Find Harrington Divorce Records

Harrington divorce records are kept at the Kent County Family Court in Dover, about 15 miles north. Harrington is known as the "Hub of Delaware" due to its central location, and that same spot makes it easy to reach both the Family Court and the state's historic records in Dover. The court at 400 Court Street holds case files for every Harrington divorce granted from 1975 forward. To search Harrington divorce records, you can visit the court, send a written request, or use the state's free CourtConnect portal.

Where to Find Harrington Divorce Records

Harrington is part of Kent County. All Harrington divorce filings go to the Kent County Family Court at 400 Court Street, Dover, DE 19901. The Records Department can be reached at (302) 255-0300. The drive from Harrington to Dover runs about 25 minutes. The image below shows the City of Harrington portal, which points residents to the right county court.

The Harrington city government does not keep divorce records. The city handles municipal services and Freedom of Information Act requests for city records. The city FOIA Coordinator, Emma Werner, is at (302) 398-4476 for non-court record requests.

Harrington City Clerk and FOIA Requests

Harrington residents sometimes need non-court records as part of a divorce case. The city handles FOIA requests through the City Clerk at 106 Dorman St., Harrington, DE 19952. The image below shows the city's FOIA request page.

Property assessments, code violations, and police reports may be useful in a divorce case. Those are all city records, not court records. The Family Court handles the actual divorce file. The City Clerk handles requests for local records that may support a case.

The FOIA Coordinator, Emma Werner, accepts written requests at the city hall address. Delaware's FOIA law sets response timelines for public bodies, and the city follows those rules for local records. The process is separate from any court request for a divorce file.

Types of Harrington Divorce Records

A Harrington divorce file has the standard set of Delaware documents. The petition for divorce starts the case. An answer or waiver follows. Financial disclosures, proof of service, and temporary orders get added through the case. When children are part of the case, a parenting plan and custody order go in the file. The final divorce decree ends the marriage.

Most of a Harrington divorce file is public. Tax returns, bank statements, and child-related reports may be sealed or redacted. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, and home addresses get blacked out before release. Certified copies of the decree are needed for legal filings like name changes or remarriage applications.

Harrington residents who want a full look at an old case can visit the Kent County Family Court in person. Staff will often let you review a public file on site before you decide which pages you need copied. This can keep copy fees down on long files.

Researchers tracing older Harrington cases may also find useful material in the Kent County property records and state Archives indexes. Both use name-based searches that work even when exact dates are not known.

How to Search Harrington Divorce Records

Three options work for Harrington residents. The CourtConnect portal is the fastest for basic case info. It shows case numbers, names, filing dates, and docket entries for every Kent County Family Court case. It does not show the full decree.

In person, you can drive to Dover and visit the Records Department at 400 Court Street. Staff pull most recent cases on the spot. Bring a photo ID for certified copies. Mail requests go to the same address. Include both party names, divorce date, your contact info, and payment by check or money order. Mail processing runs seven to ten business days.

To run a Harrington divorce records search, have ready:

• Full names of both spouses
• Rough year the case was filed
• Case number if known
• Photo ID for certified requests

Harrington Divorce Records Fees

Fees follow the state schedule. A certified copy of a Harrington divorce decree is $4 for the first copy and $1 for each added copy at the same time. Non-certified copies are $1 per page. Cash, check, money order, and credit cards are all taken at the counter. Mail requests need a check or money order made out to the Kent County Family Court.

The DHSS Vital Statistics office in Dover at 417 Federal Street offers divorce verification letters at $25 for the first and $10 for each added copy. This confirms a divorce took place but is not the full decree.

Harrington Property Records

The Kent County Recorder of Deeds at 555 Bay Road, Dover, holds property records for Harrington. The image below shows the Recorder's Office that handles land records for the region.

Quitclaim and partition deeds from Harrington divorces are filed here as separate instruments. Online searches let you look up records by grantor or grantee name. Copies are $1 per page with an added fee for certified copies.

Delaware Divorce Laws for Harrington

Harrington 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 follows Title 13, Chapter 7.

Harrington Historical Divorce Records

For Harrington divorce cases between 1935 and 1975, the Kent County Prothonotary's Office at 38 The Green, Dover, holds Superior Court files. The office keeps records in folders, bound volumes, and on microfilm. Name indexes cover the full period. Fees are $15 for the first three pages of a certified copy and $2 per page after that.

For records older than 1935, the Delaware Public Archives in Dover is the main source. Harrington's central Delaware location means the Archives are about 20 miles away, easy for a day trip. The Archives hold Kent County Court of Common Pleas files and older Superior Court records.

Legal Help for Harrington Divorce

Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI) serves Harrington residents with a family law unit for those who qualify. Legal Services Corporation of Delaware handles civil divorce cases. The Family Court has self-help forms online. The Delaware State Bar Association referral service can connect Harrington residents with a family law attorney in Dover.

Nearby Cities

Other Kent County cities use the same Family Court in Dover. Pick a city below for local info.

See the Kent County page for more or browse all Delaware counties.