Marriage records in New Castle County, Delaware, are available through several channels. NewCastleCourt.us allows you to quickly find publicly available information about marriage records in the county. Additionally, certified copies of marriage certificates are issued by the Office of Vital Statistics of the state of Delaware—both in person at the office and by mail. Online tools, mail requests, and visits to the relevant state institutions all work for obtaining the necessary documents.
New Castle Marriage Records Search
In the state of Delaware, marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Peace of the respective county. For New Castle County, this function is performed by the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace, located in the county government building in Wilmington. After the marriage is registered, the signed license is returned to the clerk, who registers it as an official record.
Certified copies of marriage certificates are maintained and issued by the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics (OVS), a division of the Division of Public Health. OVS maintains records of marriages entered into in Delaware since 1847. The collection includes:
- Issued marriage licenses
- Registered marriage certificates
- Historical records available through the Delaware State Archives for events prior to 1913
OVS office in New Castle County:
Clerk of the Peace for marriage license application:
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in New Castle
The cost of obtaining copies of marriage certificates is determined by the Office of Vital Statistics of the state of Delaware. Below are the current fees according to OVS rates:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of marriage certificate | $25.00 |
| Each additional copy (in one order) | $10.00 |
| Search fee (if record not found) | Included in the cost of the first copy |
Source of fees — rates of the Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Vital Statistics. Payment is accepted by money order or check payable to the Office of Vital Statistics. Standard processing time for mail requests is 4 to 6 weeks.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in New Castle
There are several ways to order a certified copy of a marriage certificate in New Castle County.
Online
The state of Delaware offers online ordering through VitalChek, an authorized partner of OVS. Go to the Office of Vital Statistics page and select the online ordering link. An additional service fee is charged for expedited processing through VitalChek.
In Person
Visit the OVS office in Newark at the address listed above. Bring with you:
- Valid photo identification
- Marriage information: full names of both parties, approximate date, and place of registration
- Payment in the form of a money order or check
Note — the office stops accepting visitors at 3:45 PM.
By Mail
Send your request to the address:
Include in your letter:
- Completed application for a record copy (form can be downloaded from the OVS website)
- Money order or check for $25.00 payable to the Office of Vital Statistics
- Copy of the applicant's photo ID
- Self-addressed envelope (optional, for expedited delivery)
Processing of mail requests usually takes 4–6 weeks. For searching documents related to real estate or other county records, you can use the Recorder of Deeds—however, marriage certificates are issued exclusively by OVS. If you need information about divorce, contact the Family Court Records Department of Delaware.