New Castle Court Records Database
New Castle court records are handled by the New Castle County court system. The city hosts two Justice of the Peace Courts at 2 Penns Way: JP Court 11 for criminal cases and JP Court 13 for civil cases. Larger matters go to the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center in Wilmington. You can search New Castle court records through CourtConnect or visit the local JP Courts in person. The city has deep historical court records dating back to the 1670s.
New Castle Court Overview
New Castle City Court Context
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware. The city is served by multiple Justice of the Peace Court locations including Court 11 and Court 13 at 2 Penns Way, New Castle, DE 19720. Justice of the Peace Court 11 handles criminal matters only. Phone is 302-323-4450. The court is open 24 hours. Justice of the Peace Court 13 handles civil matters only. Phone is 302-323-6070. Full location info is at New Castle City Court Context.
The city of New Castle had historical courts including the Court of New Castle on Delaware, with records from 1676-1681 and 1681-1699 preserved in published volumes. These historical records are kept at the Delaware Public Archives and other repositories. Current court services are provided through the New Castle County state court system.
New Castle Historical Court Records
Historical court records for New Castle include the Records of the Court of New Castle on Delaware, 1676-1681 (Volume 1) and 1681-1699 (Volume 2), published by the Colonial Society of Pennsylvania. These records document the early judicial proceedings in the region. The original minutes from 1681-1699 have been lost, but abstracts were made around 1770.
The Historical Society of Delaware maintains New Castle County records including court records, license applications, poor laws, tax and assessment lists, election returns, naturalization records (1829-1858), marriage records, and miscellaneous Wilmington and state records. The Delaware Public Archives holds most original court records for New Castle County.
New Castle Register of Wills
The New Castle County Register of Wills office handles probate matters for residents of the city of New Castle. The office is at the Louis L. Redding City/County Building, 800 French Street, 2nd Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801. Business hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The Register of Wills probates wills, issues letters of administration or testamentary, and settles estates. Full history is at New Castle Register of Wills.
The New Castle Register of Wills page is shown below.
Any person holding a will must deliver it to the Register within ten days of the testator's death.
For a $2.00 fee per name, the office sends a letter outlining what records they hold. A 1983 law lets testators or attorneys deposit original wills for safekeeping. The wills are sealed, numbered, and indexed. If the will is certified as genuine, letters testamentary go to the executor. If the person died intestate, letters of administration go to the administrator.
New Castle County Records Access
New Castle city residents access court records through the New Castle County system. The Leonard L. Williams Justice Center at 500 N. King Street, Wilmington houses the Superior Court, the Court of Chancery, the Family Court, and the Court of Common Pleas. Multiple Justice of the Peace Court locations serve the city. Court records are generally accessible under the Delaware Freedom of Information Act.
Available records include case files, dockets, judgments, orders, and hearing transcripts. Restricted records include juvenile records, adoption records, mental health proceedings, and sealed records. The Register of Wills maintains probate records. The Sheriff's Office handles sheriff sales. Public access terminals are available at courthouse locations for searching electronic records.
Note: New Castle city shares the same county court system as Wilmington. JP 11 and JP 13 on Penns Way are the closest JP Courts.
Court Record Costs for New Castle Residents
Fees for New Castle court records vary by court. For certified Superior Court copies, the cost is $15 per document for up to three pages. Additional pages run up to $2 each. A retrieval fee of $25 per record may apply. Payment is by cash or check. Plain copies cost less. The Court of Common Pleas will contact you with the total owed and delivery options once your request is processed.
Register of Wills search letters cost $2.00 per name. Family Court copy fees are in the Schedule of Assessed Costs posted in the Records Unit. The Superior Court will not email or mail copies of records. You must set an appointment to view documents once they are ready. This applies to all New Castle city residents using the county court system.
New Castle FOIA and Court Records
The Delaware Freedom of Information Act covers public records in New Castle. The statute is codified in Title 29, Chapter 100, § 10003 of the Delaware Code. Government records shall be open to inspection by any citizen during regular business hours. The custodian of the records must provide access. Requests typically receive a response within 15 business days under state law. The Court on the Judiciary itself is exempt from FOIA under 29 Del. C. § 10004(h)(4).
Records containing personal identifiers get redacted under Delaware Supreme Court Administrative Directive No. 2007-6. That includes Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth on public filings. New Castle residents requesting records should expect standard redactions before release.
Nearby Cities
These Delaware cities are near New Castle. Wilmington hosts most of the state courts. Delaware City also uses the JP 11 location.
County Court Info
New Castle city sits in the county of the same name. The county page covers every state court in the area.