New Castle County Marriage Records
New Castle County marriage records are held by the Clerk of the Peace at the Louis L. Redding City/County Building in downtown Wilmington. The office issues licenses, files the signed marriage form returned by officiants, and provides certified copies to spouses, close family, and approved legal agents. Use the tool below to search for public records and to begin your research into New Castle County marriage records.
New Castle County Overview
New Castle County Clerk of the Peace
The Clerk of the Peace is the primary office for marriage records in New Castle County. The office sits on the second floor of the Louis L. Redding City/County Building at 800 North French Street in Wilmington. You can reach it at (302) 395-7780. Weekday hours run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Both people have to show up in person together to apply for a marriage license. Each spouse must show a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID. Proof of address is part of the request. Anyone who was married before must bring an original or certified final decree of divorce, annulment, or death certificate. Minors cannot marry in Delaware, so no one under the age of 18 may apply.
The resident fee is $70. Non-residents pay $120. A 24-hour wait starts the moment the clerk hands over the license. The license is good for 30 days, and the ceremony must take place inside Delaware. Payments go by check or money order.
| Office | New Castle County Clerk of the Peace |
|---|---|
| Address |
Louis L. Redding City/County Building 800 North French Street, 2nd Floor Wilmington, DE 19801 |
| Phone | (302) 395-7780 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
The role of the Clerk of the Peace reaches back to the early colonial period. The page at archives.delaware.gov covers the history.
In 1911, a state law began to require that every license be logged in a Marriage Record Book, and that rule is still in force.
How to Order New Castle County Marriage Records
A certified copy of a New Castle County marriage record costs $25. The Clerk of the Peace will only fill the request when the person asking is one of the spouses, a close family member, or an approved agent. You can place the order in person at the Wilmington office, by mail, or through the state-approved online vendors.
For in-person orders, visit 800 North French Street, 2nd Floor, on any weekday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Bring a government-issued photo ID. The clerk can run a name search and print the copy while you wait. Payment goes by check or money order.
Mail orders go to the same street address. Include a written request with the full names of both people as they appeared on the document, the date of the ceremony, a daytime phone number, and a statement that you are asking for a marriage or civil union license. Make the check or money order out to "Clerk of the Peace" and add a self-addressed, stamped legal-size envelope.
Marriage records in Delaware are private until 50 years have passed from the event. Inside that window, the Clerk of the Peace only releases copies to the spouses, a close family member, or an approved legal agent. The county government page at nccde.gov has the full list of approved requesters.
Note: Records less than 50 years old can also be ordered from the state Office of Vital Statistics using the Application for a Certified Copy of a Delaware Marriage Certificate.
Ceremony Fees in New Castle County
The Clerk of the Peace office also runs civil marriage ceremonies. These are for couples who want a quick, simple signing at the courthouse. The fee depends on whether you live in Delaware and what day you choose.
For Delaware residents, the fees run as follows:
- Regular hours Monday through Friday: $50
- After hours Monday through Friday: $75
- Saturdays: $100
For non-residents, the fees go up. Regular hours cost $100, after hours cost $125, and Saturday ceremonies cost $150. Cash, check, or money order are accepted, and the fee is due at the time of the ceremony. A ceremony at the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace can be a quick way for out-of-state couples to marry while on a visit.
Office of Vital Statistics in New Castle County
The Office of Vital Statistics runs a branch in New Castle County at 258 Chapman Road in Newark. The phone number is (302) 283-7130. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. This branch offers same-day service for most marriage records.
The Newark office is the closest Office of Vital Statistics site for residents of northern Delaware. It also shares its building with the VitalChek office, one of the two state-approved online vendors. Couples who married outside New Castle County can also use this office to order a Delaware marriage certificate, since the Office of Vital Statistics keeps a central file from 1969 forward.
The full program page at dhss.delaware.gov has the application form, fee schedule, and rules for who can request a copy. For online orders, use GoCertificates or VitalChek. Both services charge a small handling fee on top of the state record fee.
Older New Castle County Marriage Records
Anyone who needs a New Castle County marriage record older than 50 years should contact the Delaware Public Archives. The archive is at 121 Duke of York Street in Dover. Its phone number is (302) 744-5000, and email requests go to archives@delaware.gov.
The City of Wilmington kept its own marriage record set from 1881 to 1954 through the Justice of the Peace. The archive now holds those files. Some of the entries also appear in the New Castle County registers, so staff can cross-check the two. The full guide at archives.delaware.gov lists exactly which books and boxes cover which years.
Delaware counties began keeping marriage records as early as 1832. State-level registration began in 1847 and was generally followed by 1913. Before that, the Recorder of Deeds in each county was the one who logged each marriage. The Historical Society of Delaware in Wilmington also holds key genealogy papers for New Castle County families.
Note: Index cards for Delaware marriages from 1680 to 1850 are at the Delaware Public Archives. Most were compiled from bonds, licenses, probate records, and church registers.
Delaware Marriage Law in New Castle County
New Castle County follows Delaware marriage law under Title 13, Chapter 1 of the Delaware Code. Section 109 of that chapter says no marriage may be held or contracted without a license. Section 110 lets the Clerk of the Peace deny the license if either party is under the influence of alcohol or drugs or if any legal bar is known.
Section 120 lists what goes on the application. Each spouse gives a full name, sex, Social Security number, date of birth, occupation, and the names and addresses of their parents. Anyone who was married before must note the date and place and confirm that the earlier marriage has ended. Section 122 asks each applicant to swear they are not of a prohibited degree of relationship to the other party.
After the ceremony, Section 115(b) gives the officiant four days to return the signed marriage form to the Clerk of the Peace. Section 128 sets up a fine of up to $500 for any officiant who runs the ceremony without a valid license or before the 24-hour wait has passed.
Cities in New Castle County
These cities in New Castle County use the Clerk of the Peace in Wilmington for marriage licenses and for certified copies of New Castle County marriage records.
Nearby Counties
Delaware has three counties total. The two counties below share borders with New Castle County and handle their own Delaware marriage records through a separate Clerk of the Peace.