New Castle County Court Records Search
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New Castle County is the most populous county in Delaware and home to the state’s primary judicial complex, the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center in Wilmington. The county’s court structure is unusually layered compared to most states, encompassing the Superior Court, the Court of Chancery, the Court of Common Pleas, the Family Court, four Justice of the Peace Courts, and two Alderman’s Courts. Each court operates with distinct jurisdiction, which means records from criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family proceedings, corporate litigation, and probate matters are distributed across different clerk offices within the county. Understanding which court handled a particular case is critical to locating the right records.
For those beginning a search for court case information in Delaware, several official channels are available. The Delaware Courts website provides access to the CourtConnect online docket system, court fee schedules, and contact information for each courthouse. Individual clerk offices offer in-person record inspection during regular business hours, and public access terminals may be available at court locations. The state courts website at DelawareCourts.us can also help direct users toward publicly available court case information and related judicial resources across the state.
How to Look Up a Court Case in New Castle County?
The method for looking up a court case in New Castle County depends on whether the case is civil or criminal and which court has jurisdiction.
Online Search via CourtConnect
The Delaware Courts operate CourtConnect, a free public portal that provides access to civil case docket information from the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace Courts. To search:
- Navigate to the CourtConnect website.
- Select a search method: person name, business name, case type, or judgment search.
- Enter the relevant search criteria.
- Choose the court and case category (appeals, complaints, judgments, liens, etc.).
- Review matching results and click into individual cases for docket details.
CourtConnect covers civil dockets only. Criminal court case records in New Castle County are not available for remote online searching and must be accessed in person at the court where the case was filed.
In-Person Access
All New Castle County courts are open to the public for record inspection Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center:
Leonard L. Williams Justice Center
Address: 500 North King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
| Court | Phone | Suite/Level |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court | (302) 255-0800 | Prothonotary: Suite 500 (L1) |
| Court of Chancery | (302) 255-0544 | — |
| Court of Common Pleas | (302) 255-0900 | — |
| Family Court | (302) 255-0300 | Records Dept: Suite 110 |
The Prothonotary’s Office within the Superior Court handles civil and criminal record copies, certifications, and judgment searches. For Family Court records, contact the Records Department directly at (302) 255-2222 or (302) 255-0241.
Record Copy Fees — Superior Court
Fees are established under Superior Court Civil Rule 77(h):
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copy charge (per page, maximum) | $2.00 |
| Fax copy (per page) | $8.00 |
| Certified copy (up to 3 pages) | $15.00 |
| Exemplified copy (up to 3 pages) | $25.00 |
| Closed case retrieval | $25.00 |
| Closed case retrieval (expedited) | $50.00 |
Record Copy Fees — Court of Common Pleas
Fees per the Court of Common Pleas fee schedule:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copy charge (per page, maximum) | $5.00 |
| Certified copy of any document | $10.00 |
| Closed file retrieval | $25.00 |
| Closed file retrieval (expedited) | $35.00 |
All payments to state courts should be made payable to “The State of Delaware”.
Are Court Records Public in New Castle County?
Court records in New Castle County are generally open to public inspection under the Delaware Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at 29 Del. C. § 10001 et seq. Under FOIA, all government records are presumed public unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Additionally, each Delaware court publishes its own rules governing access to case files and documents.
Records That Are Not Public
Certain categories of court records are exempted from public disclosure under Delaware law or court policy:
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency records
- Adoption proceedings
- Medical and mental health records
- Records identifying victims of domestic violence or sexual assault
- Grand jury proceedings
- Sealed records (by court order)
- Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, active financial account information, and vehicle plate numbers
- Psychological evaluations, social histories, pre-sentence investigations, and custody investigation reports (in Family Court files)
In Family Court specifically, even parties to a case cannot obtain copies of social documents such as psychological evaluations or custody investigations without a judicial officer’s order. The Family Court’s Public Access Policy and Privacy of Proceedings chart detail which types of proceedings and documents are open or restricted.
