Access Seaford Marriage Records

Seaford marriage records are held by the Sussex County Clerk of the Peace through the Marriage Bureau in Georgetown. The Office of Vital Statistics also runs a Sussex County branch in Georgetown that keeps a state copy of each Seaford marriage record. Use the search tool below to begin looking up Seaford marriage records. Read on for office details, fees, rules, and a guide to older files at the Delaware Public Archives.

Seaford Marriage Records at the Sussex County Marriage Bureau

The Sussex County Clerk of the Peace runs the Marriage Bureau for every city in Sussex County, including Seaford. The office sits 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.

Both people must appear together with valid photo ID. The 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 that date. Active-duty U.S. military members and veterans pay no fee for any service.

The Sussex County Clerk of the Peace issues the license and keeps Seaford marriage records on file. The official page at sussexcountyde.gov/marriage-licenses covers the full set of rules for the application and for later certified copy requests.

Office of Vital Statistics in Sussex County

The Office of Vital Statistics runs a Sussex County branch at 546 S. Bedford Street, Georgetown, DE 19947. Call (302) 515-3190. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. The office offers same-day service on most Seaford marriage records held by the state from 1972 forward.

The branch is about a 25-minute drive from Seaford. For records older than 1972 but younger than 50 years, the state central office in Dover also keeps the file. The full program page at dhss.delaware.gov has the request form and fees.

Seaford couples can also order online through one of two approved vendors. Use GoCertificates or VitalChek. Both send the request straight to the Office of Vital Statistics.

Local Resources in Seaford

Seaford's own city services do not issue marriage records, but the city is the largest town in western Sussex County and has its own set of useful local sites. The city website at seafordde.com has contact info for city hall and for local boards.

The site covers things like permits and city services, but Seaford marriage records still pass through the Sussex County Marriage Bureau in Georgetown.

The Seaford District Library is a good place to research Seaford family history. The library sits in town and can help with local genealogy. The page at seaford.lib.de.us has hours and a link to the online catalog.

The library's local history section can help trace older Seaford families and lead to church records that may predate the state files.

Older Seaford Marriage Records

Seaford marriage records older than 50 years have been moved to the Delaware Public Archives at 121 Duke of York Street in Dover. Call (302) 744-5000 or email archives@delaware.gov. A certified copy from the archive costs $25.

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 state Office of Vital Statistics. For anything older than 1971, the Delaware Public Archives is the right office for Seaford marriage records. Each office has its own fee and its own request form.

Early Sussex County marriage records date from 1832. The Lewes Historical Society in nearby Lewes also holds early Sussex County family papers. The archive guide shows which series covers which years and what each record contains.

Officiants and the Marriage Form

The complete Delaware marriage form used in Seaford is a three-page set. One page goes to the bride and groom, one page goes to the state file, and one page stays with the officiant. The officiant must keep the officiant's copy for at least one year after the ceremony under 13 Del. C. Section 114.

In 1996, the state approved legislation letting judges of Delaware's constitutional and statutory courts solemnize marriages. The bill, S.B. 249, amended 13 Del. C. Section 106. A valid marriage license signed by the Clerk of the Peace must be in the officiant's hands before the ceremony, under 13 Del. C. Section 107(b).

Within four days of the ceremony, the officiant must return a completed copy of the form to the Sussex County Clerk of the Peace in Georgetown. This rule falls under 13 Del. C. Section 115(b). The central file of marriage ceremonies performed by Delaware judges is kept at the state level to meet record-keeping rules under the Supreme Court's directive.

Delaware Marriage Law

Seaford marriage records follow 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. Section 122 asks each spouse to swear they are not of a prohibited degree of relationship. The full fee list for the Sussex County Marriage Bureau lives in Sussex County Code Section 62-16 at ecode360.com/8881723.

What Is on a Seaford Marriage Record

A modern Seaford 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.

Seaford marriage records from the 1800s may have less data than modern files. Early Sussex County records date from 1832. Statewide registration began in 1847 and was generally followed by 1913. Records from before 1913 may list only the bride, groom, date, location, and presiding official. Church records often fill gaps in the older files.

Processing times for Seaford marriage records vary by the office and the request method. Walk-in requests at the Sussex County Office of Vital Statistics on Bedford Street are same-day for most requests. The Marriage Bureau in Georgetown requires an appointment. Mail orders to the state central office in Dover take two to four weeks.

Common reasons Seaford residents order a Delaware marriage certificate include:

• Legal name change after marriage
• Spousal benefits and pensions
• Insurance claims
• Real estate deals
• Family history and genealogy research

Related Pages

Seaford is the largest city in western Sussex County. All Seaford marriage records are handled through the Sussex County Marriage Bureau or the Office of Vital Statistics.