Find Delaware Court Records by Name, Case Number or Filing Court
Delaware court records are not all stored in one public database. CourtConnect provides online civil docket searches for several courts, while Family Court files, criminal-history reports, probate matters and certain court documents require different access routes.
To search Delaware civil court records by name, open the official CourtConnect system, select the person or case search, enter the person’s or business’s name, and review the resulting case information. For criminal-history certification, contact the Delaware State Police State Bureau of Identification. Family Court records require a separate request process.
Which Delaware Court Holds the Record?
Before searching a person’s name, identify the court and case type. Delaware operates several courts with different jurisdictions and public access methods. The county where a case was filed—New Castle, Kent or Sussex—can also matter when requesting documents from court staff.
Superior Court
Handles major civil disputes and serious criminal matters. Its public civil docket information is available through CourtConnect. Criminal case-file requests must be directed through the appropriate court process.
Court of Common Pleas
Provides civil docket searching through CourtConnect. Criminal records and document access should be confirmed directly with the relevant court.
Justice of the Peace Court
Handles matters including landlord-tenant disputes, smaller civil claims and certain criminal and traffic proceedings. Its civil case information can be searched through CourtConnect.
Family Court
Handles divorce, custody, support, juvenile and related matters. Personal case files are not available through a general public online Family Court case search.
Court of Chancery
Handles equitable remedies, business and corporate disputes, and certain trust matters. Docket and filing access may involve File & ServeXpress and the Register in Chancery.
Supreme Court / Register of Wills
Appeals belong to Delaware’s Supreme Court. Estate administration and probate files are ordinarily handled through the Register of Wills for the appropriate county.
The general Delaware Courts website search finds court information and webpages. CourtConnect is the specific official system for covered civil case dockets. A case may be absent from CourtConnect even though it exists in another court system.
Delaware CourtConnect: Official Civil Case Search
Delaware Courts’ Civil Case Search page identifies CourtConnect as the official online access system for public civil case information from the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas and Justice of the Peace Court.
Visitors can search by person or business name, examine civil docket activity and search for judgments. The available information can help establish a case number, the filing court, case category and reported activity. It does not mean that every filed document is downloadable.
Person or Business Name
Use this route when you know the name of a potential party but not the case number. Test the spelling carefully, examine multiple results and avoid assuming that identical names identify the same person.
Open CourtConnect search ↗Known Case Information
If you have a case number from a notice, filing or attorney, use the corresponding case lookup route. Preserve the exact letters, digits and formatting shown by the court.
View official CourtConnect access ↗Search Features That Can Improve Results
Official CourtConnect help describes partial-last-name and phonetic search options. Where those controls are available, they can help find a name when the complete spelling is uncertain.
- Exact search: Start with a reasonably accurate first or last name.
- Partial last-name search: Use the designated partial-name option if you know only part of a surname.
- Phonetic search: Use the phonetic option for possible spelling variations, where supported.
- Case type: Narrow results if the type of civil matter is known.
- Judgment search: Use the available judgment-search function when a civil judgment is the actual subject of the search.
Follow the labels displayed on the live interface; the precise screen layout and controls may change. The CourtConnect search-help documentation explains supported name-search methods.
How to Search Delaware Court Records by Name: 7 Steps
This workflow is for locating publicly accessible Delaware case information. The result is a lead to a court record, not a certified identity or criminal-background finding.
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Identify the type of case
Determine whether you need a civil lawsuit, landlord-tenant case, criminal proceeding, divorce, custody file, probate estate, Chancery dispute or appeal. The subject determines which record custodian to contact.
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Choose the correct court search
For covered civil cases, begin with CourtConnect. For Family Court, estate, criminal-history or specialist court records, use the separate official route discussed below.
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Enter the person or business name
Search the name as accurately as possible. For businesses, try the formal entity name. Avoid submitting Social Security numbers or unrelated private identifiers.
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Use appropriate name variations
If the first search fails, try the available partial or phonetic search options, alternate surnames, known former names or another reasonable spelling.
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Compare the case details
Check the court, case number, filing date, party role, case category and available docket entries. Do not identify a person from a matching name alone.
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Read the docket and locate the needed document
Record the case number and identify the specific order, judgment or filing. If the portal provides an index without the underlying document, contact the maintaining court.
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Verify the record with the court
For an official copy, a final disposition or a consequential use, contact the filing court’s clerk or records department and ask for the required access or certification process.
A person with a similar name is not necessarily the person involved in a case. A criminal charge is not a conviction, a civil complaint is not a judgment and a docket update does not necessarily establish the final outcome.
Delaware Criminal Court Records and Certified Criminal History
Searching an individual criminal case and obtaining a certified statewide criminal-history report are two different tasks.
