, party name, court calendar, or index search
• Supply the required details, including selecting Monroe Supreme Court from the list of courts
• Click search

The Monroe County Clerk is also the clerk of the Supreme and County Courts. Anyone interested in Supreme Court records can contact the Monroe County Clerk’s Office by telephone, fax, or in person at:

Monroe County Clerk’s Office
Room 105, 39 West Main Street
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 753-1600
Fax: (585) 753-1650

Monroe County Criminal Records

A criminal record in Monroe County is a person’s record of criminal activities and prosecutions within the county. The New York State Department of Public Safety and the Monroe County Clerk’s Office maintain these records. Criminal records maintained in the county typically include Monroe County arrest records, arrest warrants, jail, mugshots, other pretrial crime records, and transcripts of criminal proceedings. Record seekers can request criminal records of their interest from the Monroe County Clerk’s Office or the Department of Public Safety. In addition, they can also request some criminal records from the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Monroe County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Anyone can use the New York State Unified Court System eCourts platform to look up specific criminal cases from Monroe County. The WebCriminal link contains criminal court cases from both the Supreme Court and the County Court.

Get Monroe County Civil Court Records

Monroe County civil court records are civil cases originating from the county courts. These records include motions, case filings, civil complaints, writs, settlement agreements, fines, and court judgments. They include documents generated from cases such as:

• Libel and slander
• Property Disputes
• Family Law
• Torts
• Consumer Protection
• Contract Disputes
• Probate and Estate
• Personal Injury Lawsuits
• Employment Discrimination

In Monroe County, most civil cases are heard in the Supreme Court and the County Court, depending on the claims in dispute. Specialized courts like the Surrogate and Family Courts hear probate and family law matters, respectively. The Monroe County Clerk’s Office maintains civil court records in the county.

Anyone can use the New York State Unified Court System eCourts platform to look up civil court cases from Monroe County. Non-confidential civil court records can be searched by party names, case numbers, dates, or attorneys/firms. Requesters can also visit the Monroe County Clerk’s Office to inspect or request copies of public civil court records. Confidential civil court records are not accessible to the public, while parts of some public civil court records may be redacted to protect sensitive information.

Monroe County Family Court Records

Monroe County family court records are records on domestic relations and juvenile matters within the county. They include documents and information on the following case types:

• Child Support
• Protection Orders
• Divorce
• Adoption cases
• Legal Separation
• Spousal Support
• Annulment
• Emancipation
• Domestic Violence Cases
• Paternity

Although family court records are public in Monroe County, certain records, including divorce settlements, juvenile records, and domestic violence victims records, may not be accessed without authorization. Family court records are generated in the county’s Supreme and Family Courts and are maintained by the Monroe County Clerk. Eligible persons can request family court records from the County Clerk’s Office. They can also see ongoing family law cases via the WebFamily link on the New York State Unified Court System eCourts platform.

Monroe Dissolution of Marriage Records

In Monroe County, dissolution of marriage records are official documents relating to the termination of marriages in the county. They are maintained by the county clerk’s office. Marriage dissolution records may include the following:

• Marriage Settlement Agreement
• Child Custody and Support Orders (where applicable)
• Petition for Marriage Dissolution
• Decree of Dissolution of Marriage

Most dissolution of marriage records in Monroe County are closed to the public and are only available to the parties involved and their attorneys. Only decrees of marriage dissolutions are accessible to the general public. Individuals interested in obtaining marriage dissolution records can contact the County Clerk’s Office.

Monroe County Marriage and Divorce Records

Divorce records are documents and files gathered during the legal separation of two married people, whereas marriage records are documents of the legal union of two people. The Monroe County Clerk's Office maintains records of marriages and divorces in the county. Records pertaining to marriage and divorce are typically confidential and not available to the general public in New York State. However, marriage records that date back more than 50 years are open to the public and regarded as historical records. Similarly, divorce decrees can be accessed by anyone in the county. Persons interested in accessing them can contact the Monroe County Clerk’s Office to know if they qualify.

Monroe Birth and Death Records

Monroe County birth and death records are official documents relating to the birth and death of residents within the county. Per New York Health Law, Section 4174, birth and death records are confidential and cannot be accessed by the general public but may only be released to authorized persons. However, New York allows members of the public to request birth records 75 years from the day of birth, provided the record owner is dead, and death records 50 years after the death of the record owner.

Monroe County Probate Court Records

Monroe County probate court records are files, documents, and information about the administration of an incapacitated or deceased person's estate. Probate court records include documents on wills, guardianship, conservatorship, administration of estate, trusts, and assets Inventory. The Monroe County Surrogate Court handles probate matters in the county. Probate court records are open to the general public and can be accessed by anyone. Record seekers can contact the County Clerk’s Office to request Monroe County Probate Court records. They can also use the terminals at the court premises to search for probate court records.

Monroe County Property Records

Monroe County property records are documents on real estate in the county. They include property sales history, liens, deeds, property ownership, zoning, tax records, parcel numbers, and mortgages. Clerks of municipalities are responsible for maintaining Monroe County property records. They record and store all real estate documents for their municipalities and disseminate them to interested persons.

Monroe County Court Records Online

Anyone looking for more convenient and faster means of accessing Monroe County court records can do so through third-party online resources like newyorkcourtrecords.us. However, most online resources are more expensive and may not have up-to-date records.