New Castle County, Delaware Court Records
New Castle County court records are official recordings of legal proceedings within the various courts in New Castle County, DE. These comprise documents on civil, criminal, family law, traffic, equity, and probate trials. The requirement to keep and maintain court records is established through a combination of state public records statutes, court rules, and procedural rules that govern judicial record-keeping, including:
- The Delaware Public Records Law (Title 29, Chapter 5, Sections 504 and 505)
- Delaware Court Rules
- Public Access Policies of the Delaware Judicial Branch.
New Castle County courts create records as evidential documents during legal proceedings; they ensure equity, fairness, and accountability of the judiciary. In New Castle County, the custodians of court records are the clerk (or equivalent officer) of each trial-level court that hears cases in the county. This includes:
- The Prothonotary of the Superior Court of Delaware (New Castle County)
- Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas (New Castle County)
- Clerk of Family Court of the State of Delaware (New Castle County)
- Clerk of the Justice of the Peace Court (New Castle County)
- Register of the Court of Chancery (New Castle County).
Court records often interconnect with other public records. For instance, New Castle County criminal case records may reference New Castle County arrest records generated by law enforcement agencies within the county. Likewise, New Castle County family law or probate proceedings may hinge on the county’s vital records, such as birth, marriage, and death certificates.
Are New Castle County Court Records Public?
Yes, New Castle County court records are publicly accessible. Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) grants individuals the right to inspect and copy public records during regular business hours (including New Castle court records), unless there are restricting laws or a court order that exempts public disclosure. However, public access to New Castle County court records is governed by Delaware court rules and judicial policies. Under Delaware laws, adult case records that are public include:
- Criminal case records
- Civil court records
- Traffic and ordinance violations
- Equity and corporate matters (Court of Chancery)
- Judgments and final orders.
Notwithstanding public accessibility of New Castle County court records, certain court documents are restricted by law to protect privacy, minors, or sensitive interests. For instance, individuals cannot access New Castle County court records on:
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases
- Family Court matters
- Adoption
- Mental health and involuntary commitment proceedings
- Expunged or sealed cases
- Confidential filings within public cases. For example, sensitive information such as financial statements, medical records, Social Security numbers, and trade secrets is not publicly discloseable.
What Information is Available in New Castle County Court Records?
New Castle County court records are detailed accounts of legal proceedings within the various county-level trial courts within New Castle County, DE. These documents may vary by court, but their contents are standardized. A typical New Castle County court record contains:
- Case Information:
- Case number and case type
- Court name and division
- Filing date and case status
- Names of parties involved, including plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents
- Attorneys of record and their appearances
- Docket and procedural history:
- Filings and service of process
- Motions, responses, and replies
- Court rulings and scheduling orders
- Continuances, hearings, and trial dates
- Case closures, dismissals, or transfers
- Filed documents and Pleadings
- Complaints, petitions, or indictments
- Answers, counterclaims, and cross-claims
- Motions and supporting memoranda
- Affidavits, declarations, and exhibits
- Briefs submitted by the parties
- Orders, judgments, and outcomes
- Interim and final court orders
- Judgments, decrees, or verdicts
- Sentencing orders in criminal cases
- Consent orders or settlement approvals
- Appellate certifications or remand orders (if applicable)
- Hearing and trial information
- Hearing dates and outcomes
- Bench or jury trial notations
- Minutes or summaries of proceedings
- Transcripts (when prepared and filed)
- Enforcement and post-judgment activity
- Writs, liens, and garnishments
- Probation or compliance reports
- Motions to modify, reopen, or enforce judgments
- Appeal notices.
New Castle County Court Records Search
Custodians of New Castle County court records provide various options for accessing these documents. Depending on the court, case type, and whether the record is public or restricted, Delaware permits statewide access to New Castle County court records through its Judicial Case Search (CourtConnect). The Delaware CourtConnect portal provides access to trial details for New Castle County’s Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace Court. Users can:
- search case records by party name, business name, or case type
- View docket activity and case status
- Access basic case details, such as filing and disposition dates.
The Delaware CourtConnect portal does not generally provide full case records or official documents. New Castle County Superior Court and many criminal case files are not fully accessible online through a public portal. For comprehensive access to New Castle County’s court records, visit the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center at:
500 North King Street,
Wilmington,
DE 19801.
