| Prothonotary (Superior Court) | Superior Court Prothonotary — New Castle County |
|---|---|
| Register of Wills | New Castle County Register of Wills |
| Clerk address | Leonard L. Williams Justice Center (Superior Court Prothonotary, Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, Register in Chancery), 500 N. King St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Register of Wills: 800 N. French St., 2nd Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801 |
| Phone | Superior Court Prothonotary (302) 255-0800; Register of Wills (302) 395-7800 |
| Hours | Prothonotary: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. Register of Wills: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm, closed noon-1pm. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $2.00 per page (Superior Court Prothonotary; up to $8.00 per page for fax copies) |
| Certified copy fee | $15.00 for a certified copy of a document up to 3 pages (Superior Court); $25.00 for an exemplified copy up to 3 pages |
New Castle County is Delaware's largest county and home to Wilmington, where the state's main courthouse — the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center — holds the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Family Court all under one roof. The Prothonotary at the Justice Center is the clerk of the Superior Court and keeps felony criminal and general civil case files; the Register in Chancery, in the same building, is the clerk for Court of Chancery filings, most of which are business and corporate disputes.
Probate is separate from all of that. The New Castle County Register of Wills, an elected county office at 800 N. French St. in Wilmington, handles wills and estate administration and, unlike the state courts, runs its own free online Will Search and Affidavit Search tools.
Most county residents looking for a case will start with CourtConnect for Superior Court, Common Pleas, or Justice of the Peace Court matters, and the Register of Wills' own search for anything related to a deceased person's estate. Court of Chancery cases — common for anyone dealing with a Delaware-incorporated business — are not on CourtConnect and require the paid File & Serve Delaware system instead.
Search New Castle County court records online
Prothonotary (Superior Court)
Superior Court Prothonotary — New Castle County
- Cost
- Free index search on CourtConnect; copy fees apply per the Superior Court fee schedule
- Coverage
- Superior Court felony criminal and general civil case files for New Castle County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal
Located in the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 N. King St., Wilmington. Search case information on CourtConnect; request copies from the Prothonotary's office directly.
Register of Wills
New Castle County Register of Wills
- Cost
- Free will and affidavit search online; copy and filing fees apply for estate documents
- Coverage
- Probate, will safekeeping, and small-estate affidavits for New Castle County
- Records
- Probate
This is a separately elected county office, not a division of the state court system. It runs its own free online Will Search and Affidavit Search tools.
Other courts
Court of Chancery — Register in Chancery (New Castle County)
- Cost
- Free to view opinions; case dockets require a paid File & Serve Delaware account
- Coverage
- Corporate, trust, and other equity cases filed in the Court of Chancery
- Records
- Civil
Based in the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center. Not searchable on CourtConnect; dockets are on the paid File & Serve Delaware system.
Other courts
Court of Common Pleas — New Castle County
- Cost
- Free index search on CourtConnect
- Coverage
- Misdemeanor criminal cases, DUI, civil claims up to $75,000, and landlord-tenant appeals
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
Also in the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center; searchable through CourtConnect.
Other courts
Family Court — New Castle County
- Cost
- Not applicable; most records are confidential
- Coverage
- Divorce, custody, child support, protection from abuse, and juvenile matters for New Castle County
- Records
- Family
Most Family Court files, especially juvenile and child-related matters, are confidential and not on CourtConnect.
Other courts
Justice of the Peace Court Locations — New Castle County
- Cost
- Free index search on CourtConnect
- Coverage
- Small claims, landlord-tenant, traffic, and minor criminal cases across multiple JP Court locations in the county
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
New Castle County JP courts include JP Court 13 (civil), JP Court 9 in Middletown (civil and criminal), JP Court 11 in New Castle (criminal, open 24 hours), and JP Court 20 in Wilmington (criminal); each has its own clerk's office, and the state locations page links to hours, address, and phone for each.
What is available online
CourtConnect covers Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace Court dockets for New Castle County going back many years for basic case information, though document images are not always available online and may require a request to the Prothonotary or clerk. Court of Chancery case dockets are not on CourtConnect at all. The Register of Wills' Will Search and Affidavit Search tools are separate, county-run systems and are the only way to search probate filings online.
Which clerk has your record
In Delaware, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Delaware page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Court of Chancery | Corporate and business disputes; Trusts, estates, and other fiduciary matters; Disputes over real property title | Register in Chancery |
| Superior Court | Felony criminal cases; Civil suits with no dollar limit; Appeals from the Court of Common Pleas and administrative agencies | Prothonotary of the county |
| Family Court | Divorce, custody, and child support; Juvenile delinquency; Protection from abuse petitions | Clerk of Family Court (Family Court Commissioner's office handles some filings) |
| Court of Common Pleas | Misdemeanor criminal cases and DUI; Civil claims up to $75,000; Preliminary hearings for felony cases | Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas |
| Justice of the Peace Court | Small claims and civil cases under $15,000; Landlord-tenant and eviction cases; Traffic and minor criminal offenses | Clerk of the individual Justice of the Peace Court |
Request records in person or by mail
New Castle County clerk offices
Leonard L. Williams Justice Center (Superior Court Prothonotary, Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, Register in Chancery), 500 N. King St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Register of Wills: 800 N. French St., 2nd Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: Superior Court Prothonotary (302) 255-0800; Register of Wills (302) 395-7800
Hours: Prothonotary: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. Register of Wills: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm, closed noon-1pm.
