New Castle Divorce Records

New Castle divorce records are held at the New Castle County Family Court in Wilmington, not in the city of New Castle itself. The city was once Delaware's colonial capital and still has the historic New Castle Court House as a museum, but modern divorce filings are handled in Wilmington. The Family Court at 500 N. King Street holds case files for every New Castle divorce granted from 1975 forward. You can search New Castle divorce records in person, by mail, or through the state's CourtConnect online portal.

Where to Find New Castle Divorce Records

New Castle is part of New Castle County, so divorce records for the city go to the New Castle County Family Court at 500 N. King Street, Wilmington. The Records Department can be reached at (302) 255-2222. The city of New Castle is just 7 miles south of Wilmington, which makes in-person visits practical for most residents. The drive runs 15 to 20 minutes.

The City of New Castle does not keep divorce records. The city does manage local history sites, including the historic New Castle Court House, which was the heart of Delaware's colonial judicial system. That building is now a museum and no longer handles court business. All active divorce cases and records are in Wilmington.

How to Search New Castle Divorce Records

New Castle residents have three options. Online is fastest through the CourtConnect portal, which shows case numbers, names, filing dates, and docket entries for every Family Court case in Delaware. It does not carry the full decree. For that, you go to Wilmington or mail a request.

In person, you visit the Records Department at 500 N. King Street, Suite 110. Staff can pull recent files on the spot. Bring a government-issued photo ID. Mail requests go to the same address. Include both party names, divorce date, your contact info, and payment. Mail processing runs one to two weeks.

Items to have ready for a New Castle divorce records search:

• Full names of both parties at time of divorce
• Rough year the case was filed
• Case number if known
• Photo ID for certified copies

The short trip from New Castle to Wilmington means in-person visits are the most common option for residents who want immediate results.

New Castle Divorce Records Fees

Fees follow the Delaware schedule. A certified copy of a New Castle 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. Mail orders need a check or money order made out to the Family Court.

The DHSS Vital Statistics office in Newark at 258 Chapman Road offers divorce verification letters at $25 for the first copy and $10 for each added copy. A verification just confirms a divorce took place. It is not the full decree.

New Castle Property Records

The New Castle County Recorder of Deeds at 800 N. French Street, Wilmington, keeps property records for the city of New Castle. The image below shows the Recorder's Office that handles land records.

Online deed searches let you look up records by grantor or grantee name. Quitclaim deeds and partition deeds from New Castle divorces are filed here as separate instruments. Copies are $2 per page with an added fee for certified copies. Given New Castle's age, the Recorder's Office holds property records going back to the 17th century.

Delaware Divorce Laws for New Castle

New Castle 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 come from Title 13, Chapter 7.

Historical New Castle Divorce Records

New Castle was Delaware's colonial capital, so historical records run deep. The Delaware Public Archives has a dedicated New Castle town history page covering records from the colonial and early American periods. The Archives hold divorce proceedings from the 18th and 19th centuries that pre-date the unified state court system. The image below shows the Archives resource used for New Castle historical research.

For researchers, New Castle is a key place for colonial-era legal history. The old Court House still stands as a museum, and the Archives in Dover hold the actual case files. Copy fees at the Archives are $0.50 per page.

For records between 1935 and 1975, the New Castle County Prothonotary's Office at 500 N. King Street, Wilmington, holds Superior Court divorce files. Fees are $15 for the first three pages of a certified copy and $2 per page after that.

Types of New Castle Divorce Records

A New Castle divorce file has the standard set of Delaware documents. The petition opens the case. An answer or waiver comes next. Financial disclosures, proof of service, and temporary orders get added. When children are part of the case, a parenting plan and custody order go in the file. The final divorce decree ends the marriage and completes the record.

Most of a New Castle divorce file is public. Tax returns and child-related reports may be sealed or redacted. Certified copies are needed for legal filings like name changes, passport updates, or remarriage.

Legal Help for New Castle Divorce

Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI) serves New Castle 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 New Castle residents with a family law attorney in Wilmington.

Divorce Verification for New Castle

For New Castle residents who just need to confirm a divorce took place, the DHSS Vital Statistics Newark office at 258 Chapman Road offers verification letters. The fee is $25 for the first letter and $10 for each added copy. A verification only confirms the event and the county. It is not the full decree. For legal filings that need the decree, the Family Court record is the right source.

Nearby Cities

Other New Castle County cities use the same Family Court in Wilmington. Pick a city below for local info.

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