Delaware courts maintain their respective case files, while requests for a certified Delaware criminal-history record are directed to the Delaware State Police State Bureau of Identification (SBI). CourtConnect’s civil search is not a substitute for either process.
| Record Needed | Correct Starting Point | Important Difference |
|---|---|---|
| One criminal court case | Court handling the proceeding | Ask about public case-file availability, disposition or certified orders. |
| Certified Delaware criminal history | Delaware State Police SBI | Uses a fingerprint-based process, subject to applicable rules. |
| Expunged or sealed records | Authorized court or agency procedure | Public access may be restricted or prohibited. |
| Federal criminal case | U.S. federal court / PACER | Not maintained in Delaware’s state civil CourtConnect system. |
Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Requests
The SBI uses a fingerprint-enrollment process for certified reports. Delaware State Police lists a $72 fee for a certified Delaware criminal history and $85 for a combined Delaware and federal criminal history when that combined check is legally required. The agency provides registration instructions, service codes and appointment information.
The State Police identifies service code 27RVGT for a personal certified Delaware criminal-history report. It states that a personal report does not fulfill the requirements of legally mandated agencies or organizations. For an agency-requested check, obtain the correct service code from the requesting organization.
Fees, service codes and enrollment requirements can change. Confirm them with the State Police before registering or paying.
How to Access Delaware Family Court Records
Delaware Family Court handles sensitive proceedings, including divorce, custody, child support and juvenile matters. Its website explains that personal Family Court case files cannot be accessed electronically through a public case-information search.
For an eligible file-review request, the Family Court recommends arranging an appointment with the Records Department in the county holding the file. Photo identification is required when reviewing a file in person, and staff supervise the review.
The published Family Court records-room hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding legal holidays. The court also lists monthly afternoon service interruptions: the third Friday in New Castle County and the third Thursday in Kent and Sussex counties, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Confirm availability before visiting.
Legal documents may be copyable subject to fees and access rules. Confidential social documents, including certain evaluations and investigations, are not generally available without proper judicial authorization. File retrieval can take longer when records are archived or temporarily held by court personnel.
Parties or their authorized attorneys seeking an electronic hearing-audio copy must follow the Family Court’s application rules, including its specified audio-record request form.
Delaware Court of Chancery Records
The Delaware Court of Chancery is particularly relevant to business and corporate litigation, fiduciary disputes, trusts and requests for equitable relief. These cases should not automatically be routed to a general civil trial-court search.
Access to Chancery docket information and filed pleadings may involve separate systems and public access arrangements. The Register in Chancery can explain how to identify the correct case and obtain accessible filings. File & ServeXpress may be relevant to some document-access workflows and may charge fees.
When looking for a corporate case, search the business’s full legal name, note the Chancery case number and determine whether the desired record is a docket entry, complaint, order or final opinion.
Before paying for an external document service, confirm whether the desired filing can be inspected through the court’s public access arrangements or obtained directly from the Register in Chancery.
Find official Court of Chancery locations and contact routes ↗
Probate, Estates and Register of Wills
If your search concerns a deceased person’s estate, a will, appointment of a personal representative or probate administration, identify the appropriate county Register of Wills. Estate administration is not the same as a Chancery civil lawsuit, even though disputes concerning estates or trusts may reach the Court of Chancery.
Prepare the deceased person’s full name, approximate date of death and likely county of estate administration. Ask the Register of Wills about available indexes, archived files, document-copy rules and applicable certification fees.
Delaware Court Records by County
Delaware has three counties. The correct courthouse depends on the case type and location, not simply on where the person currently lives.
New Castle County
Wilmington is a principal location for Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, Family Court and Court of Chancery services.
Use the Judiciary’s court-specific directory to find the current records counter and contact details.
Kent County
Dover serves as a major location for Delaware court proceedings, including Superior Court and other judicial functions.
Identify the filing court before requesting records from a Dover courthouse.
Sussex County
Georgetown houses major county court operations, while Justice of the Peace courts may serve other locations.
Confirm the current building and records department before visiting.
Courthouse assignments, office locations and public counter hours can change. Use the official Delaware Courts location directory for the precise court you need.
Delaware Court Record Copies, Certification and Fees
Finding a case online is only the first step when you need a filed document. The responsible records office may offer plain photocopies, certified copies or exemplified copies, depending on the court and document.
| Record or Service | Published Fee / Access | Where to Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| CourtConnect civil docket search | Public online civil case access; other records services may involve charges | Delaware Courts civil search page |
| Superior Court certified copy | $15 for a document up to three pages; additional copying charges may apply | Superior Court fee schedule |
| Superior Court exemplified copy | $25 for a document up to three pages; additional copying charges may apply | Superior Court fee schedule |
| Superior Court closed-case retrieval | $25 standard; $50 expedited | Superior Court fee schedule |
| Court of Common Pleas certified copy | $10 listed fee | Court of Common Pleas fee schedule |
| Court of Common Pleas closed-file retrieval | $25 standard; $35 expedited | Court of Common Pleas fee schedule |
| Family Court file copies | Depends on copy and authentication type | Family Court Schedule of Assessed Costs |
These amounts refer to the stated services, not to every Delaware court. Filing a lawsuit, retrieving an archived file, producing a transcript and obtaining a certified document can involve different charges.
Official fee references: Superior Court fees and Court of Common Pleas fees.