New Castle County court records may also be accessible by phone or mail. For general information, call the various New Castle courts through the following lines:
New Castle County Superior Court (Prothonotary)
- (302) 255-0735
New Castle County Court of Common Pleas
- (302) 255-0900
Justice of the Peace Court Offices
- Justice of Peace Court 9 (Middletown) - (302) 378-5221
- Justice of Peace Court 11 (New Castle) - (302) 323-4450
- Justice of Peace Court 13 (Wilmington) - (302) 323-6070
An individual seeking access to New Castle County court records through the mail should:
- Identify the New Castle County court in possession of the specific court records
- Complete an Application for Access to Court Records form
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage, and a check or money order payable to the State of Delaware through the court office responsible for the court record
- Mail the request to the appropriate court clerk’s office. For instance:
The New Castle County Superior Court’s Prothonotary’s Office
Leonard L. Williams Justice Center
500 N. King Street,
Wilmington,
DE 19801
Or
The New Castle County Family Court Clerk’s Office
900 N. King Street,
Wilmington,
DE 19801.
Fees for Court Records in New Castle County
Individuals who require copies of New Castle County court records should expect to pay fees. Obtaining copies of New Castle County court records may involve charges such as:
- Copy fees
- Certification fees
- Retrieval/archive fees
- Transcript fees.
The tables outline potential fees for accessing New Castle County court records.
New Castle County Court of Common Pleas Fees
|
Fee Type |
Cost |
|---|---|
|
Copy fee | |
|
Certified copy of documents |
$10.00 |
|
Closed file retrieval fee |
$25.00 or $35.00 for expedited retrieval |
New Castle County Family Court Schedule of Assessed Costs
|
Fee Type |
Fee |
|---|---|
|
Copy fee |
$1.00 per page |
|
Certified copy of a court record |
$4.00 for the first page and an additional $4.00 for each subsequent page |
|
Archived case retrieval |
$25.00 |
|
Faxed copy charge |
$8.00 |
|
Electronic Copy of Audio Record |
$25.00 |
|
Exemplified copy |
$5.00 per page |
|
Transcripts |
$3.93 per page, plus $2.75 for additional copies of the same document ordered at the same time. |
New Castle County Courthouse Locations
New Castle County judiciary comprises several courts with varying jurisdictions. The list below outlines the contact details of the various county-level courts in New Castle County.
New Castle County Superior Court (civil, criminal, appellate, and specialty track cases)
Leonard L. Williams Justice Center
500 North King Street
Wilmington,
DE 19801
Phone: (302) 255-0800
Fax: (302) 255-2263
New Castle County Court of Chancery (corporate disputes, equity cases, fiduciary matters, and guardianship proceedings)
500 North King Street
Wilmington,
DE 19801
Phone: (302) 255-0544
New Castle County Court of Common Pleas (handles intermediate legal matters that fall between minor disputes and major litigation)
Leonard L. Williams Justice Center
500 North King Street,
Wilmington,
DE 19801
Phone: (302) 255-0900
New Castle County Family Court (legal matters involving children and domestic relations)
Leonard L. Williams Justice Center
500 North King Street,
Wilmington,
DE 19801
Phone: (302) 255-0300
New Castle County Justice of the Peace Court (entry-level court for the majority of cases in New Castle County)
New Castle County Justice of the Peace Court 9
757 North Broad Street, Middletown Square Shopping Center,
Middletown,
DE 19709
Phone: (302) 378-5221
Email: JPCourt09@delaware.gov
New Castle County Justice of the Peace Court 10
210 Greenbank Road,
Wilmington,
DE 19808
Phone: (302) 995-8640
Fax: (302) 995-8642
New Castle County Justice of the Peace Court 11
2 Penns Way
Suite 100A,
New Castle,
DE 19720
Phone: (302) 323-4450
Fax: (302) 323-4452
Email: JPCourt11@delaware.gov
New Castle County Justice of the Peace Court 13
2 Penns Way, Suite 203,
New Castle,
DE 19720
Phone: 302-323-6070
Email: JPCourt13@delaware.gov
New Castle County Justice of the Peace Court 20
Leonard L. Williams Justice Center
500 North King Street, 7th Floor,
Wilmington,
DE 19801
Phone: (302) 574-1500
Email: JPCourt20@delaware.gov
New Castle County Aldermen’s Courts (these courts handle minor legal matters that occur specifically within town or city limits)
Newark Alderman’s Court 40
220 South Main Street,
Newark,
DE 19711
Phone: 302-366-7028
Fax: 302-366-7062
Newport Alderman’s Court 42
226 North James Street,
Newport,
DE 19804
Phone: (302) 995-1411
Fax: (302) 996-0214.
