Find Dover Divorce Records
Dover divorce records are kept at the Kent County Family Court, right in the state capital. Dover sits in the center of Delaware and serves as the seat of Kent County. The Family Court at 400 Court Street holds case files for every Dover divorce granted from 1975 to today. You can search Dover divorce records in person, by mail, or through the state's free CourtConnect portal. Dover residents enjoy the easiest access of any Kent County city since the court is right inside city limits.
Dover Overview
Where to Find Dover Divorce Records
Dover is the seat of Kent County, so all divorce records from the city go to the Kent County Family Court at 400 Court Street. The city government does not keep divorce records. The Dover city portal directs residents to the county Family Court for any divorce-related request. City government does handle Freedom of Information Act requests for city records like property assessments, but those are not part of the court file.
The Records Department at the Kent County Family Court is open during business hours. Staff can pull the file, issue certified copies, and answer questions at (302) 255-0300. Since the court is in town, many Dover residents just walk in, show ID, and get what they need the same day.
How to Search Dover Divorce Records
Dover gives you three ways to search divorce records. Online is fastest. The CourtConnect portal is the state's free search tool. It shows case numbers, party names, filing dates, and docket entries for every Kent County Family Court case. It does not show the full decree. For the decree itself you must visit the court or mail a request.
In person, go to 400 Court Street with a photo ID. Staff can pull recent cases and make copies the same day. Older records may need a short wait if they are stored off-site. Mail requests work well if you cannot walk in. Send a letter to Family Court Records at the same address. Include party names, divorce date, your contact info, and payment by check or money order.
To run a case search, have ready:
- Full legal names of both parties
- Rough year the case was filed
- Case number if you know it
- Photo ID for in-person or certified requests
Mail processing runs seven to ten business days for most cases. Call ahead during busy periods to check current wait times.
Dover Divorce Records Fees
Fees at the Kent County Family Court follow the state schedule. A certified copy of a Dover divorce decree costs $4 for the first copy. Each added copy at the same time is $1. Non-certified copies are $1 per page. Cash, check, money order, and credit cards are all taken. Mail requests need a check or money order made out to the court.
The DHSS Vital Statistics office sits in Dover too, at 417 Federal Street in the Jesse Cooper Building. That office issues divorce verification letters at $25 for the first letter and $10 for each added copy. A verification just confirms a divorce took place. It is not the decree. It can work for some routine uses but not for court filings that need a certified copy.
Tip: Confirm the current fee for Dover divorce records by calling (302) 255-0300 before you mail payment.
Dover Historical Divorce Records
Dover is the home of the Delaware Public Archives, located at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. North, just a few blocks from the Family Court. Dover residents have the shortest trip in the state to reach historic divorce records. The Archives hold divorce files from before 1935 and some later cases transferred under retention rules. The screenshot below shows the Archives, the state's official home for historic records.
The Archives offer a research room open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Copy fees are $0.50 per page. Staff can help locate Kent County files through printed guides and online indexes. Researchers working on family history often visit the Archives and the Family Court on the same day to cover both current and historic records.
For records between 1935 and 1975, the Kent County Prothonotary's Office at 38 The Green, Dover, is the right stop. That office handles Superior Court files from the era before the Family Court was set up.
Delaware Divorce Laws for Dover
Dover divorce cases follow Title 13, Chapter 15 of the Delaware Code. Residency is six months in Delaware under 13 Del. C. § 1504. Grounds include irretrievable breakdown, incompatibility, and misconduct under 13 Del. C. § 1505. Property is split through equitable distribution under 13 Del. C. § 1513.
Child custody rules are in Title 13, Chapter 7. The court uses the best interest of the child standard. Custody orders and parenting plans become part of the divorce file. Spouses can live in the same home but must keep separate bed and board for the six-month separation period that supports a no-fault ground.
What Dover Divorce Records Contain
A Dover divorce record holds every document filed in the case. The petition for divorce starts the file. It states the grounds and what the petitioner wants. The other spouse files an answer or signs a waiver. Financial disclosures, proof of service, and any temporary orders get added. If children are part of the case, a parenting plan and custody order go in too. The final divorce decree is the last piece and ends the marriage.
Most of a Dover divorce file is open to the public. You do not need to be a party to ask for a copy. Tax returns and other financial source papers may be sealed or restricted. Items that relate to minor children often have limited access. The Records Department redacts account numbers and social security numbers from public copies.
Dover Local Resources
The Kent County Recorder of Deeds at 555 Bay Road in Dover holds land records that may include property transfers tied to divorce settlements. The image below shows the Recorder's Office that handles these filings.
Quitclaim and partition deeds signed as part of a divorce are recorded here as separate instruments. Online searches by grantor or grantee name make it easier to trace how marital real estate changed hands after a Dover divorce.
For legal help, Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI) has a Dover office and a family law unit for low-income residents. Legal Services Corporation of Delaware handles civil cases including divorce. The Delaware State Bar Association runs a referral service for Dover family law attorneys. The Family Court also offers self-help guides and standardized forms online for those filing without a lawyer.
Note: Dover is a short drive from all the offices that matter for divorce records. The Family Court, the Archives, the Prothonotary, and the Recorder of Deeds are all within a few miles of downtown.
Nearby Cities
Other Kent County cities use the same Family Court in Dover. Milford straddles Kent and Sussex, so records there may be in either court. Pick a city below to see local info.
For broader info, see the Kent County page or browse all Delaware counties.