New Castle Dissolution Of Marriage Access
New Castle Dissolution Of Marriage records are held at the New Castle County Family Court in Wilmington. New Castle is a historic town on the Delaware River, just south of Wilmington, and the original county seat before Wilmington took that role. The Family Court handles every Dissolution Of Marriage case for New Castle residents. This page covers where to go for a certified divorce certificate, how to find a decree, and what fees apply.
New Castle Overview
Where To File A New Castle Dissolution Of Marriage
New Castle residents file Dissolution Of Marriage cases at the New Castle County Family Court, 500 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. The Records Department line is 302-255-2222. The general Family Court line is 302-255-0300. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Although New Castle is a historic town in its own right, the city does not maintain a separate court system. Every Dissolution Of Marriage case, whether filed today or decades ago, sits in the New Castle County court system. For divorces from 1978 to the present, the Family Court holds the file. For earlier cases, the New Castle County Superior Court Prothonotary is the right office.
The screenshot below shows the Superior Court New Castle County page, which houses historical divorce files for the county. Browse it at courts.delaware.gov/Locations/superior_nc.aspx.
The Superior Court for New Castle County sits at 500 N. King Street, Wilmington, 302-255-0777. The Prothonotary's Office at the same address maintains divorce records prior to 1978. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:15 AM to 4:30 PM.
New Castle Divorce Certificate And Decree
A divorce certificate is the short document that proves a New Castle divorce took place. It lists the names of the parties, the date, and the case number. A divorce decree is the full court order with all the terms on property, custody, and support. Certified copies of either document come from the Family Court, not the Office of Vital Statistics.
The screenshot below shows the Delaware divorce certificate guide, which covers what the certificate is for and how to authenticate one for national or international use. See the page at divorcedelaware.org/divorce-certificate.
Apostille services for international use of a Delaware divorce certificate are handled by the Delaware Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, under the State Guide to Certificates.
Certified divorce certificates are restricted to the parties, their children, parents, legal guardians, legal representatives, government agencies, or individuals with a court order. Uncertified copies are informational only and can be viewed by any interested party.
How To Search New Castle Divorce Records
Start with CourtConnect for basic case data. Family Court records have limited online visibility. The portal shows Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace Court civil dockets, which can help confirm a case number and filing year.
For the full decree, you contact the Family Court Records Department at 302-255-2222. Bring a photo ID and party names. Fees are $4.00 per certified page and $1.00 per plain page. Payment is cash, check, money order, or credit or debit card. Processing time for in-person requests is 1 to 3 business days. Mail requests take 10 to 15 business days.
You can also use the online records request form on the Delaware Courts site. Staff respond with case details, fee estimates, and delivery instructions.
Historical New Castle Dissolution Of Marriage Records
New Castle has deep colonial roots. Historical Delaware Legislature records include private acts such as "An act for the Improvement of the City of New Castle" and "An act to divorce Nathaniel Holmes from his wife, Helen M." These legislative divorces were the only way to end a marriage in the state before the modern court system took over.
For a New Castle divorce granted before 1978, the New Castle County Superior Court Prothonotary at 500 N. King Street, Wilmington, 302-255-0777 holds the file. For divorces granted by Acts of the State Legislature in the 1800s, contact the Delaware Public Archives at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. North, Dover, DE 19901, (302) 744-5000.
The Archives research room is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM. Staff copies are $0.50 per page, and certified divorce decrees from historical collections are $10.00 per copy. Pre-1900 private acts of divorce can also be requested from the Delaware Legislative Council at Legislative Hall, P.O. Box 1401, Dover, DE 19901.
New Castle County itself was created on August 8, 1673. Delaware Supreme Court Administrative Directive No. 175 requires that Social Security numbers, financial account information, and birth dates be redacted from any public record. Family Court divorce decrees have permanent retention.
Filing A New Castle Dissolution Of Marriage
New Castle residents follow 13 Del. C. Chapter 15. One party must have lived in Delaware for six months before filing. The parties must have been separated for six months on most grounds, unless filing on misconduct with evidence.
The filing goes to 500 N. King Street, Wilmington. The Petition for Divorce/Annulment is Form 442. The Information Sheet is Form 240. The Vital Statistics Sheet is Form 441. Parents of minor children must complete the Parent Education Program before a final decree is entered. Mediation services are offered through the Family Court to help spouses settle property, custody, and support disputes.
The Delaware Law School Legal Aid Clinic at 4601 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803, 302-477-2100, helps qualifying New Castle residents with family law matters. The Family Court Resource Center at the courthouse has forms and self-help computers. Filing fees typically run $150 to $165, and certified copies of the decree after the fact are $4.00 per page.
Note: The Office of Vital Statistics at 258 Chapman Road, Newark, DE 19702 handles vital records for New Castle residents but does not issue certified divorce copies. For certified Dissolution Of Marriage decrees, you always go to the Family Court at 500 N. King Street in Wilmington.
New Castle Records Access Policy
The Delaware Family Court follows a clear access policy for every New Castle Dissolution Of Marriage file. Three types of copies are available: photocopy, certified copy, and exemplified copy. The fees are in the court's Schedule of Assessed Costs, posted in the Records Unit and the Cashier's Unit at 500 N. King Street.
Audio copies of court hearings are also available upon request, with the proper form and payment. Records access is governed by Delaware Supreme Court Administrative Directives. Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and full dates of birth are redacted from publicly accessible versions. The Family Court balances open access with privacy for minors and domestic violence victims.
New Castle County Divorce Records
New Castle is in New Castle County. All divorce filings go through the Family Court in Wilmington. For the full county guide, visit the New Castle County page.
Nearby Delaware Cities
New Castle's neighbors include Wilmington, Delaware City, Newark, and Middletown.