Dover Marriage Records

Dover marriage records are held by the Kent County Clerk of the Peace at 555 Bay Road. The Delaware Office of Vital Statistics also runs its central office in Dover, so residents have two places in the same city to order a certified copy of a Dover marriage record. Use the tool below to begin searching public records. This page explains where to go, who can request Dover marriage records, and what each step costs.

Dover Marriage Records at the Clerk of the Peace

Dover is the county seat of Kent County, and the Kent County Clerk of the Peace is the first stop for Dover marriage records. The office is at 555 Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901. Call (302) 744-2346 or email Clerk@kentcountyde.gov. Walk-in hours run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Both people must show up together to apply. A valid DMV-issued ID, passport, or military ID with date of birth is required, along with proof of address. Anyone who was married before must bring a final divorce or annulment decree or a certified death certificate. If one applicant does not speak English, a translator age 18 or older must come along with ID.

The resident fee is $70, and non-residents pay $100. Payment is cash only. A 24-hour wait starts once the license is issued. The license is good for 30 days, and the ceremony must take place inside Delaware. Ceremony fees run $50 for in-state residents during regular hours and $75 after hours. Saturday ceremonies cost $100. The full rule set is at kentcountyde.gov.

Office of Vital Statistics in Dover

The state Office of Vital Statistics has its central office in Dover at 417 Federal Street. Call (302) 744-4549. Dover residents can stop by during weekday business hours for same-day service on most Dover marriage records. The office keeps files of death and marriage from 1972 forward.

Delaware marriage records released by this office are confidential under 16 Del. C. Section 3110(b). The requester must be the spouse, child, parent, or legal guardian of the person on the record. Attorneys and funeral directors can request on behalf of a client with the proper paperwork.

The state page at dhss.delaware.gov has the full program page, downloadable forms, and fees.

The page also covers records of birth from 1940 and divorce index files from 1935.

Delaware Public Archives in Dover

Dover is also home to the Delaware Public Archives at 121 Duke of York Street. The archive holds Dover marriage records older than 50 years. Call (302) 744-5000 or email archives@delaware.gov. The archive sits a short walk from Legislative Hall and the Office of Vital Statistics, so Dover residents can hit all three offices on one trip.

The research room is open to the public. Hours run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., and the first and third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The visiting guide has the room rules, including the ban on pens.

Early Kent County marriage records go back to the early 1800s. Dover-area church records from before 1913 sit at the archive as well. The archive guide shows each series by year. A certified copy of an older Dover marriage record from the archive costs $25.

Online Ordering for Dover Marriage Records

Dover residents can order a Delaware marriage certificate through one of two approved vendors. Both send the request straight to the Office of Vital Statistics just up the street.

The first vendor is GoCertificates. The site lets you upload a copy of your photo ID and, if needed, a form showing your relationship to the person on the record. Orders are processed only after staff confirm the upload is legible and the payment has cleared. The second vendor is VitalChek, which can also be reached by phone at 1-877-888-0248.

Both vendors add a small service fee on top of the state record fee. Accepted cards include American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. VitalChek has over 35 years of experience processing vital records orders.

Delaware Marriage Law and Dover Records

Dover marriage records follow state law under Title 13, Chapter 1 of the Delaware Code. Section 109 bars a marriage from being held without a license. Section 115(b) gives the officiant four days to return the signed form to the Kent County Clerk of the Peace.

Both spouses must be at least 18 years old. Section 122 asks each spouse to swear they are not of a prohibited degree of relationship. Section 128 fines any officiant who runs a ceremony without a valid license or before the 24-hour wait has ended.

The state regulation under 16 Del. C. Section 3104 lives at dhss.delaware.gov/dph/hp/vsregs. It governs how every branch office must handle Delaware marriage records, from the initial filing to the release of certified copies.

Common reasons to order a Dover marriage certificate include:

• Legal name change after marriage
• Green card or passport applications
• Insurance or pension claims
• Probate and estate work
• Genealogy research

What Is on a Dover Marriage Record

A modern Dover marriage record lists the full name of each spouse, sex, Social Security number, date of birth, occupation, and residence at the time of the marriage. Parents' names and places of birth are on the form as well. Anyone who was married before must list the date and place of the earlier marriage and how it ended. The officiant signs the record and notes the date and place of the ceremony.

Dover marriage records from before 1913 may have less data. At that time, the Recorder of Deeds in Kent County was the official who logged each marriage and sent a copy to the State Board of Health every three months. Compliance with the statewide system was not always full. Church records and family Bibles can help fill gaps.

Processing times for Dover marriage records depend on the office and the request method. In-person requests at the Kent County Clerk of the Peace or the Office of Vital Statistics central office in Dover are handled while you wait. Mail orders typically take two to four weeks. Online orders through GoCertificates or VitalChek can take a few business days to a week depending on the shipping option.

Dover residents can find a full list of local offices at the Kent County government site. The Kent County Clerk of the Peace page is the main starting point for any Dover marriage record request.

Related Pages

Dover is the county seat of Kent County. Kent County residents use the same Clerk of the Peace office in Dover for all Kent County marriage records.