New Castle County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in New Castle County are distributed across multiple courts depending on the severity and type of offense. The Superior Court handles felonies and most drug-related offenses. The Court of Common Pleas adjudicates misdemeanors and conducts preliminary felony hearings. Justice of the Peace Courts handle some misdemeanors, non-felony traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for all criminal matters. Alderman’s Courts process minor criminal offenses, municipal ordinance violations, and traffic cases within their municipal boundaries.
Searching Criminal Court Cases
Criminal case records in New Castle County cannot be searched online through CourtConnect, which covers civil dockets only. To look up criminal case information, individuals must contact or visit the court where the case was filed. The Prothonotary’s Office at the Superior Court handles criminal record requests for felony cases. For misdemeanor records, contact the Court of Common Pleas at (302) 255-0900.
Criminal Filing and Cost Fees
| Court | Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court | Criminal transfer/commitment/appeal from lower courts | $100.00 per case |
| Court of Common Pleas | Non-jury criminal costs | $55.00 per charge |
| Court of Common Pleas | Jury criminal costs | $135.00 per charge |
| Court of Common Pleas | Capias | $20.00 per capias |
| All courts | Court Security Assessment | $10.00 per charge (upon conviction) |
Criminal History Records
Statewide criminal history records, including arrest records, warrants, and mugshots, are maintained by the Delaware State Bureau of Identification (SBI) under the Delaware State Police. To obtain a certified Delaware criminal history, submit a request in person or by mail to:
Delaware State Police — Troop 2 (New Castle County Office)
Address: 100 LaGrange Avenue, Newark, DE 19702
Phone: (302) 739-2528
The fee for a state criminal background check is approximately $52.50, payable by money order or certified check made out to the Delaware State Police. Combined state and federal checks cost more and require fingerprint submission.
Justice of the Peace Courts
Four Justice of the Peace Courts operate in New Castle County, each handling preliminary hearings and minor criminal matters:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| JP Court 9 | 757 North Broad Street, Middletown, DE 19709 | (302) 378-5221 |
| JP Court 11 | Suite 100A, 2 Penns Way, New Castle, DE 19720 | (302) 323-4450 |
| JP Court 13 | 1010 Concord Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19802 | (302) 577-2550 |
| JP Court 20 | 300 North Walnut Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 | (302) 577-7234 |
JP Court 11 in New Castle remains open 24 hours a day for arraignment and bail purposes.
New Castle County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in New Castle County is spread across multiple courts with overlapping but distinct jurisdictions. The Superior Court has general civil jurisdiction with no monetary cap and handles the largest volume of complex civil cases. The Court of Chancery handles equity matters, including corporate disputes, trust litigation, and fiduciary duty claims—making it one of the most significant business courts in the country. The Court of Common Pleas hears civil cases with claims under $50,000. Justice of the Peace Courts handle civil claims under $15,000, and Alderman’s Courts process small claims within their municipal limits.
Searching Civil Records Online
The CourtConnect portal provides access to civil dockets from the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace Courts. Users can search by party name, business name, case type, or judgment. Court of Chancery civil dockets are not available through CourtConnect.
Requesting Copies
To request copies of civil case documents, contact the Prothonotary’s Office (Superior Court) or the clerk’s office of the relevant court. The Superior Court Prothonotary can be reached at (302) 255-0735 for New Castle County matters. Copies from the Court of Chancery are subject to fees set by Court of Chancery Rule 3(e).
Civil Filing Fees — Superior Court
The standard filing fee for most civil complaints in Superior Court is $200.00, plus a $10.00 Court Security Assessment. This applies to complaints for damages, ejectments, declaratory judgments, foreign judgments, and JP Court appeals. Commercial disputes filed under summary proceedings carry a fee of 0.5% of the amount in controversy, with a $200 minimum and $5,000 maximum.
