Vital Records
The Vital Records Office provides eligible applicants with copies of birth and death records that occurred in Monroe County from 1880 to the present. Click here to order a copy of a birth or death certificate online.
Vital Records Customer Service Lobby
111 Westfall Road
Room 147
Rochester, New York 14620
(585) 753-5141
(585) 753-5961 (fax)
The Vital Records customer service lobby is open to the public Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
How long will it take?
Certified copies of birth and death records are processed while you wait and with few exceptions, take a matter of minutes. During peak business hours applicants may incur a longer waiting period. Genealogy requests may take four (4) to six (6) weeks to process.
Payment of Fees
Monroe County charges $30 per certified record. You may pay with cash, check, money order or credit card. Checks and Money Orders must be made payable to Monroe County Vital Records.
Identification Requirements
Applications made at the Vital Records Office must be accompanied by one (1) of the following:
- Driver's license
- State issued non-driver photo-ID card
- Passport
- U.S. Military issued photo-ID
If any of the above documents are not available two (2) of the following showing the applicants name and address must be provided:
- Utility or telephone bills
- Letter from a government agency dates within the last six (6) months
~ Failure to provide necessary identification will result in the rejection of your application. ~
Record Availability and Eligibility Requirements
Certified Copies of Birth and Death Records
For important information about what records are available and who is eligible to receive copies of records, visit the following:
- Birth Certificate Information Sheet
- Birth Certificate Mail Application
- Death Certificate Information Sheet
- Death Certificate Mail Application
- Internet and Telephone Information for Birth and Death Certificates
Genealogy Records
- Information about the types of records available, limitations on availability, and an application form:
- Genealogy Records Resource Information Sheet
- Genealogy Application Form
Genealogy copies are not available for same day pick up at the Vital Records Office. However, we can accept your payment and application at the counter. Your record will be mailed to you when the research has been completed.
Third Party Pick Up
We discourage third party pickups. If you are unable to come to our office yourself, we recommend that you order your certificate by mail or via the internet or telephone.
If you must have your record picked up by a third party, please follow these steps carefully:
- Provide the third party with a signed, dated and notarized letter stating who will be picking up your record, which record they will be picking up, and that you grant them permission to get the record for you.
- Send a completed and signed application form with the third party. You may download the appropriate form from the mail order page. Complete, print and sign the application form.
- You must include copies of your identification (see requirements above).
- The person picking up your record will be required to provide proof of his or her identity following the same criteria as listed above and will need to co-sign the application form.
Any discrepancies or a failure to fulfill all of the above requirements may cause the Vital Records office to be unable to issue the record to a third party.