Criminal Records Access in New Castle County
A statewide criminal history records check in the State of Delaware is not conducted by New Castle County’s local courts or law enforcement agencies. Access to statewide criminal records is through the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) under the Delaware State Police. The SBI compiles criminal convictions and arrest history statewide, including New Castle County. Accessing New Castle County criminal records through the SBI typically requires fingerprinting and identification.
Notwithstanding the accessibility of comprehensive criminal records through the Delaware State Police Bureau of Identification, New Castle County courts maintain local criminal case records for matters filed and heard within the county. These records document individual cases, not a person’s complete criminal background. Interested individuals can search for basic criminal case information, such as case status and docket entries, online through the Delaware Judicial Branch’s CourtConnect portal. Inquirers can also visit New Castle County local courts and request access to publicly accessible criminal case information.
New Castle County Probate Records
New Castle County probate court records are legal documents on probate adjudications by the New Castle County Court of Chancery. Unlike most states, Delaware does not assign probate cases to county probate courts or general trial courts regardless of their complexity. Instead, the Court of Chancery handles all probate filings and estate matters. New Castle County probate court records encompass documents relating to:
- Wills and estate administrations
- Trust matters
- Guardianships
- Conservatorships
- Disputes involving estates, fiduciaries, or trusts.
Typically, probate court records contain documents, such as:
- Last Wills
- Petitions to admit a will to probate
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration
- Estate inventories listing real and personal property owned by the decedent
- Accountings, showing income, expenses, debts, and distributions made by the estate
- Notices to heirs and creditors
- Receipts and releases signed by beneficiaries after distributions
- Court orders and decrees.
Similar to other court records, New Castle County’s probate court records are public, and interested individuals may access them online through the Delaware Judicial Branch’s CourtConnect portal. However, online repositories do not provide access to full case files. While some New Castle County probate court records may be accessible online, access to older documents may require visits to the New Castle County Court of Chancery.
Inquirers should also note that not all New Castle County probate court records are publicly accessible. For instance, Delaware laws do not permit the public to access documents relating to:
- Guardianship cases involving minors
- Guardianship and conservatorship cases for incapacitated adults
- Medical and psychological reports
- Sensitive financial information
- Sealed or court-restricted probate files
- Certain trust records.
New Castle County Family Court Records
In New Castle County, the Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over legal matters involving children and domestic relations. The New Castle County Family Court has jurisdiction over divorce and annulment, child custody and visitation, child support and spousal support, adoptions, paternity, juvenile matters, and protection-from-abuse (PFA) cases.
Due to the sensitive and personal nature of family law cases, while basic case information may be available in some situations, most New Castle County family court records have limited public access. For instance, divorce cases may have limited public access, which excludes financial affidavits and custody evaluations. Similarly, the public cannot access detailed filings involving children, adoptions, juvenile proceedings, or abuse allegations.
Limited information on certain New Castle County family court cases may be accessible online through the Delaware Judicial Branch CourtConnect portal. However, eligible individuals who require full case records or certified copies of New Castle County family court records are required to visit the New Castle County Family Court clerk’s office between 8.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. (excluding weekends and holidays) at:
Leonard L. Williams Justice Center
500 North King Street,
Wilmington,
DE 19801.
Requesters should note that access to certified copies of New Castle County’s family court records requires valid government-issued photo identification documents and includes fees.
Federal Court Records in New Castle County
Federal cases arising in New Castle County fall within the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for Delaware. This court handles all federal cases within the State of Delaware, and records of these cases may be accessible online through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). Interested parties can also visit the U.S. District Court Clerk’s Office between 8.30 a.m. and 4.09 p.m. on work days (excluding holidays) at:
J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building, 844 North King Street, Unit 18,
Wilmington,
DE 19801.
Information seekers should note that access to U.S. District Court records through PACER requires registration with a valid email and billing information.
