Start with the Superior Court for criminal and major civil cases — Delaware only has 3 counties (New Castle, Kent, Sussex), so identifying the right court is easy. For property deeds, go to the Recorder of Deeds in each county. For chancery matters (business disputes, trusts, estates), use the Court of Chancery — this is unique to Delaware and handles most corporate litigation. For JP Court matters (misdemeanors, traffic, small claims), go to the Justice of the Peace Court.
Every source on this page is verified by SearchSystems.net — est. 1997.
Delaware Counties — Most Searched
Statewide Databases
Every link below goes directly to a government source.
How to Search Delaware Criminal Records
With only 3 counties, Delaware is one of the simplest states to search — but the records are still split across offices. CourtConnect at courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov pulls Superior Court dockets (felonies, serious misdemeanors) and also covers the Court of Common Pleas and Justice of the Peace cases. That's your free starting point. A certified criminal history requires going through the State Police SBI with fingerprints and a fee — there's no public name search for official background reports. The DOC publishes inmate lookups, and the sex offender registry is maintained by the State Police. Three counties, one CourtConnect portal — straightforward.
How to Search Delaware Court Records
Go to Superior Court for felonies and major civil cases. Go to the Court of Common Pleas for misdemeanors and civil cases under $75,000. Go to Justice of the Peace Court for small claims, landlord-tenant, and traffic. Go to the Court of Chancery for corporate disputes, trusts, and equity matters — this court is internationally known for corporate law. Go to Family Court for domestic relations and juvenile matters. Delaware has only 3 counties, so there are few courthouses to navigate.
How to Search Delaware Property Records
Start with the County Recorder of Deeds for deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded documents. For property valuations and tax assessments, go to the County Assessment Office. New Castle County (Wilmington area) has the most records online. Kent and Sussex counties have more limited online access. For tax bills, go to the County Treasurer.
How to Get Delaware Vital Records
For birth and death certificates, order from the Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Vital Statistics. For marriage licenses, go to the Clerk of the Peace in the county where you plan to marry. For divorce records, go to the Family Court. Delaware charges $25 for certified copies of vital records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I search for Delaware public records? ▼
There is no central database for Delaware records. Court filings go through the court clerk. Property ownership goes through the County Recorder of Deeds. Vital records go through the Delaware Division of Public Health or the local registrar. Each runs its own search system independently.
Why does my Delaware search return no results? ▼
Most searches fail because the wrong office is used. Each record type is maintained by a different department. If one system returns nothing, switch to the office that actually handles that record type.
Is there a single database for all Delaware records? ▼
No. There is no single database that covers all records in Delaware. Each office maintains its own system, so you must search them separately depending on the record type.
Why are so many companies incorporated in Delaware? ▼
Delaware's Court of Chancery specializes in business law with experienced judges (no juries), fast rulings, and well-established corporate case law. Over 60% of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in Delaware for these reasons. Search the Division of Corporations database at icis.corp.delaware.gov.
Is there a free statewide court search in Delaware? ▼
Yes. CourtConnect at courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov covers Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace court dockets across all 3 counties.
BBB A+ Rated