Information to Prepare Before Requesting a Copy
- The exact court and Delaware county.
- The complete case number, if available.
- The names of the case parties.
- The filing year or approximate date.
- The particular order, judgment, complaint or docket entry required.
- Whether an ordinary, certified or exemplified copy is needed.
- Your contact information and any identification or authorization required by the court.
If the document will be submitted to another court, government office or institution, ask the receiving authority what level of authentication is required before purchasing a copy.
What If Your Delaware Court Records Search Shows No Results?
An empty result in CourtConnect does not prove that a court case does not exist. The filing may belong to another court, be outside the portal’s available coverage, have a different party name or be subject to an access restriction.
| Problem | Possible Explanation | Next Action |
|---|---|---|
| No match for a person’s name | Different spelling, name variation or search setting | Try partial or phonetic name search where available. |
| Known criminal case absent | CourtConnect is not a comprehensive criminal-history portal | Contact the criminal case court or SBI for the appropriate record type. |
| Divorce or custody case absent | Family Court uses a separate records process | Request file access through the appropriate Family Court Records Department. |
| Docket exists but document missing | Case indexing and filed-document access are different services | Contact the clerk or applicable document service. |
| Very old case not visible | Archived, microfilmed or older records may require manual retrieval | Ask the maintaining court about closed-case and archive procedures. |
| Record unavailable to the public | Statutory confidentiality, sealing or other lawful restriction | Ask whether an authorized access procedure exists; do not attempt to bypass restrictions. |
When to Contact the Clerk
Contact the responsible court when the exact case number does not work, a filing is missing, you need the final disposition, an older case requires manual retrieval or you must obtain a court-authenticated document.
Explain precisely what you are looking for. Ask whether the record is available for public inspection, whether you must submit a written request, whether fees apply and whether the file is stored off-site.
Docket, Case File, Judgment and Criminal History: Important Differences
Court Docket
A chronological listing of recorded case activity. It can show filings and events without providing the actual contents of every document.
Filed Court Document
An individual complaint, motion, order, judgment or other filing. Access depends on the court’s rules and whether the document is public.
Certified Court Copy
A copy authenticated by the appropriate court official. The document and certification must come from the proper custodian.
Criminal-History Report
A separate record product produced through an authorized criminal-history process. It is not interchangeable with one case docket.
PublicCourtRecords.org is an independent informational publisher. It does not provide official court records or consumer reports. Do not use this article or its search guidance as an employment, housing, credit, insurance or other eligibility-screening report. Follow applicable law and use authorized services when a regulated check is required.
Official Delaware Court Records Resources
Use these government websites and official court systems to verify search coverage, records access and current procedures.
Official starting point for covered civil case dockets, person and business names, judgments and case activity.
Visit the official civil case search ↗Court-specific public access policies and restrictions on records.
Review official access policies ↗Rules for supervised file inspection, appointments, identification, copies and restricted records.
Read Family Court records guidance ↗Fingerprinting, certified criminal-history services, applicable charges and enrollment guidance.
View criminal-history instructions ↗Official directories for court-specific contact information, addresses, locations and public service hours.
Find Delaware courts ↗Frequently Asked Questions About Delaware Court Records
Can I search Delaware court records by name for free?
Delaware’s official CourtConnect system provides public online access to covered civil docket information. The search system should not be confused with paid certified copies, closed-file retrieval or third-party document services.
Is CourtConnect a statewide criminal-records search?
No. CourtConnect is described by the Delaware Judiciary as an online civil case information service for specified courts. Certified Delaware criminal-history reports are handled through the Delaware State Police State Bureau of Identification.
Does Delaware have one public database for every court case?
No. CourtConnect covers designated civil matters. Family Court, Court of Chancery documents, probate files, criminal-history reports and other records have separate access arrangements.
How do I look up a Delaware civil judgment?
Begin with the official CourtConnect civil case search and select the applicable judgment-search option. Confirm the court, parties, case number and judgment details before relying on the result.
Can I access Delaware divorce or custody files online?
Delaware Family Court states that personal case files are not available electronically through its public website. Eligible requesters should contact the appropriate county Family Court Records Department to arrange access.
Where do I get a certified Delaware court record?
Contact the court that maintains the original case file. Provide its case number and identify the exact document. Copy, certification and exemplification fees vary by court.
Why does a Delaware name search show nothing?
The case may be in a different court, recorded under a different name, archived, outside the portal’s coverage or restricted from public view. Check spelling, court type and county before contacting the clerk.
Are Delaware juvenile and sealed records public?
Not necessarily. Juvenile, sealed, expunged and otherwise confidential records may be restricted by law or court order. Access requires a legally authorized route.
Can I use Delaware court records for an employment background check?
This informational guide is not a consumer report or background-screening service. Employment or other regulated eligibility checks require compliance with applicable laws and the appropriate authorized process.
How can I find an older Delaware court file?
Identify the original court and case number, then ask its records department about closed-file retrieval, off-site storage, microfilm or archives. Retrieval fees and processing times may apply.