Search Delaware Court Records
Delaware Court Records are public case files held by the state judiciary and its six courts. The system covers the Supreme Court, the Court of Chancery, the Superior Court, the Family Court, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Justice of the Peace Court. You can search Delaware court records online through CourtConnect or by visiting the courthouse in the county where the case was filed. The court clerk can pull dockets by name or case number. Most case files are open to the public under state law.
Delaware Court Records Overview
The Delaware Court System
Delaware runs a unified court system with six state courts plus two federal courts. The state courts include the Supreme Court, the Court of Chancery, the Superior Court, the Family Court, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Justice of the Peace Court. Each court keeps its own set of court records. The Administrative Office of the Courts oversees daily operations, budgets, technology, and statewide court programs. Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz, Jr. leads the judiciary. He took the role on November 8, 2019.
The Delaware Courts official website is the main portal for statewide court records, forms, locations, and rules. You can reach case search tools, self-help guides, and court contact info from one place. The judiciary also publishes annual reports with full filing counts. In 2023, the Justice of the Peace Court alone received 215,629 filings. The Superior Court handled 15,321 new cases that same year. Court records for most of those matters can be found online or at the county courthouse.
The state is split into three counties: New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. Each county has its own courthouse complex. Court records are kept at the clerk's office in the county where the case was filed. Delaware's small size makes travel between counties easy. That said, most records are now online too.
The Delaware Courts Official Website is the single access point for every state court. Below is a look at the homepage for reference.
From that homepage you can reach each court's section, CourtConnect, forms, and the policy on public access to court records. It is the first stop for anyone looking up a case.
Search Delaware Court Records Online
CourtConnect is the main online search tool for Delaware Court Records. The system is run by the Delaware Judiciary. It lets anyone look up civil case info for the Superior Court, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Justice of the Peace Court. You can search by person name, business name, case number, or filing date range. The tool shows docket entries, case status, and hearing schedules. Basic case info is free to view.
Start your search at the Delaware CourtConnect Portal. The portal offers both guest access and registered accounts. Guest users see docket entries and case summaries at no cost. Some document downloads may carry a small fee. CourtConnect runs 24 hours a day, so you can look up Delaware court records any time.
Here is the CourtConnect search page. This is where most users begin a Delaware court records search.
Enter a name or case number and the system returns a list of matching cases. Click any case to see the docket.
To search Delaware Court Records through CourtConnect, have the following ready:
- Full name of a party or business
- Case number, if you have it
- Filing date range
- The court where the case was heard
Keep in mind that Family Court records are not online. Those files deal with sensitive issues like custody and juvenile cases. For Family Court matters you must call the clerk in each county. More on Family Court further down.
Public Access to Delaware Court Records
The Policy on Public Access to Judicial Records sets the ground rules for how Delaware courts handle record requests. Court records are open unless the law says otherwise. The Delaware Freedom of Information Act, codified in Title 29, Chapter 100 of the Delaware Code, states that public records shall be open to inspection by any citizen. This includes most court records. Read the full policy at Delaware's Public Access to Court Records.
The image below shows the public access policy page from the judiciary.
The page lists what is public, what is restricted, and how to request copies. It is worth a read before you file a request.
Public court records in Delaware typically include case numbers and filing dates, names of parties and attorneys, docket entries, court orders, judgments, sentencing details, plus motions and filings in the case. Not every file is open, though. Juvenile court records are not public. The same goes for adoption files, mental health proceedings, expunged or sealed criminal records, and some family law cases. Personal identifiers like Social Security numbers and bank account numbers get redacted under Delaware Supreme Court Administrative Directive No. 2007-6.
The Delaware courts cannot provide a single consolidated criminal history. Under 11 Del. C. § 8513(d), a request for a certified copy of a Delaware criminal history goes to the Delaware State Police State Bureau of Identification. Each background check costs $52. Requesters need a rolled fingerprint card and a valid photo ID. The SBI office is at 1407 N. DuPont Highway in Dover.
Note: Some case types such as juvenile, adoption, and mental health files are sealed by law and cannot be viewed by the public.
Delaware Supreme Court Records
The Delaware Supreme Court is the state's highest court. It hears appeals from the Court of Chancery, the Superior Court, and the Family Court. The court also has final say in cases where the sentence is death or life in prison, plus cases that question the constitutionality of laws. Supreme Court opinions are published online at courts.delaware.gov/supreme. The court building sits at 820 N. French Street, 11th Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801. The phone number is (302) 651-3960.
Below is the Delaware Supreme Court page, which holds opinions, oral argument calendars, and administrative directives.
Written opinions are posted soon after release. Anyone can read them for free. The Supreme Court does not conduct trials. It hears appeals only.
