Court Records Delaware

Delaware joined the Union in 1787 as the First State. Delaware is a tiny state, the second smallest in land mass next to Rhode Island, on the east coast, with a population of 885,122. The state capital is Dover, with a population of 28,156.

The main industries in Delaware are government, education, banking, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, automotive and farming.

Delaware public records are available to the public from county courthouses as defined by the Delaware Freedom of Information Act.

Delaware’s Official Website: http://delaware.gov/

Delaware’s judicial system is somewhat complicated. There are seven different types of courts – Supreme Court, Superior Court, Chancery Court, Family Court, Justice of the Peace and Alderman’s courts.

Delaware Supreme Court

The Delaware Supreme Court hears appeals from the Superior Court, Court of Chancery and Family Court. The Supreme Court has final say in criminal cases, and appeals from the other courts. It also can issue writs of prohibition, quo warranto, certiorari, and mandamus. The Supreme Court is also at the head of the state court system and sets rules and policy for the rest of the state judicial system.

Delaware Superior Court

The Superior Court of Delaware is the main court for criminal and civil cases, drug offenses and felonies and also hears appeals from Family Court's criminal matters and the Court of Common Pleas.

Delaware Court of Chancery

The Delaware Court of Chancery hears all equity cases – trusts, estates, corporate cases, land and title matters, contracts and commercial issues. Handling important matters that fall outside the jurisdiction of Superior Court, the Delaware Court of Chancery has jurisdiction to hear all matters relating to equity. The tribunal deals largely with corporate litigation, trusts, estates and other fiduciary matters, disputes involving land deals and questions of title to real estate, and other commercial and contractual maters.

Delaware Family Courts

Delaware Family Court has a large jurisdiction that encompasses all juvenile and family matters - juvenile delinquency, dependency, child abuse and neglect, minor adult crimes against youth, paternity, child and spousal support, custody and visitation, parental rights, adoptions, divorces and annulments, separation agreements, property division, guardianship, orders of protection arising from abuse and family misdemeanors.

Delaware Court of Common Pleas

The Delaware Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over civil suits under $50,000, misdemeanor criminal matters, with some exceptions and preliminary hearings for felonies. It also has a Traffic Court and hears appeals from Alderman's Court and Justice of the Peace.

Delaware's Justice of the Peace Courts

The lowest level of the justice system, the Justice of the Peace hears civil cases under $15,000, minor misdemeanors and motor vehicle offences.

Delaware's Alderman’s Court

The Alderman’s Court system is for traffic offences, misdemeanors, parking violations and minor civil matters.

The Delaware District Bankruptcy court can be contacted at:

United States Bankruptcy Court - District of Delaware http://www.deb.uscourts.gov/

824 North Market Street
3rd Floor
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
302-252-2900

All county courthouses for court records – Delaware are found below.

County Courthouses

Kent County Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 637
Dover, DE 19903

Telephone: (302) 739-4721

New Castle County
800 French St.
Belvedere, DE 19804