Court records of New Castle County, Delaware, are available through several channels. NewCastleCourt.us allows you to search for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be found through the official online portals of Delaware state courts, the offices of the respective courts, and through public terminals installed directly in court buildings.
New Castle Court System & Jurisdictions
In Delaware, there are no county courts in the traditional American sense — the judicial system is organized at the state level with branches in each county. Several courts operate in New Castle County, each handling specific categories of cases.
- Superior Court — a court of general jurisdiction that handles serious criminal cases (felonies), large civil claims, and appeals from lower courts. The Superior Court branch is located in Wilmington.
- Court of Common Pleas — deals with criminal misdemeanors, civil cases with claims up to $75,000, and traffic violations. Jury information for this court pertains specifically to New Castle County.
- Justice of the Peace Court — handles minor civil disputes (up to $25,000), traffic violations, certain misdemeanors, and performs preliminary hearings in criminal cases. Several branches of this court operate throughout the county.
- Family Court — guardianship, divorce, alimony, adoption, juvenile delinquency cases, and protective orders. The Family Court has a separate records department for New Castle County.
- Court of Chancery — one of the state's most renowned courts, specializing in corporate disputes, trusts, real estate, and equity cases. Probate matters in Delaware also partially fall under the jurisdiction of the Register of Wills.
Knowing which court is handling your case is critically important — searching in the wrong registry will yield no results.
New Castle Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week can be checked through the Delaware Court Connect system. This database allows you to:
- Find a case by party name, company name, or case number.
- Generate a Docket Report containing scheduled hearing dates.
- View the type of case and the court where it is being heard.
For civil cases in the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace Court, there is also a separate civil case search page available 24/7. If you need the schedule of a specific judge or courtroom, contact the office of the respective court directly — not all calendar details are published online.
Criminal cases have limited access in electronic systems. According to Title 29, Chapter 100 of the Delaware Code, most criminal records and case materials are closed to public view, except for information that the courts have decided to disclose.
How to Get a Copy of a New Castle Court Document
There is a difference between a certified and an uncertified copy. A certified copy has the court's official seal and is accepted as evidence in other proceedings, banks, or government agencies. A regular copy is suitable for personal review.
Online: Through Court Connect, you can view case registration data, but downloading the full text of the document is usually not possible. To obtain copies of documents, you need to contact the court office.
In person or by mail:
- Determine which court is handling your case.
- Contact the Prothonotary (office) of the Superior Court or the clerk of the respective court.
- Provide the case number, party names, and type of document.
- Pay the copying and certification fee (if a certified copy is needed).
For divorce cases, contact the Family Court records department of New Castle County.
Address of the Prothonotary office of the Superior Court (New Castle County):
Mail requests must include prepayment in the form of a check or money order payable to the Prothonotary. Confirm the exact amount before sending.
New Castle Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for court documents are set by the rules of each court and may change. Below are the approximate fees typically charged in Delaware courts when contacting the office in New Castle County. Always confirm the current amount directly with the respective court before payment.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Case registry search (by name) | Free through Court Connect |
| Uncertified document copy (per page) | $0.10 – $1.00 |
| Certified copy (certification fee) | $10.00 – $20.00 per document |
| Copy of divorce decree (Family Court) | Check with Records Department |
| Criminal history check (through DSP) | Depends on the type of check |
To obtain a certified criminal history, you need to undergo fingerprinting through the Delaware State Police — this is a separate service not related to the court office.
Payment at the office is usually accepted in cash, check, or money order. Some courts also accept credit cards, but it is advisable to confirm this in advance. For FOIA requests (Freedom of Information Act), separate copying and record search fees may apply.