Milford Marriage Records

Milford is the only city in Delaware that spans two counties. Milford marriage records may be held by the Kent County Clerk of the Peace in Dover or the Sussex County Marriage Bureau in Georgetown, depending on the home address. Most of Milford sits in Sussex County, but some northern parts fall inside Kent County. Use the search tool below to begin looking up Milford marriage records, and read on for the full set of fees and office details.

Which County Handles Milford Marriage Records

Milford residents have to check their home address before filing. The Sussex County portion covers most of the city, so the Sussex County Marriage Bureau in Georgetown handles most Milford marriage records. The Kent County portion sits in the north end, so a smaller group of residents files with the Kent County Clerk of the Peace in Dover.

The two counties charge different fees and use different pay methods. Kent County is cash only. Sussex County takes cash or credit card. Fees also differ, so Milford residents should confirm which county covers their address before heading to an office.

Milford residents can also visit the state Office of Vital Statistics for Milford marriage records. The central office in Dover is a 20-minute drive from the Kent County side of Milford. The Sussex County branch sits in Georgetown. Both offices keep files of Delaware marriage records from 1969 forward.

Sussex County Side: Marriage Bureau in Georgetown

Milford residents in the Sussex County portion file with the Sussex County Marriage Bureau at 2 The Circle, Room 226, Georgetown, DE 19947. Call (302) 853-1717 to book an appointment. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by appointment only.

The Sussex County resident fee is $50 plus a $20 recording fee. Non-residents pay $100 plus the recording fee. Cash or credit card is accepted. The license becomes valid 24 hours after the application and expires 30 days from the issue date. Active-duty military members and veterans pay no fee for any service.

The full page at sussexcountyde.gov/marriage-licenses covers the application, fee, and ID rules.

Kent County Side: Clerk of the Peace in Dover

Milford residents in the Kent County portion file with the Kent County Clerk of the Peace at 555 Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901. Call (302) 744-2346. Walk-in hours run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

The Kent County 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 valid for 30 days. Ceremony fees at the Dover office run $50 for residents during regular hours and $75 after hours. Saturday ceremonies cost $100.

The full rule set lives at kentcountyde.gov. Both parties must show up together with valid photo ID and proof of address.

How to Order Milford Marriage Records

A certified copy of a Milford marriage record costs $25. Delaware marriage records are 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 agent.

Milford couples have a few ways to order a certified copy. Sussex County residents can go to the Marriage Bureau in Georgetown by appointment. Kent County residents can walk into the Clerk of the Peace in Dover. Both groups can also go to the state Office of Vital Statistics in Dover or the Sussex County OVS branch in Georgetown.

Online orders go through one of two approved vendors. Use GoCertificates or VitalChek. Both send the request to the state Office of Vital Statistics in Dover. Milford residents should verify which county their address falls under before filing for a new license, since the fees and pay methods differ.

Older Milford Marriage Records

Milford marriage records older than 50 years have been moved to the Delaware Public Archives at 121 Duke of York Street in Dover. The archive is about a 20-minute drive from Milford. Call (302) 744-5000 or email archives@delaware.gov.

Because Milford crosses the county line, early Milford marriage records may be found in either the Kent County series or the Sussex County series. The guide to vital statistics records shows each series by year. Staff can pull the index by bride or groom name if you know the approximate year.

Officiants and the Marriage Form

The Delaware marriage form used for a Milford 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 must be in the officiant's hands before the ceremony. Within four days of the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed copy to the Clerk of the Peace in the county where the license was issued, which is Kent County for the north side of Milford and Sussex County for the south side. Judges of Delaware's constitutional and statutory courts can solemnize marriages under the 1996 law that amended 13 Del. C. Section 106.

Delaware Marriage Law

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

Both spouses must be at least 18. Section 128 fines any officiant who runs a ceremony without a valid license or before the 24-hour wait is up. Section 129 treats same-gender couples the same as different-gender couples.

Vital statistics rules come from 16 Del. C. Section 3104. The full rule at dhss.delaware.gov/dph/hp/vsregs covers every branch office, including the Sussex County and Kent County offices that serve Milford residents.

What Is on a Milford Marriage Record

A modern Milford 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 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.

Processing times for Milford marriage records depend on the office and the request method. Walk-in requests at the Sussex County Marriage Bureau in Georgetown or the Kent County Clerk of the Peace in Dover are handled while you wait once the record is on file. The state Office of Vital Statistics takes longer for mail orders, typically two to four weeks.

Milford couples who plan to marry in the Sussex County portion should book an appointment at the Marriage Bureau at least a week ahead. Those in the Kent County portion can walk in during business hours. Either way, the license is good anywhere in Delaware once the 24-hour wait has passed.

Common reasons Milford residents order a marriage certificate include:

• Legal name change after marriage
• Passport applications at the Dover Post Office
• School enrollment paperwork
• Real estate and insurance needs
• Genealogy research

Related Pages

Milford shares its area with both Kent County and Sussex County. Pick the county that covers your home address to find the right office for your Milford marriage record.