Monroe County Family Court Records
Monroe County family court records are kept at the Family Court in the Hall of Justice in Rochester. The court is part of the 7th Judicial District. It handles all family law matters for nearly 752,000 residents. You can search Monroe County family court records online through the state's court portals or by visiting the courthouse at 99 Exchange Boulevard. The court sees up to 55,000 new cases each year. Whether you need to look up custody, support, or protection order files, the clerk's office is where you start. Records requests can be made in person, by phone, or through online search tools.
Monroe County Overview
Monroe County Family Court in Rochester
The Monroe County Family Court is at 99 Exchange Boulevard, Hall of Justice, 3rd Floor, Room 360, Rochester, NY 14614. The phone number is (585) 371-3544 and the fax is (585) 371-3585. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The court is supervised by Hon. Stacey M. Romeo.
Monroe County accounts for about 3.76% of New York State's total population. The City of Rochester is the county seat. The Family Court has jurisdiction over domestic violence cases, child abuse and neglect proceedings, juvenile delinquency, custody and visitation rights, adoptions, guardianship for minors, and child support. Each case type creates family court records that the clerk keeps and manages. The court also works with The Center for Dispute Settlement to offer mediation for custody and visitation disputes, giving families an option outside of a full court hearing.
The court provides a Children's Center on the 3rd floor, Room 300, of the Hall of Justice. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM. Parents can leave their children there while they handle court business. Spanish interpreters are on site, and other languages are available with advance notice.
| Court | Monroe County Family Court |
|---|---|
| Address |
99 Exchange Boulevard, Hall of Justice 3rd Floor, Room 360 Rochester, NY 14614 |
| Phone | (585) 371-3544 |
| Fax | (585) 371-3585 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Monroe County Family Court Records
You can search for family court records in Monroe County in several ways. Online portals give you basic case data from home. The courthouse lets you view full files and get copies on the spot.
The New York Court Records portal covers Monroe County cases. You can look up case details, docket entries, party names, and case outcomes. The state's eCourts system also has Monroe County data. Under the New York Freedom of Information Law, court records are public records, except for those that are sealed or confidential. Family court records have extra restrictions under Family Court Act Section 166.
The Court Case Finder is another resource for Monroe County court records. It shows case types, filing information, and basic details. The Monroe County Clerk serves as the Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts. The clerk maintains court files for civil and criminal matters and provides online access through the Online Office Records System. Most land records and judgments going back to the early 1970s are available there. The clerk's office is at 39 West Main Street, Room 105, Rochester, NY 14614, reachable at (585) 753-1600.
Monroe County family court records include case details like case type, case number, and party names. Docket entries show a timeline of filings. Pleadings, motions, evidence, transcripts, and judgments are all part of the file. The records help with accountability, background checks, legal research, and more.
Monroe County Court Case Resources
The Court Case Finder for Monroe County provides an overview of the county's court system and case filing data.
This resource shows how to access Monroe County court records online, including family court cases. It covers the trial courts, their jurisdiction, and the types of cases they handle. Monroe County's court system includes the Supreme Court, County Court, Surrogate's Court, Family Court, city courts, and village and town courts.
Access Rules for Monroe County Family Court Records
Court records in Monroe County are usually open to the public under New York Consolidated Code, Chapter 30, Article 8, Section 255-B. Court clerks must provide access during regular business hours. But family court records are different. Under Family Court Act Section 166, they are not open to broad public inspection. The court decides who can see them.
Parties to a case, their lawyers, and certain agencies can access records under 22 NYCRR Section 205.5. These include pleadings, filed papers, decisions, orders, and hearing transcripts. If you are not a party, you must apply to the court and explain why you need the records. The judge will make the call.
Some Monroe County court records are fully restricted. These include juvenile records, adoption records, Social Security numbers and financial account numbers, medical and mental health records, and any records protected by state or federal law. Court records related to sealed cases and expunged files are not available to the public. If someone has an address confidentiality order, their address is removed from all documents before they are shared with anyone.
Note: You can use the Monroe County Clerk's Online Document Request Form to ask for specific court records without visiting the office in person.
Cities in Monroe County
Monroe County has several cities and towns. All family court cases go through the Monroe County Family Court in Rochester.
Nearby Counties
These counties surround Monroe County. Check your address to file in the right place.