Civil Filing Fees — Court of Common Pleas
The filing fee for a civil complaint in the Court of Common Pleas is $85.00 (includes the $10.00 Court Security Assessment). JP Court appeals cost $135.00.
New Castle County Family Court Records
The New Castle County Family Court exercises exclusive jurisdiction over domestic relations and juvenile matters. It is a court of statewide jurisdiction, with its New Castle County operations based at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center in Wilmington.
Case Types
Family Court handles divorce, annulment, child custody, child support, visitation, alimony, spousal support, paternity, adoption, guardianship, termination of parental rights, domestic violence protection orders, juvenile delinquency, and dependency and neglect proceedings.
Accessing Family Court Records
Family Court records are subject to heightened confidentiality protections. The Records Room is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with one exception: the New Castle County Family Court Records Department closes on the third Friday of each month from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. All file reviews must be conducted in the presence of a staff member, and photo identification is required.
Parties to a case may obtain copies of legal documents—complaints, petitions, court orders—upon payment of the applicable fee. Social documents such as psychological evaluations, custody investigations, and pre-sentence investigations cannot be copied without a judicial officer’s authorization. Audio recordings of hearings are available only to parties or their attorneys upon submission of Form 801 (Application to Request Audio Record).
Family Court Fees
Key fees from the Schedule of Assessed Costs (effective 2/1/2026):
| Filing/Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce filing (civil) | $165.00 |
| Petition for custody, support, guardianship, or other civil filing | $90.00 |
| Document copying (per page) | $1.00 |
| Certified copy (per page) | $4.00 |
| Exemplified copy (per page) | $5.00 |
| Electronic audio copy (per hearing date) | $25.00 |
| Archived case retrieval | $25.00 |
| Court Security Assessment (criminal and civil) | $10.00 |
| Ancillary matters (property division, alimony, separation agreement) | $90.00 |
Copies of divorce or annulment decrees can be requested following the instructions at the Family Court’s decree copies page.
Marriage Records
Marriage records in New Castle County are generated by the Family Court and copies are forwarded to the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics (OVS). Marriage records are confidential under Delaware law and become public only after 50 years. Eligible persons may request a marriage certificate from the OVS by completing the marriage certificate application form and submitting it in person, by mail, or online to:
Office of Vital Statistics — New Castle County
Address: 258 Chapman Road, Newark, DE 19702
Phone: (302) 283-7130
Fax: (302) 283-7131
Birth and Death Records
Birth records in Delaware are restricted for 72 years and death records for 40 years. Certified copies during the restricted period are available only to qualified individuals through the Office of Vital Statistics using the birth certificate application or death certificate application. After the restriction period expires, these records become publicly available through the Delaware Public Archives, which can be contacted by email or visited at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard North, Dover, DE 19901, phone (302) 744-5000.
New Castle County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Delaware is vested in the Court of Chancery, though the day-to-day administration of probate matters falls to the Register of Wills, a county office that operates as a branch of the Chancery Court. The Register of Wills assists families and attorneys in processing estate transfers, validating wills, and establishing guardianships and conservatorships.
Searching Probate Records
New Castle County provides an online Wills Search portal where the public can search for probate records by name. This tool covers estates that have been probated through the Register of Wills Office.
For historical probate records, the Delaware Public Archives maintains a digital collection of New Castle County wills and estate records dating back to 1682.
Requesting Probate Records
To request documents from a current or recent probate case, contact the Register of Wills Office directly. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (302) 395-7800. Probate forms, including those for self-audits and will searches, are available through the Register of Wills forms page.
Register of Wills Office
Address: New Castle County Government Center, 87 Reads Way, New Castle, DE 19720
Phone: (302) 395-7800
Property Records
Real property records in New Castle County are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds. The office serves as the repository for all land transaction records, corporate filings, and financing statements. Property documents can be searched through the New Castle County Document Search portal and the Parcel Search tool, which provides owner information, tax data, and sales history. The Recorder of Deeds office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and archived document images are available online at no charge.