The court sits Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. It has final appellate jurisdiction over the Court of Chancery, the Superior Court, and the Family Court. The Chief Justice also serves as the administrative head of the whole state judiciary. Supreme Court decisions are binding on all Delaware courts. That makes them a key source for lawyers and the public.
Delaware Court of Chancery Records
The Court of Chancery is known worldwide for business and corporate cases. It is a court of equity. The court handles corporate governance disputes, trust and estate matters, guardianship cases, real property disputes, and claims for injunctive relief or specific performance. Many major U.S. companies incorporate in Delaware, and their fights often end up here. The court has one Chancellor and four Vice Chancellors. Each serves a 12-year term. Full details are at the Delaware Court of Chancery site.
The Court of Chancery page covers filings, rules, opinions, and the Register in Chancery for each county.
Chancery case files are public records. They can be reviewed or copied unless sealed by court order.
Chancery filings usually need a lawyer. The Register in Chancery offers an alternative path for plaintiffs without counsel. eFiling runs through File & ServeXpress. Most Chancery court records sit in New Castle County at 500 N. King Street, Suite 11400, Wilmington, DE 19801. The phone is (302) 255-0544. Kent County and Sussex County also have Register in Chancery offices.
Superior Court Records in Delaware
The Superior Court is the primary trial court for major civil and criminal cases. It has general jurisdiction over felonies, civil cases over $50,000, and appeals from lower courts and administrative agencies. The court runs jury trials in both civil and criminal matters. It also handles capital murder cases and complex commercial litigation. There is a Complex Commercial Litigation Division for large business cases. Each of the three counties has a Superior Court office. Details live at Delaware Superior Court.
Here is a look at the Superior Court main page. It holds forms, rules, and contact info for all three counties.
The Prothonotary's Office handles civil case filings and records. The Court Clerk handles criminal cases.
In New Castle County, the Superior Court is at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801, phone (302) 255-0800. In Kent County, the court sits at 38 The Green in Dover, phone (302) 735-1900. In Sussex County, it is at 1 The Circle in Georgetown, phone (302) 855-7055. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:15 AM to 4:30 PM. To request copies of Superior Court records, submit an Application for Access to Court Records (ADM_ADM_03_A). The form is at the court. The cost for certified copies is $15 per document for up to three pages, plus up to $2 per extra page. A $25 retrieval fee may also apply.
Court of Common Pleas Records
The Court of Common Pleas handles the middle tier of cases in Delaware. It takes on misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings in felony matters, civil lawsuits up to $50,000, and appeals from the Justice of the Peace Court. The court also runs specialty programs like Drug Court and Mental Health Court. These problem-solving courts focus on the root causes of criminal behavior. The Court of Common Pleas disposed of 65,807 cases in 2023. Its work page is at courts.delaware.gov/CommonPleas.
The Court of Common Pleas homepage shows contact info, forms, and specialty court details.
You can email the records office in each county to request case copies. Costs vary by case and scope.
Contact info by county: New Castle County at 302-255-0900, Kent County at 302-735-3925 (Julie Brooks), and Sussex County at 302-858-5756 (Shelly Swafford). Email for victim address changes is CCP_VICADDRESSCHANGE@DELAWARE.GOV. The court keeps records per the Delaware Judiciary Records Retention Schedule. Criminal case files are held for 7 to 10 years after final disposition. Civil case files are held for 7 years.
Family Court Records in Delaware
The Family Court has jurisdiction over divorce, child custody, visitation, support, adoption, juvenile delinquency, protection from abuse, and termination of parental rights. Because these cases involve sensitive issues, Family Court records are not online. You cannot search Family Court cases through CourtConnect. Instead, you call the county Family Court where the case was filed. The records room in each county is open Monday through Friday (not legal holidays) from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Full info is at Delaware Family Court Records Access.
This screen shows the Family Court records access page from the Delaware judiciary.
Three types of copies are offered: photocopy, certified copy, and exemplified copy. Fees are in the Court's Schedule of Assessed Costs.
Family Court offices by county: New Castle County at 500 N. King Street, Wilmington, phone 302-255-0300. Kent County at 400 Court Street, Dover, phone 302-672-1000. Sussex County at 22 The Circle, Georgetown, phone 302-855-7400. The court now accepts petitions and papers by email in some case types.
Note: Family Court case files are not searchable online because of privacy rules. Call the clerk directly to ask about a case.
Justice of the Peace Court Records
The Justice of the Peace Court is Delaware's most accessible court. It handles traffic cases, minor criminal matters, landlord-tenant disputes, debt collection, small civil claims under $25,000, peace bonds, bail hearings, and search warrant applications. The court takes in more filings than any other in the state. It saw 215,629 filings in 2023. The JP Court page lives at courts.delaware.gov/jpcourt.
