Monroe County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Monroe County must be obtained from the town or city clerk where the license was originally purchased, not from the county clerk's office. This is a key distinction that trips people up. The Monroe County Clerk at 39 West Main Street in Rochester handles court records and land records, but marriage certificates go through the municipal clerks. Monroe County is the most populous county in western New York, centered on the City of Rochester, with 19 surrounding towns.

Where to Get Monroe County Marriage Records

Here is the important thing to know. Marriage certificates in Monroe County are not at the county clerk's office. You need to go to the town or city clerk where the license was originally obtained. The City of Rochester Clerk handles the biggest volume. But couples could have gotten their license in any of the 19 towns in the county: Brighton, Chili, Clarkson, Gates, Greece, Hamlin, Henrietta, Irondequoit, Mendon, Ogden, Parma, Penfield, Perinton, Pittsford, Riga, Rush, Sweden, Webster, or Wheatland.

The Monroe County Clerk's office is at 39 West Main Street, Room 105, Rochester, NY 14614. Phone: 585-753-1600. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. While this office does not issue marriage licenses or hold marriage certificates, it does handle court records, land records, and other county filings. Staff there can point you to the right municipal clerk for marriage record requests.

Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15, both parties must show up in person to apply for a marriage license at any clerk in the state. The fee is $40. There is a 24-hour waiting period, and the license is valid for 60 days. These rules are the same at every clerk in Monroe County.

Searching for Marriage Records in Monroe County

Figure out where the license was issued. That is the first step. If the couple got married in Rochester, start with the Rochester City Clerk. If they lived in Greece or Irondequoit, try those town clerks. Most people get their license close to where they live, so the municipality of residence is usually a good guess.

If you have no idea where the license came from, the New York State Department of Health can search their statewide database. They hold marriage records from 1881 to the present for all areas outside New York City. Mail requests cost $30. Online orders are $45 through the authorized vendor. The state option takes longer (8 to 10 weeks by regular mail), but it covers the whole state in one search. Priority processing is available for an extra $15.

For genealogy research, the New York State Archives holds marriage indexes from 1881 onward. Records older than 50 years are public. The reading room in Albany is free to use. Some indexes are online. The Rochester Public Library also has local history resources that can help with Monroe County genealogy.

Divorce Records in Monroe County

Divorce records in Monroe County are sealed. Only the plaintiff, defendant, or their attorneys can access them. This is standard practice in New York. If you need a divorce record and you are one of the parties, contact the Monroe County Supreme Court. For uncontested divorces, the number is (585) 371-3758. That line handles questions about the process and the status of pending cases.

The sealed nature of divorce records means that researchers and the general public cannot look them up. This can be frustrating if you are doing genealogy work and need to confirm a divorce. Sometimes the marriage record itself will note that a prior marriage ended in divorce, which can provide a clue. Court indexes (which are public) may also show that a divorce case was filed, even though the full record is sealed.

Historical Marriage Records in Monroe County

Monroe County was established in 1821. The county clerk has land records going back to that date, but marriage records follow a different path. Before 1908, marriage records were primarily kept at the local level by town clerks and religious institutions. From 1908 to 1935, county clerks also maintained copies. After 1935, the responsibility went back entirely to the municipal clerks.

The state censuses of New York are a helpful supplement. Monroe County data appears in the censuses of 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. These often list marital status and can help confirm when a marriage took place. They are available through the state archives and genealogy sites.

The Rochester area has several strong genealogy resources. The Rochester Public Library's Local History and Genealogy Division holds collections of vital records, church records, and newspaper clippings. The Rochester Genealogical Society maintains indexes and publications that cover Monroe County families. For early Rochester marriages, church records from the Presbyterian, Catholic, and Episcopal churches are often the most detailed sources available.

Municipal Clerks in Monroe County

Rochester City Clerk handles the most licenses. But the suburban town clerks in Brighton, Henrietta, Greece, Irondequoit, Penfield, Perinton, Pittsford, and Webster also process a large number. The license is good statewide, so where you buy it does not have to match where the ceremony happens. Couples often pick the clerk closest to home for convenience.

Each town clerk keeps the marriage records for licenses they issue. When the officiant returns the signed license after the ceremony, it goes back to the issuing clerk. That clerk files it as the official record. If you need a certified copy years later, you go back to that same clerk. This is why it matters to know which municipality issued the license. The NY.gov marriage page explains the process in full.

Fees for Monroe County Marriage Records

A marriage license costs $40 at any clerk in Monroe County. Certified copies run $10 from the local clerk. If you go through the state health department, it is $30 by mail or $45 online. Priority processing from the state adds $15. These are set by state law and do not vary from town to town.

No fee to search indexes at the state archives. You pay only for certified copies. That makes the archives a cost-effective starting point for anyone who needs to check multiple records before ordering copies.

Cities in Monroe County

Monroe County includes Rochester and several large suburban communities with dedicated pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties surround Monroe County in western New York.