Irondequoit Death Records

Death records for Irondequoit go through Monroe County's consolidated vital records system. Monroe County is one of only four counties in New York State that consolidated the administration of birth and death records under the county health department. That means the Monroe County Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records, is where death certificates are kept. The Irondequoit Town Clerk also plays a role as Sub-Registrar of Vital Statistics. This guide explains how to find and request death records connected to this town.

Irondequoit Death Records at Town Clerk

The Town of Irondequoit Clerk is at 1280 Titus Avenue, Rochester, NY 14617. Call (585) 336-6045 or email clerk@irondequoit.gov. The town clerk handles several duties related to death records. As Sub-Registrar of Vital Statistics, the clerk produces burial permits and handles cemetery sales. The clerk also coordinates with the Monroe County Board of Elections and manages all town document retention.

The town clerk issues marriage licenses and handles licensing for dogs, conservation permits, and games of chance. For death certificates specifically, you typically go through the Monroe County Department of Public Health rather than the town clerk. But the town clerk can help point you in the right direction and assist with burial permits.

The Irondequoit town website shown above provides contact information for the clerk's office and links to town departments that assist with vital records.

Irondequoit Death Records at Monroe County

Since Monroe County is a consolidated registration district, the Monroe County Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records, is the main office for death certificates. The Monroe County Clerk at 39 West Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614, phone (585) 753-1600, can also help with records inquiries. But the actual death records are at the county health department.

To get a death certificate, you need the full name of the deceased, date of death, place of death, a valid photo ID, and proof of your relationship. The same state eligibility rules apply: spouse, parent, child, sibling, or someone with a documented legal claim can order a certified copy.

The Monroe County Clerk does not issue vital records directly. That function sits with the health department. However, the county clerk handles property records, court filings, and other public documents that can be useful when dealing with an estate or doing research connected to a death record.

Historical Death Records

Irondequoit has some surprisingly old vital records. Birth and death records from 1847 to 1850 exist at the Monroe County Department of Health. These are well over 170 years old. However, the county health department has not allowed public access to these early records, not even to Town Historians. Their position is that the same privacy rules that cover modern vital records also apply to these historical files.

Continuous recording of death records in Irondequoit began in 1880 when the state started requiring registration. Civil birth and death records from before 1881 may still be found with city, town, or village clerks. For Irondequoit, those early records ended up with the county health department as part of the consolidation.

There is an important timeline for genealogy researchers working with Irondequoit death records. In 1992, the NYS Department of Health placed vital records indexes in the New York State Archives. In 2001, the Rochester Public Library became the first location outside Albany to have these indexes. And in 2017, the nonprofit Reclaim the Records made many indexes freely available on Archive.org.

Genealogy Research Resources

The Rochester Public Library at 115 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604, has a Local History and Genealogy division. Call (585) 428-8440. This library is one of the statewide locations with microfiche indexes to vital records certificates held by the NYS Department of Health. You can search these for free in person.

Available death-related indexes include the NY Death Index from 1880 to 1956, the NY Birth Index from 1881 to 1942, and the NY Marriage Index from 1881 to 1964. These indexes will not give you the actual certificate, but they tell you the name, date, and location so you know where to send your request.

The New York State Death Index covering 1880 to 1956 is also free to search online. The New York State Archives has the same microfiche indexes in Albany. The WebSurrogate system lets you search Surrogate's Court records for estate and probate filings related to deaths in Monroe County.

For genealogy copies from the state, fees start at $22 for a one to three year search. Death records must be on file for 50 years before they can be released for genealogy purposes. All genealogy copies are uncertified. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society publishes county-specific guides that can help you navigate Monroe County records.

State-Level Death Records

You can also order Irondequoit death records through the New York State Department of Health. The state has records from 1881 on. Mail orders cost $30. Online orders through VitalChek cost $45 plus a fee. Send mail requests to P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Make checks payable to NYS Department of Health.

The state is dealing with major delays in processing. Given that Monroe County has its own consolidated system, going through the county health department is often faster than the state route. Call the state at (855) 322-1022 if you need help deciding which office to use. Have the full name and date of death ready when you call, as this helps staff find the right record for you.

Nearby Cities

Other cities near Irondequoit with death records pages: