New Castle Marriage Records

New Castle marriage records are held by the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace in Wilmington. The city of New Castle is one of the oldest towns in Delaware, and its marriage records tie back to the early colonial period when the Clerk of the Peace handled most county business. Use the search tool below to begin looking up New Castle marriage records. This page covers the office, the fees, the rules, and the key historical resources.

New Castle Marriage Records at the Clerk of the Peace

The Clerk of the Peace in Wilmington handles every New Castle marriage record. The office is at 800 North French Street, 2nd Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801. Call (302) 395-7780. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The drive from the historic town of New Castle to Wilmington takes about 15 minutes.

Both people must appear together in person to apply. Each spouse brings a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. Proof of address is part of the request. Anyone who was married before must bring a final divorce decree or certified death certificate.

The resident fee is $70. Non-residents pay $120. A 24-hour wait starts once the license is signed. The license is good for 30 days, and the ceremony must take place inside Delaware. Minors cannot marry in Delaware. No one under 18 may apply.

The New Castle County Clerk of the Peace is the office of record for every New Castle marriage record. The New Castle County page at nccde.gov lists the office contact info, hours, and the full set of application rules.

History of New Castle Marriage Records

The Clerk of the Peace role goes back to the early colonial period. At that time, the Clerk served as clerk to the Levy Court, Court of General Sessions, Court of Oyer and Terminer, Juvenile Court, and the modern Court of Common Pleas. Today, the main duty of the office is to issue Delaware marriage records.

Around 1702, the clerk's title became "Clerk of the Peace and Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas." The 1776 Constitution set up five-year terms. The 1897 Constitution made the office elective. The details of the office's long history live at archives.delaware.gov/clerk-of-the-peace-3.

The page notes that the issuance of marriage licenses was an early duty of the office and remains one of its most important tasks today.

Until 1903, the Clerk also had to take and file a marriage bond with every license. In 1911, a state law began requiring that every license be recorded in a Marriage Record Book. When the State Board of Health took over marriage registration in 1913, the Clerk of the Peace kept issuing licenses but had to notify the State Registrar of each one.

Local Resources in New Castle

The city of New Castle has its own website with contact info for local offices. The page at newcastlecity.delaware.gov covers city services and local events.

The city itself does not issue Delaware marriage records, but the city website is a good starting point for residents with questions about local services.

New Castle is the site of the first courthouse in the state, which stands on Market Street. The town's colonial feel draws weddings to its historic district. Couples still need a license from the Clerk of the Peace in Wilmington before the ceremony, regardless of where the wedding takes place.

How to Order New Castle Marriage Records

A certified copy of a New Castle marriage record from the Clerk of the Peace costs $25. Delaware marriage records are private for 50 years. Inside that window, the office only releases a copy to a spouse, a parent, a child, a legal guardian, or an approved legal agent.

New Castle residents can visit the Clerk of the Peace in Wilmington during weekday hours. They can also stop by the Office of Vital Statistics branch at 258 Chapman Road in Newark. Mail orders go to the state central office in Dover. Online orders go through GoCertificates or VitalChek.

The full state program page at dhss.delaware.gov has the application form and the fee schedule. The 50-year privacy rule is set by Delaware Administrative Code 4205 and by 16 Del. C. Section 3110(b).

Delaware Marriage Law in New Castle

New Castle follows state law under Title 13, Chapter 1 of the Delaware Code. Section 109 requires a license for every marriage. Section 110 lets the Clerk of the Peace deny the license if any legal bar is known.

Section 120 sets out the data each spouse must share on the application. Section 115(b) gives the officiant four days to return the signed form to the Clerk of the Peace. Section 128 fines any officiant who runs a ceremony without a valid license or before the 24-hour wait has ended.

Section 129 gives same-gender couples the same rights and duties as different-gender couples. The state regulation at dhss.delaware.gov/dph/hp/vsregs governs how every Office of Vital Statistics branch must handle New Castle marriage records from filing to release.

What Is on a New Castle Marriage Record

A modern New Castle 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 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.

Older New Castle marriage records can go back to the late 17th century. Historical files are held at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover. More recent records from the last 50 to 60 years are held by the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace. Early New Castle marriage records may list only the bride and groom, the date, the location, and the presiding official.

Processing times for New Castle marriage records vary by office. In-person requests at the Clerk of the Peace in Wilmington or the Office of Vital Statistics branch in Newark are handled while you wait for most records on file. Mail orders take two to four weeks. Online orders through GoCertificates or VitalChek arrive in a few business days to a week.

Common reasons New Castle residents order a Delaware marriage certificate include:

• Legal name change after marriage
• Spousal benefits through Social Security or pensions
• Insurance claims
• Probate and estate cases
• Genealogy research and family history

Related Pages

The city of New Castle is the historic seat of the county of the same name. All New Castle marriage records pass through the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace.