Common Questions About Monroe County Court Records
How do I search Monroe County Supreme Court civil records?
Use WebCivil Supreme through the New York e-Courts hub and limit the search to Monroe County when you can. You can also use the Monroe County Clerk's SearchIQS database for Clerk-indexed court and land records. If you do not know the index number, the Clerk can search for you, but the office charges $5 for every two years searched. The court records page walks through each portal step by step.
Who keeps Monroe County Supreme and County Court files?
The Monroe County Clerk is the Clerk of Supreme and County Courts and keeps the civil and criminal files for those courts. The same office records deeds, mortgages, judgments, and liens. City, town, village, and federal matters are held by those courts, not by the County Clerk. See the County Clerk page for hours, fees, and request methods.
Are divorce records public in Monroe County?
No. The Monroe County Clerk states divorce files are sealed and available only to the plaintiff, the defendant, or the attorneys of record. Identification is required at the counter. A nonparty must get a court order to view a divorce file. This follows Domestic Relations Law section 235, which keeps matrimonial records confidential statewide. The marriage and divorce records page explains how a party can request a decree.
How do I get a Monroe County divorce decree?
If you are a party or an attorney of record, go in person to the Clerk's Office at 39 West Main Street, Room 105, mail a notarized request to the same address, or call Customer Service at 585-753-1600. Include the names, the index number if you have it, and the filing year. More detail is on the divorce records page.
How much do court record copies cost?
The Monroe County Clerk charges $0.65 per page for plain copies, with a $1.30 minimum. A certified copy is $5 for a document up to four pages, plus $1.25 per added page. A staff file search costs $5 for every two years searched, so an index number saves both time and money. The County Clerk page lists the full fee schedule.
How do I request a criminal certificate of disposition?
Use the Clerk's criminal certificate of disposition request form. Give as many case identifiers as you can, pay the $5 copy fee, and submit it in person, by mail, or by email. A defendant or defense attorney must show identification. The arrest records page explains how dispositions confirm the way a case ended.
Where are felony conviction records filed?
The Clerk's page states only felony convictions are filed in the Monroe County Clerk's Office. Federal, city, and town proceedings are handled by those courts and are not filed with the Clerk. For pending criminal matters, use the state WebCriminal portal. See the court records page for the right tool by case type.
How do I find a pending criminal court date?
Use the state WebCriminal portal if you know the defendant's name or docket number. The court help material says WebCriminal can look up the case, and a calendar search should use the Criminal Court court field. The court dockets page covers calendars and how court dates are published.
Does Monroe County publish a jail roster?
Yes. The Sheriff's incarcerated individual page links a roster, a census, a received report, and a released report. The Sheriff updates the roster and census daily, Monday through Friday. The roster does not include mugshots, and the reports are PDFs rather than a search box. The inmate records page explains how to read each report.
What information is on the jail census?
The census shows the name, jail number, sex, race, custody date and time, classification, booking date and time, custody type, bail, bond, court, judge, court date, arrest agency, arrest type, charge code, and charge description. It does not carry a mugshot or a full date of birth. The inmate records page breaks down every field.
How do I find someone who was recently released?
Check the Sheriff's released report against the current roster. If a name is off the roster and on the released report, that is strong proof of release. For older releases, call the jail records line at 585-753-4021. The released inmates page also covers state and federal release lookups.
How do I schedule a jail visit?
Schedule about one week in advance. For the Monroe County Jail, call 585-753-4000 or use the online Jail Visitation Form. Visits are by appointment, with no walk-ins, and visitors check in 30 minutes early with valid photo identification. The inmate records page lists the visit slots and the form fields.
Are court records requested through FOIL?
Usually not. The court system explains that access to court records runs on Judiciary Law section 255 and clerk duties, not FOIL. FOIL applies to agency records, like Sheriff or county department files. The public records page lays out both tracks and how to file each request.
Can I seal an old criminal conviction?
Possibly. The court system's CPL 160.59 guide covers sealing eligible convictions after ten years, and the Clean Slate framework adds automatic sealing for some convictions after a waiting period. Eligibility depends on the conviction type, the waiting period, and your record. The arrest records page explains the sealing statutes.
Where do probate and estate matters go?
Probate goes to Monroe County Surrogate's Court, on the fifth floor of the Hall of Justice at 99 Exchange Boulevard, Room 541. The court handles estates, trusts, guardianships, and adoptions. WebSurrogate offers public estate searches for participating counties. The Surrogate's Court page covers filing and search.
How do I get legal help if I cannot afford a lawyer?
Monroe County has a Public Defender, a Conflict Defender, and an Assigned Counsel Program. The courts appoint counsel based on eligibility and conflicts. The Assigned Counsel Program steps in when the Public Defender and Conflict Defender both have a conflict, and it handles violations, misdemeanors, felonies, and most Family Court matters. The released inmates page links these offices and other support resources.
Where do federal cases from Monroe County go?
Federal trial cases go to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, which has a Rochester office. Bankruptcy cases go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District, and appeals go to the Second Circuit. These run on PACER, not the state portals. The court dockets page covers federal docket access.
Where is Monroe County Family Court and what does it handle?
Family Court is at 99 Exchange Boulevard, Hall of Justice, 3rd Floor, Room 360, in Rochester, open weekdays 9:00 to 5:00. It hears adoption, guardianship, foster care, juvenile delinquency, family offense, child abuse and neglect, support, custody, and visitation. Many Family Court records are restricted by law. The court records page explains which files are sealed.
How do I send money to someone in the Monroe County Jail?
Use Access Corrections online or in the app, by phone at 1-866-345-1884, or at a lobby kiosk in the jail. Online and phone deposits take Visa and Mastercard. The Sheriff does not accept U.S. Postal or Western Union money orders for inmate accounts. The inmate records page covers commissary and money rules.
What is the difference between the jail roster and the census?
The roster is a simple alphabetical list with one line per person, showing the jail number, name, and entry date. The census is the detailed report, with one line per charge, adding the custody status, bail, court, judge, and charge. Use the roster for a head count and the census for detail. The jail population page explains both.
Can I look up Monroe County estate and probate files online?
Often yes. WebSurrogate offers public estate searches for participating counties, and the court system says Monroe is included. Adoption and some guardianship records stay confidential. For files not yet online or for certified copies, contact Surrogate's Court at 585-371-3310. The Surrogate's Court page walks through the search and the filing steps.
Still Have Questions About Monroe County Records?
For the right office and fees, see the County Clerk page. For broader access rules, see public records. To browse by topic, start with court records, arrest records, inmate records, warrant records, traffic court records, marriage and divorce, or Surrogate's Court.