Lewes Dissolution Of Marriage Court Records
Lewes Dissolution Of Marriage court records are held by the Sussex County Family Court in Georgetown. Lewes sits on the Delaware coast, near Cape Henlopen State Park, and is one of the state's oldest towns. The Justice of the Peace Court 3 is in Lewes, but Dissolution Of Marriage cases go to Georgetown. This page covers how to find a Lewes divorce, what copies cost, and where older records are kept.
Lewes Overview
Family Court For Lewes Dissolution Of Marriage
The Sussex County Family Court sits at 22 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947. The Records Department line is (302) 855-7473. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Lewes is about a 25-minute drive from Georgetown.
Lewes divorce records are filed and stored at Georgetown. Certified copies are $4.00 per page, and plain copies are $1.00 per page. Payment is cash, check, money order, or credit or debit card. Mail requests take 10 to 15 business days. Viewing a file at the counter during public hours is free.
The screenshot below shows the Lewes divorce information page, which spells out access procedures and fees for the Sussex County system. Browse it at delaware.thepublicindex.org/divorce-records.
The page notes the same statewide fees apply across every Delaware Family Court. Historical records more than 10 years old sit at the Delaware Public Archives, with the Georgetown Family Court handling recent Lewes cases.
How To Search Lewes Divorce Records
Lewes residents start with CourtConnect. The portal covers civil dockets, but Family Court records have limited online visibility. Use it to confirm a case number and filing date. For the full decree, you contact the Records Department at Georgetown.
Required search details:
- Full names of both parties
- Approximate date of the divorce
- Case number if known
- Photo ID for certified copies
The screenshot below shows the Sussex court records page, which pulls together marriage and divorce record paths. Read it at delawarecourtrecords.us/sussex.
The page confirms that Family Court records are considered more sensitive than general court filings, with redactions applied for Social Security numbers, account numbers, and birth dates under Delaware Supreme Court Administrative Directives.
Free options for a Lewes divorce search include in-person viewing during public counter hours at Georgetown, research at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover, and CourtConnect for basic case data.
Historical Lewes Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Lewes has deep historical roots. The United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes have records from 1756-1855. The Groome Memorial Methodist Protestant Church register runs 1908-1940. The Bethel M.E. Church register runs 1860-1933. These and other church records help trace older marriages that may have later ended in divorce.
For a Lewes divorce granted between 1900 and 1975, the Sussex County Prothonotary in Georgetown holds the file. For cases before 1900, the Delaware Public Archives in Dover is the right office. The Archives holds card-indexed divorces granted by Acts of the State Legislature.
Sussex County itself dates to 1683. Georgetown became the county seat in 1791, placed at the geographic center of the county. The county is the largest in Delaware by area at 938 square miles. Lewes is one of its oldest towns, with records going back to the colonial period. Appointments at the Delaware Public Archives are encouraged for historical research visits.
Filing A Lewes Dissolution Of Marriage
Lewes filings follow the statewide rules in Title 13, Chapter 15 of the Delaware Code. Under 13 Del. C. § 1504, one party must have lived in Delaware for six months before filing. Under 13 Del. C. § 1505, the court grants a divorce when the marriage is irretrievably broken.
On most grounds, the parties must have been separated for six months. Cases filed on misconduct with proper evidence can skip that wait. Parents of minor children must complete the Parent Education Program before a final decree. The Georgetown Family Court offers a Resource Center with forms and self-help computers.
The Family Court divorce forms library has every piece of paperwork. The filing fee is typically $150 to $165. Certified copies of the decree after the fact run $4.00 per page. Lewes residents can mail forms to 22 The Circle, Georgetown, or file in person at the same address. The Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Lewes handles minor matters but not divorce.
Note: Lewes is a coastal town with seasonal population swings. Summer filings can run slower than winter filings because of higher demand at the Georgetown courthouse. Plan extra time in June, July, and August.
Types Of Lewes Dissolution Of Marriage Records
A Lewes divorce record comes in three forms. A divorce certificate is the short document that proves the divorce took place. It lists names, case number, and date. A divorce decree is the full court order with every term spelled out, from property division to custody to support. Divorce court records are the hearing transcripts and minutes, and state law treats those as private.
Certified Lewes divorce certificates are limited to the divorced parties, their children, parents, legal guardians, and legal representatives. Anyone with a court order or a valid government agency need can also request one. Uncertified copies are informational and open to any interested party. Basic case data like names and case numbers is always public.
Family Court records in Lewes are maintained under 13 Del. C. Chapter 15. Final divorce decrees have permanent retention. Custody orders are kept until the youngest child reaches age 21. Protection from abuse orders are kept five years after expiration. Child support records are kept three years after the youngest child reaches 18.
Copy Requests For Lewes Residents
Lewes residents have three ways to request a divorce copy: visit the Records Department at the Sussex County Family Court in Georgetown, send a mail request with payment, or submit the online records request form. A valid mail request includes the names of both parties, the date, the case number if known, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check for fees.
The Office of Vital Statistics at 417 Federal Street, Dover can verify that a Lewes divorce happened anytime from 1935 to the present. That office does not issue certified copies of the decree itself. For the actual paper, you always go to the Family Court in Georgetown. VitalChek is the state's authorized third-party vendor for related vital records orders, but a Delaware Dissolution Of Marriage decree still comes from the Family Court.
A certified Lewes divorce decree may be needed for a Social Security name change, a DMV license update, a passport name change, or a financial account update. A plain copy works for personal record-keeping. Lewes residents can also request audio copies of court hearings from the Records Department with the right form and payment.
Sussex County Divorce Records
Lewes is in Sussex County. All divorce filings go through the Family Court in Georgetown. For the full county guide, visit the Sussex County page.
Nearby Delaware Cities
Lewes's neighbors in Sussex County include Seaford and Milford.