The Justice of the Peace Court home page gives the list of JP Court locations and case types.
Some JP criminal cases show up in CourtConnect, mostly traffic violations. Appeals go de novo to the Court of Common Pleas.
JP Court is a court not of record. That means proceedings are not typed up word for word. Audio recordings are kept but not auto-transcribed. Eflex is the electronic filing system for the Justice of the Peace Court. Users must watch the training modules before getting a Logon ID.
Electronic Filing in Delaware Courts
Delaware courts have moved much of their filing online. The Justice of the Peace Court uses eFlex for electronic case filing. The training has 32 modules that run about 90 minutes total. Topics cover getting started, filing new cases, tracking submissions, filing to existing cases, and administrative tasks. Documents filed by 11:59 PM ET are considered filed as of that day once the transmission is successful.
Here is the eFlex training page from the Delaware Courts.
The Supreme Court, Court of Chancery, and Superior Court use File & ServeXpress for electronic filing. Registration is free.
Papers in expedited cases must be filed before midnight ET to count as timely that day. In regular cases, documents are due by 5:00 PM ET for same-day credit, other than initial pleadings and notices of appeal. Attorneys who are active Delaware Bar members can use File & ServeXpress. Self-represented parties may also use it, though eFiling is only optional in the Supreme Court for pro se filers.
Federal Court Records in Delaware
Federal cases in Delaware go to two courts. The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware is the sole federal trial court in the state. Four judges serve life terms after Senate confirmation. The court is at the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building, 844 N. King Street, Unit 18, Wilmington, DE 19801. Phone is (302) 573-6170. In 2024, the court saw 1,519 civil filings, 84 criminal cases, and 427 patent cases. Federal records run through PACER, not the state system.
The U.S. District Court homepage has case locator links, E-Filing tools, and E-Juror systems.
The court is busy with patent litigation due to Delaware's status as a corporate hub. Electronic devices have restrictions in the courtrooms.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware handles all bankruptcy matters in the state. It is one of the busiest bankruptcy courts in the nation. Corporate restructurings, Chapter 11 filings, and liquidations of public companies often land here. The court sits at the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building, 824 N. Market Street, 3rd Floor, Wilmington. Phone is (302) 252-2900.
This image shows the bankruptcy court's main page.
Records go through PACER. Creditors and parties receive automated notices. The CM/ECF system supports electronic filing 24 hours a day.
Delaware FOIA and Court Records
The Delaware Freedom of Information Act is codified in Title 29, Chapter 100, § 10003 of the Delaware Code. It says public records shall be open to inspection and copying by any citizen during regular business hours. The custodian of the records must provide access. The Court on the Judiciary is exempt under 29 Del. C. § 10004(h)(4). Requests get a response within 15 business days under state law.
The Attorney General's FOIA page walks you through the process.
The AG's office issues opinions on FOIA disputes. It also posts guidance for agencies and citizens.
Historical Delaware Court Records
The Delaware Public Archives keeps court records from 1831 and earlier. The Archives holds records from the courts of general quarter sessions, oyer and terminer, the justice of the peace, the common pleas, the Superior Court, and the Supreme Court. You can search Orphans' Court records by keyword with real-time results. The Archives will give a price quote within 10 business days after you email your search results. The email is archives@delaware.gov.
The Orphans' Court records page at the Delaware Public Archives is shown below.
Probate files for each county start around 1680 and run to about 1925. The Archives sits in Dover.
Expungement of Court Records
Delaware allows expungement of certain court records under Subchapter VII of Chapter 43 of Title 11 of the Delaware Code. There are two paths. Mandatory expungements are handled by the State Bureau of Identification. Discretionary expungements are filed with the Superior Court or Family Court. An expungement shields all law enforcement and court records tied to a case from general view.
Mandatory expungement applies in three scenarios:
- The case ended in the person's favor (acquittal, nolle prosequi, dismissal, or no charges within a year)
- Convicted of violations only, with 3 years passed and no other convictions
- Convicted of misdemeanors or violations, with 5 years passed and no other convictions
Discretionary expungement may be filed after 3 years for most violations or misdemeanors, 7 years for certain listed misdemeanors, or 7 years for a single felony (not counting violent felonies). The person must show "manifest injustice" from having the record, such as problems with jobs, school, or housing.
Delaware Court Records by County
Each of Delaware's three counties keeps its own set of court records at the county courthouse. Pick a county below to find the Superior Court, Family Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace Court info for that area, plus links to the local Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds.
Court Records in Major Delaware Cities
Residents of major cities access court records through their county court system. Pick a city below to find out which court handles local cases, plus directions to the nearest Justice of the Peace Court.