Lewes Marriage Records Lookup

Lewes marriage records are held by the Sussex County Clerk of the Peace through the Marriage Bureau in Georgetown. Lewes is a popular beach wedding spot thanks to Cape Henlopen State Park, but the license still comes from the county office, not from Lewes City Hall. Use the search tool below to begin looking up Lewes marriage records. This page covers each office, the fees, the rules, and tips for beach ceremonies.

Lewes Marriage Records at the Sussex County Marriage Bureau

Lewes residents file for a marriage license at the Sussex County Marriage Bureau. The office is at 2 The Circle, 2nd Floor Room 226, Georgetown, DE 19947. Call (302) 853-1717 to book an appointment. The bureau is about a 20-minute drive inland from Lewes. The Marriage Bureau issues licenses, runs Memorable Marriage ceremonies, and provides certified copies of Lewes marriage records.

Both people must appear together with a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. Proof of residence is required for the in-state fee. The office takes cash or credit card. The resident fee is $50 plus a $20 recording fee. Non-residents pay $100 plus the recording fee.

The Lewes FAQ points couples to the Georgetown office for the license and provides more detail on local rules.

The page notes that the Marriage Bureau is the right place for every Lewes marriage record, regardless of where the ceremony takes place in the county.

The license is valid 24 hours after the application and expires 30 days from that date. The ceremony must take place inside Delaware. Active-duty U.S. military members and veterans pay no fee.

Beach Weddings in Lewes

Lewes sits where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean at Cape Henlopen. The state park offers wide beaches, nature trails, and bird sanctuaries. Couples love the sunrise over the bay and the coastal feel of the town.

Beach weddings in Lewes tend to book before 9 a.m. or after 5:30 p.m. in the summer to avoid the midday heat and larger crowds. The off-season months give more room on the calendar. Couples must still get the license from the Sussex County Marriage Bureau before the ceremony.

Beach ceremonies are best scheduled at either end of the day. The couple still needs a valid license from the Sussex County Marriage Bureau before the officiant can start. Cape Henlopen State Park has its own rules about group size and setup, so couples should check the park permit process along with the county license.

How to Order Lewes Marriage Records

A certified copy of a Lewes marriage record costs $25. Delaware marriage records stay private for 50 years. Inside that window, the office only releases copies to a spouse, a parent, a child, a legal guardian, or an approved legal agent. Attorneys must use the OVS legal template and include proof of their role.

Lewes residents have four ways to order a Delaware marriage certificate. You can book an appointment at the Marriage Bureau in Georgetown. You can go to the Sussex County Office of Vital Statistics branch at 546 S. Bedford Street in Georgetown. You can mail a request to the state central office in Dover. Or you can order online through an approved vendor.

The split between offices runs by year. The Sussex County Marriage Bureau holds Lewes marriage records from March 2002 forward. The Office of Vital Statistics holds records from 1972 forward. The Delaware Public Archives holds records older than 50 years.

Older Lewes Marriage Records

The Delaware Public Archives in Dover keeps Lewes marriage records older than 50 years. Call (302) 744-5000 or email archives@delaware.gov. The Lewes Historical Society is a key stop for the earliest Sussex County families. Lewes is often called the First Town in the First State, so its records go back to the colonial era.

Early Sussex County marriage records date from 1832. The Sussex County Clerk of the Peace has records from March 2002 to date in its own office. For records from 1971 to March 2002, contact the Office of Vital Statistics. The archive guide has the full list by year and series.

Officiants and the Marriage Form

The Delaware marriage form used for a Lewes ceremony is a three-page set. One page goes to the bride and groom. One page goes to the state file. One page stays with the officiant, who must keep it for at least one year under 13 Del. C. Section 114.

Under 13 Del. C. Section 107(b), a valid license from the Sussex County Clerk of the Peace must be in the officiant's hands before the ceremony begins. Within four days, the officiant must return the signed copy to the Clerk of the Peace in Georgetown. Judges of Delaware's constitutional and statutory courts have had the power to solemnize marriages since 1996 under a law that amended 13 Del. C. Section 106.

Delaware Marriage Law in Lewes

Lewes follows state law under Title 13, Chapter 1 of the Delaware Code. Section 109 requires a license for every marriage. Section 115(b) gives the officiant four days to return the signed form to the Sussex County Clerk of the Peace.

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Section 128 fines any officiant who runs a ceremony without a license or before the 24-hour wait has ended. Section 129 treats same-gender couples the same as different-gender couples.

The full Sussex County fee schedule is in Sussex County Code Section 62-16 at ecode360.com/8881723. It covers Memorable Marriage Ceremony fees, vow renewal fees, and the $20 recording fee that applies to every license.

What Is on a Lewes Marriage Record

A modern Lewes 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. Anyone who was married before lists 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, whether that was on the beach, at Cape Henlopen, or in a private venue.

Processing times for Lewes marriage records depend on the office. Walk-in requests at the Sussex County Office of Vital Statistics in Georgetown are same-day for most requests. The Marriage Bureau requires an appointment. Mail orders to the central office in Dover take two to four weeks. Online orders through GoCertificates or VitalChek arrive in a few business days to a week depending on the shipping option.

Many couples who marry on the Lewes beach live out of state, so the non-resident fee of $100 plus the $20 recording fee is common. Active-duty military members and veterans pay no fee. Destination couples should allow time for the 24-hour wait and for the Georgetown appointment to line up with the ceremony date.

Common reasons Lewes residents or destination couples order a Delaware marriage certificate include:

• Legal name change after marriage
• Home state paperwork for out-of-state couples
• Insurance claims
• Genealogy research
• Spousal benefits and pensions

Related Pages

Lewes is a coastal town in eastern Sussex County. All Lewes marriage records pass through the Sussex County Marriage Bureau in Georgetown or the Office of Vital Statistics.