Sussex County Court Records

Sussex County court records are held at the Sussex County Courthouse in Georgetown. The courthouse houses the Superior Court, the Court of Common Pleas, the Court of Chancery, the Family Court, and the Justice of the Peace Courts. You can search Sussex County court records through CourtConnect online or request copies in person. The county serves the southern portion of Delaware, covering cities like Seaford, Lewes, and Rehoboth Beach.

Sussex County Court System

Sussex County court records are generally accessible to the public. The Delaware Freedom of Information Act, codified in Title 29, Chapter 100, § 10003 of the Delaware Code, sets the rules. Public records shall be open to inspection unless specifically exempted. Records in Sussex County typically include civil case files (with exceptions), criminal case files (post-charging), judgments and orders, docket sheets, and hearing schedules.

Restricted records include juvenile records (except as allowed by statute), mental health proceedings, Family Court records with minors, sealed records, records with personal identifiers, and grand jury proceedings. More policy detail is at the Delaware Public Access to Court Records page.

Standard fees for copies follow Delaware Code Title 10, § 8705. Copy fees are $1.00 per page for standard documents. Extra charges apply for certified copies and extensive searches. Federal court records run through the PACER system.

Sussex County Courthouse

The Sussex County Courthouse is at 1 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947. Phone is 302.855.7055. The courthouse holds the Superior Court, the Court of Common Pleas, the Court of Chancery, the Family Court, and the Justice of the Peace Courts. A strict cell phone policy applies. Cell phones and other personal communication devices, including iWatches, are prohibited in the courthouse. Full info is at Sussex County Courthouse Information.

Public access begins at 8:30 AM. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Public access terminals are available for searching electronic court records. The courthouse is the venue for trials, hearings, and other court proceedings across civil, criminal, family, and probate cases.

The Sussex County Courthouse information page is shown below.

The page covers security rules, building hours, and court sites inside the complex.

Sussex County Superior Court Records

The Sussex County Superior Court is at the Sussex County Courthouse, 1 The Circle, Suite 2, Georgetown. Phone is (302) 855-7055. The court handles major civil cases over $50,000, felony criminal cases, appeals from lower courts, and certain administrative appeals. The court runs jury trials in both civil and criminal matters. Full court info is at Sussex County Superior Court.

Below is the Sussex County Superior Court page.

The court handles the most serious criminal cases in Sussex County, including felony prosecutions and capital matters.

The Superior Court operates two public access terminals at the Prothonotary's Office on the second floor. Access is generally by appointment. Call or email the prothonotary's office with "Public Access" in the subject line to book a slot. The court also hears appeals from the Court of Common Pleas and administrative agencies. Civil cases over $50,000 get filed in Superior Court.

Sussex County Court of Common Pleas

The Court of Common Pleas in Sussex County is at 1 The Circle, Suite 1, Georgetown. Phone is (302) 858-5700. The county contact is Shelly Swafford at 302-858-5756. The court handles civil cases up to $50,000, misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings, and traffic cases. It also runs Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and DUI Court programs.

The court hears appeals from the Justice of the Peace Court. Records requests can be made by contacting the Sussex County Court of Common Pleas office directly. Records are kept 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.

Sussex County Family Court Records

The Sussex County Family Court is at 22 The Circle, Georgetown. Phone is (302) 855-7400. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The court handles divorce, child custody, visitation, support, adoption, juvenile delinquency, dependency and neglect, termination of parental rights, and domestic violence or protection from abuse cases. Full page is at Sussex 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. Family Court records cannot be searched online due to privacy rules. Call 302-855-7400 for case info. The Records Room is open during business hours. Records are kept per retention schedules. Divorce records are held permanently. Custody records are kept until the youngest child reaches age 21.

Below is the Sussex County Family Court page.

The page lists hours, forms, and a full list of family case types the court handles.

Sussex County Justice of the Peace Courts

Sussex County has multiple Justice of the Peace Court locations. Justice of the Peace Court 2 is at 35252 Hudson Way, #1, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, phone 302-645-6163. It handles criminal matters. Justice of the Peace Court 3 is at 23730 Shortly Road, Georgetown, DE 19947, phone 302-856-1445. It takes criminal cases. Justice of the Peace Court 4 is at 408 Stein Highway, Seaford, DE 19973, phone 302-628-2036. It handles criminal matters.

Justice of the Peace Court 14 is at 5 E Pine Street, Georgetown, phone 302-856-4657. It handles criminal and DUI matters. Justice of the Peace Court 17 is at 23730 Shortly Road, Georgetown, phone 302-856-1447. It takes civil matters only. The Justice of the Peace Court - Truancy Court is at 408 East Stein Highway, Seaford, phone 302-629-5433. The full statewide list is at the Delaware Justice of the Peace Court page.

These courts handle minor civil cases (under $25,000), landlord-tenant disputes, minor criminal cases, and traffic violations. Records can be accessed through the CourtConnect system or in person at each site.

Sussex County Court of Chancery

The Sussex County Court of Chancery is at 34 The Circle, Georgetown. Phone is (302) 856-5815. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The court handles equity matters, corporate disputes, guardianships, and trusts. The Register in Chancery office handles filings and records for the Court of Chancery in Sussex County. Court of Chancery case files are public records. They can be reviewed or copied unless exempted by law or sealed by court order.

The Court of Chancery maintains permanent records of case files. Guardianship records are retained for 10 years after termination. Trust proceedings are kept for 20 years after termination. The court serves the southern portion of Delaware for equity matters and hears cases involving trusts, estates, corporate disputes, and other matters needing equitable remedies.

Accessing Sussex County Records

To access court records in Sussex County, you can visit the courthouse in person or use state online resources. The Delaware CourtConnect system lets you search for case info, dockets, and some document images. In-person requests should start with identifying the court where the case was filed. Complete a record request form at the clerk's office, provide case number or party names, and show valid ID.

Written requests should include the case number or party names, the documents requested, contact info, and payment for applicable fees. The Register of Wills at the Sussex County Courthouse handles probate matters. The Sussex County Law Library offers resources and self-service kiosks. The PACER system offers electronic access for detailed federal case info.

Sussex County Probate and Orphans' Court

Probate records in Sussex County date back to 1682. The Delaware Public Archives has original probate files and an index for roughly 1680-1925. The index lists deceased persons for whom a probate file was created. Records include loose papers, original wills, accounts, inventories, and sales documents. Sussex County probate collections include Guardian Accounts, Miscellaneous Notes and Abstracts of Wills, Orphan's Court Dockets and Minute Dockets (1728-1802), Wills (1682-1851) with Index through 1948, Probate Records Card Index, Estate Case Files (1700-1956), and Wills (1851-1959).

Orphans' Court Records for Sussex County cover roughly 1680 to 1978. The court has jurisdiction over appointing guardians for minors, usually until they reach 21, or for females until married. The court also handles matters tied to property rights of minors and dependent individuals. Historical Orphans' Court records offer key info for genealogical and historical property research. Search the records at Delaware Public Archives.

Cities in Sussex County

These cities fall under the Sussex County court system. Most cases are filed at the Sussex County Courthouse in Georgetown.

Georgetown is the county seat, but most cases involving Seaford, Lewes, and Milford tie into the same courthouse complex or the nearest JP Court.

Nearby Counties

Sussex County borders Kent County to the north. If you are not sure where your case was filed, check the county tied to the address of the parties or the incident location.