Superior Court records. Search CourtConnect first. For copies or documents not shown online, contact the Prothonotary's office at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 N. King St., Wilmington, in person or by mail. Include the case number if known, the documents needed, and whether you need plain, certified, or exemplified copies.
Court of Chancery records. Contact the Register in Chancery at the Justice Center, or use the paid File & Serve Delaware system for docket access. Chancery opinions are free on the Delaware Courts opinions page.
Court of Common Pleas and Family Court records. Common Pleas dockets are on CourtConnect; Family Court records are largely confidential and require contacting the Family Court clerk directly with the case details and a description of your relationship to the case.
Probate and will records. Use the Register of Wills' free online Will Search or Affidavit Search, or contact the office at 800 N. French St. for estate files, small-estate affidavits, or genealogy research. Appointments are required to open or close an estate.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Delaware |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $2.00 per page (Superior Court Prothonotary; up to $8.00 per page for fax copies) |
| Certified copy | $15.00 for a certified copy of a document up to 3 pages (Superior Court); $25.00 for an exemplified copy up to 3 pages |
Figures are from the Superior Court's published Civil & Criminal Fees schedule (Civil Rule 77(h)): $2.00 maximum per page for plain copies, $8.00 maximum per page for fax copies, $15.00 for a certified copy and $25.00 for an exemplified copy of a document up to 3 pages, with the regular per-page charge added beyond 3 pages. Retrieving a closed case file costs $25.00 ($50.00 expedited). The Court of Common Pleas and Justice of the Peace Court publish their own fee schedules and amounts can differ, and Register of Wills copy fees are set separately by each county. Checks are payable to "The State of Delaware."
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Delaware court records are presumed open under each court's public-access policy, but the specific rules differ by court: Administrative Directive No. 2000-5 governs public access to Superior Court judicial records, and Administrative Directive No. 2007-2 governs access to Court of Common Pleas records. Justice of the Peace Court has separate policies for judicial and administrative records. Family Court records are confidential far more often than not, especially juvenile delinquency, dependency/neglect, and child-support matters.
The Delaware guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I search for a New Castle County court case?
Use CourtConnect for Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, or Justice of the Peace Court cases. Court of Chancery cases require the paid File & Serve Delaware system, and Family Court records are largely confidential and not searchable online.
Is there a free way to search wills or estates in New Castle County?
Yes. The New Castle County Register of Wills runs a free online Will Search and a separate Affidavit Search for small-estate affidavits, both linked from the Register of Wills' website.
Where is the New Castle County courthouse?
The Leonard L. Williams Justice Center at 500 N. King St. in Wilmington houses the Superior Court Prothonotary, Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, and the Register in Chancery. The Register of Wills is a few blocks away at 800 N. French St.
How do I get a certified copy of a Superior Court document in New Castle County?
Request it from the Prothonotary's office in person or by mail, and specify that you need a certified (or exemplified) copy rather than a plain copy, since the fees differ.
Does New Castle County have its own criminal history search?
No. Criminal history checks are handled statewide by the Delaware State Police State Bureau of Identification, not by any New Castle County office; it is a fingerprint-based process done by appointment.
Sources
- Superior Court — New Castle County Location — https://courts.delaware.gov/locations/superior_nc.aspx
- Court of Common Pleas — New Castle County Location — https://courts.delaware.gov/locations/ccp_nc.aspx
- Family Court — New Castle County Location — https://courts.delaware.gov/locations/family_nc.aspx
- Court of Chancery — https://courts.delaware.gov/chancery/
- New Castle County Register of Wills — https://www.newcastlede.gov/152/Register-of-Wills
- New Castle County Will Search — https://www3.newcastlede.gov/will/search/
- Justice of the Peace Court Locations — https://courts.delaware.gov/locations/jpcourt.aspx
- Delaware Courts — An Overview of the Delaware Court System — https://courts.delaware.gov/overview.aspx
- Superior Court — Civil & Criminal Fees — https://courts.delaware.gov/superior/fees.aspx
- Delaware Courts CourtConnect — https://courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov/cc/cconnect/ck_public_qry_main.cp_main_idx
- Delaware Courts eFlex — https://eflex.courts.delaware.gov/ecf/
- Delaware Courts — Policy on Public Access to Judicial Records — https://courts.delaware.gov/help/recordaccess.aspx
- Delaware Superior Court — Civil and Criminal Fees — https://courts.delaware.gov/superior/fees.aspx
- Delaware State Police — Obtaining a Certified Criminal History — https://dsp.delaware.gov/obtaining-a-certified-criminal-history/
- Delaware Courts — Opinions & Orders — https://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/
- Delaware Code Title 11, Chapter 43, Subchapter VII — Expungement of Criminal Records — https://delcode.delaware.gov/title11/c043/sc07/index.html
- Delaware Code Title 12, Chapter 25 — Register of Wills — https://delcode.delaware.gov/title12/c025/index.html
- United States District Court for the District of Delaware — https://www.ded.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Delaware counties.