New Castle County Court Records
New Castle County court records cover every civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic case filed in the county's courts. The Leonard L. Williams Justice Center in Wilmington holds the Superior Court, the Court of Chancery, the Court of Common Pleas, the Family Court, and Justice of the Peace Court 20. You can search New Castle County court records online through CourtConnect or visit the clerk's office in person.
New Castle County Overview
New Castle County Court System
Court records in New Castle County cover every step of a case. They include pleadings, motions, docket entries, judicial orders, judgments, hearing transcripts, evidence logs, and sentencing details. Delaware Code Title 10 governs the county's court operations. The court records system is built around the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center at 500 N. King Street, Wilmington. Nearly every major state court in the county sits inside that building.
Court records in New Castle County are generally open to the public under Delaware's Freedom of Information Act (29 Del. C. § 10001-10007). The common law presumption of open court proceedings also applies. Policy detail is at the Delaware Public Access to Court Records page. Some files are restricted, such as juvenile records, adoption files, and sealed criminal cases.
The county has a population of 538,479. Wilmington is the seat. New Castle County was set up in 1664 and runs under a County Council form of government. The area covers 494 square miles. You can email the prothonotary's office at prothonotary@nccourts.de.us to set an appointment to view records.
New Castle County Superior Court Records
The New Castle County Superior Court sits at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. The phone number is (302) 255-0800. The TDD line is (302) 255-1952. Fax is (302) 255-4429. Building hours are Monday through Friday 8:15 AM to 4:30 PM. The Prothonotary's Office handles civil case records. The Court Clerk handles criminal cases. More info is at New Castle County Superior Court.
To request copies, submit an Application for Access to Court Records (ADM_ADM_03_A). Certified copies cost $15 per document for up to three pages. Each extra page is up to $2. A retrieval fee of $25 per record may also apply. Pay with cash or check. Once the document is ready, the office sets an appointment for you to view it. They do not email or mail copies directly. For criminal case lookups, email prothonotary@nccourts.de.us with the defendant's full name and date of birth.
Below is the Superior Court location page.
The court has six public access terminals in the Judgment's Office on the first floor. Access is by appointment only. Call or email with "Public Access" in the subject line to book a slot.
The Superior Court conducts jury trials in civil and criminal matters. Civil cases over $50,000 go here. The court handles felonies, appeals from lower courts, and administrative appeals. Civil case dockets in the Superior Court can be searched online. You can sort by name, case type, or judgment search. Use the Delaware CourtConnect portal to run a search. Physical copies still need an in-person visit.
New Castle Court of Common Pleas
The Court of Common Pleas in New Castle County is also at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 N. King Street, Wilmington. Phone is (302) 255-0900. The court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings in felony cases, civil lawsuits up to $50,000, and appeals from the Justice of the Peace Court. The court also runs Drug Court and Mental Health Court programs for cases that need a different approach.
The best way to request misdemeanor case records is to email CCPRecordRoom@nccourts.de.us. Include as much info as possible: defendant's full name, date of birth, and case number if you have it. The office will contact you with the total cost and delivery options. Costs vary by case. For customer service, call 302.255.0900.
Family Court Records in New Castle County
The Family Court in New Castle County is at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 N. King Street, Wilmington. Call 302-255-0300. The Records Room is open Monday through Friday (no legal holidays) from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The court covers divorce, child custody, visitation, child support, adoption, juvenile delinquency, termination of parental rights, dependency and neglect, domestic violence, and guardianship of minors. More on record access is at New Castle County Family Court.
Three types of copies are offered:
- Photocopy (uncertified)
- Certified copy
- Exemplified copy
Fees are in the Court's Schedule of Assessed Costs, posted in the Records Unit and Cashier's Unit. Family Court records are not online due to privacy rules. You must call the office or visit in person. The court now accepts petitions and papers by email in some case types.
Note: Family Court records in New Castle County are not available on CourtConnect. Call 302-255-0300 for case info.
Court of Chancery in New Castle County
The Court of Chancery is at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 N. King Street, Suite 11400, Wilmington. Phone is (302) 255-0544. The Register in Chancery handles filings and records. The court hears corporate governance disputes, trust and estate matters, real property disputes, guardianship cases, and claims for injunctive relief or specific performance. The court attracts major corporate cases due to Delaware's role as a corporate hub.
Chancery cases usually need a lawyer. The Register in Chancery offers a path for self-represented plaintiffs. Case files are public unless sealed. You can review or copy them at the office. The Court of Chancery uses File & ServeXpress for electronic filings.
Register of Wills in New Castle County
The Register of Wills probates wills, issues letters of administration or testamentary, and settles estates. 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. Full history is at New Castle County Register of Wills. Anyone 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. 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 Recorder of Deeds
The Recorder of Deeds maintains land records and property documents. It records deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other property-related papers. These are key for researching property history or establishing ownership. Many records are searchable online through the county's document search system. The office works with the New Castle County Assessor's Office for property tax records and assessment data.
Residents researching their home's ownership history, current value, or outstanding liens can request copies of documents. The office also supports title searches by legal professionals and the public.
Cities in New Castle County
These cities fall under the New Castle County court system. Cases are filed at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center or the appropriate Justice of the Peace Court.
Nearby Counties
These counties border New Castle County. If you are not sure where your case was filed, check the location tied to the incident or the address of the parties.