Divorce records in New Castle County, Delaware, are available through several channels. NewCastleCourt.us allows you to search publicly available information about divorce cases in this county. Additionally, you can contact the Family Court of the State of Delaware, which handles divorce cases, the court clerk's office that maintains case materials, or the Office of Vital Statistics, which maintains the state-level registry of divorce certificates.
New Castle Divorce Records Search
In the state of Delaware, divorce cases are exclusively handled by the Family Court. This court maintains a complete set of materials—from the complaint to the final decree of divorce. The Records Department of the Family Court in New Castle County is responsible for issuing copies of decrees and related documents. The collection includes:
- Divorce decrees
- Property division and alimony agreements
- Child custody decisions
- Related procedural documents
Separately, the Office of Vital Statistics at the Department of Health and Social Services maintains divorce certificates—brief documents that confirm the fact of divorce without details of the court decision. Basic information about the case—hearing dates, status, party names—can be checked online through Delaware Court Connect.
Family Court — New Castle County
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in New Castle
When a Family Court judge signs a divorce decree, the original remains in the court's file. The Family Court clerk's office in Wilmington is the only place where the complete court file with the text of the decree, party agreements, and custody rulings is stored. To obtain a certified copy of the decree, you need to contact this office.
The Office of Vital Statistics maintains a separate registry and issues divorce certificates. This is a concise document—it does not contain terms of the agreement or property division details but confirms the fact of divorce. Useful for name changes, remarriage, or benefit applications.
Where to contact depending on the need:
| What is needed | Where to contact |
|---|---|
| Complete court decree, agreements, custody rulings | Family Court — Records Department, New Castle County |
| Divorce certificate (confirmation of fact) | Office of Vital Statistics |
Office of Vital Statistics — New Castle County
The Divorce/Annulment page on the Family Court website contains up-to-date information on the procedure for requesting copies of decrees and contact details for the records department for each county.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in New Castle
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of divorce decree (Family Court) | $10.00 for the first 10 pages, $1.00 for each additional page | 5–10 business days |
| Divorce certificate (Office of Vital Statistics) | $25.00 | 2–4 weeks |
| Court Connect database search (online) | Free | Instant |