Delaware Residents Directory
The Delaware Residents Directory pulls together the public records most people use when they need to look up a resident in the First State. Search by name to find court cases, property deeds, vital records, voter data, and business filings. Delaware keeps many of these records open to the public under state law. You can search online through state and county portals, or you can visit a clerk's office in person. The pages here show where to start, what each office has on file, and how to pull records for any resident in Delaware.
Delaware Residents Directory Overview
Delaware Residents Directory Access
Delaware law sets the tone for this Delaware Residents Directory. The Delaware Freedom of Information Act at 29 Del. C. Chapter 100 opens most state, county, and city records to any citizen. The Delaware Supreme Court has said that public entities should not decide what is good for the public to know. That idea shapes how the state shares resident data. Agencies must respond in 15 business days. A denial has to cite a specific FOIA exemption.
The state uses a mix of portals for public records. Some are run by the state. Others are run by counties or cities. The Residents Directory draws from all of them. You can pull court cases from the Judicial Branch, vital records from the Division of Public Health, property records from the county Recorder of Deeds, and business filings from the Secretary of State. Each source has its own search form and its own fee rules. Most basic searches are free to view.
We'll walk you to the right resident records office for your need. To get started, pick the type of record. Then choose the county or city where the resident lives or where the event took place.
To use the Delaware FOIA portal, visit delaware.gov/freedom-of-information-act. The portal routes your public records request to the right agency and logs a timestamp on the request. The image below shows the state FOIA landing page.
The portal lets you pick an agency from a drop down. The Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Social Services, and the Department of State all accept requests this way. You can also mail a signed PDF form to the right FOIA Coordinator.
Vital Records for Delaware Residents
The Delaware Office of Vital Statistics keeps birth, death, and marriage files for each resident. Fees are $25 per certified copy. The main office sits in Dover at 417 Federal Street. Other offices are in Newark and Georgetown. All open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can order in person, by mail, or online. Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com or GoCertificates. An extra fee applies for online use.
Delaware law treats vital records as confidential. A record is released only to the person named, immediate next of kin, or an attorney or funeral director acting for them. Birth files open to the public after 72 years. Marriage files open after 50 years. Death files open after 40 years. Once they pass those marks, you can view them at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover.
The state vital office also holds an index of Delaware divorces from 1935 to today. For the full decree, you'll go to the Family Court in the county where the divorce was granted. The CDC Where to Write page for Delaware lists dates, fees, and mailing rules in one spot. A screenshot of that CDC page sits below.
This page is a good first stop for anyone outside the state who needs a copy of a Delaware birth, death, or marriage record. It tells you what ID to bring and what check to write.
You can also start at the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics directly. The full list of forms includes birth, adoptee's birth, same-gender marriage, death, death for funeral directors, and marriage certificate applications.
The Delaware Office of Vital Statistics page also covers the Heirloom birth certificate. These come on a security paper with a decorative border. They cost more than the plain copy but are often given as keepsakes.
Note: Photo ID is required for every vital records request, and a copy of that ID must go with any mail request.
Delaware Court Records Search
Delaware's court system puts a lot of case data online. The Judicial Branch runs CourtConnect at courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov. You can search by party name, business name, or case number. The platform covers the Superior Court, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Justice of the Peace Court. It shows docket entries, case status, and filing details for both civil and criminal cases. The system is maintained by Avenu Insights & Analytics.
CourtConnect is the main online tool for looking up a Delaware resident's court history. You can also search for judgments against a person or a business. The results list cause number, file date, and parties. To see older records that have not been scanned, you'll need to visit the courthouse.
Delaware courts have five main levels. The Supreme Court hears appeals. The Superior Court handles felonies and civil cases above $50,000. The Court of Chancery handles business disputes and trusts. The Court of Common Pleas handles misdemeanors and small civil cases. The Justice of the Peace Court handles traffic, landlord-tenant, and claims up to $15,000.
The Family Court has its own rules. Most Family Court records for custody, support, and adoption are not in the public index. The Family Court offers remote hearings through Zoom or phone. To check a full case, go to courts.delaware.gov. The state court site also posts opinions, orders, and court schedules.
The judicial home page links to each court and to the e-filing system. Attorneys use File & Serve Delaware for most courts. The site also hosts the rules of civil and criminal procedure, forms, and jury duty info.
Delaware Inmate and Arrest Records
The Delaware Department of Correction runs the state's Inmate Locator. Type a first and last name to find someone in state custody. The service also links to VINELink, the Victim Information and Notification Everyday tool. VINELink sends alerts by phone, email, or text when a status changes. Victims and other concerned citizens can sign up for free.
Search the locator at doc.delaware.gov/views/inmate_locator.blade.shtml. Records list the SBI number, facility, and projected release date. You can also find walkaways and escapees on the same site.
The Department of Correction is at 245 McKee Road, Dover. The phone is (302) 739-5601. Arrest records at the county and city level are kept by the local police and the Delaware State Bureau of Identification. The State Fire Marshal also keeps records of fire investigations and arson cases at statefiremarshal.delaware.gov.
Fire Marshal requests are split by county. Robert L. Fox handles New Castle County from 2307 MacArthur Road. Brian A. Schad handles Kent County from 1537 Chestnut Grove Road. John M. Galaska handles Sussex County from 22705 Park Avenue in Georgetown.
Delaware Public Archives for Resident Records
The Delaware Public Archives at 121 Duke of York Street in Dover holds more than 40,000 cubic feet of state and local government records. The collection runs from 1653 to today. Research hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 to 4:15. Wednesday hours are 8:00 to 7:45. The first and third Saturday of each month, the Archives is open from 9:00 to 4:45. No appointment is needed. Pencils only.
The Archives collection serves the Delaware Residents Directory in many ways. It holds governors' papers, court dockets, and case files. It has land records, probate files, tax books, and county minutes. It has tombstone and cemetery records. It has church records, family bibles, and private papers. For people tracking an older family member, it's often the best stop.
Birth records become public at 72 years. Marriage records at 50 years. Death records at 40 years. Records before 1913 sit with each county's Recorder of Deeds. The Archives posts a Guide to Vital Statistics Records at archives.delaware.gov/digital-archives. Always check variant spellings because names were often recorded phonetically.
The Archives also runs the Civil List database for elected and appointed office holders. The Guide to Orphans' Court Records covers estate administration. The Guide to African American Records, the Guide to Census Records, and the Guide to Revolutionary War Records all speak to resident lookup work.
Note: The Archives allows digital camera use for personal research, but no flash photography is permitted near original documents.
Delaware Corporate and Business Records
Delaware is home to more than a million active business entities. The Division of Corporations runs the state's entity database. Search by entity name or file number to pull up the agent name, address, phone, and status. This is a common step when you want to link a Delaware resident to a company or trace ownership of a small business.
The Division of Corporations sits at 401 Federal Street, Suite 4, Dover. Certificates of Good Standing are issued online in minutes. Certified copies of filed documents can be ordered online or by mail. Franchise tax and annual reports run through the same portal.
The Division also handles Apostille requests. An Apostille certifies that a notarized document is valid in a foreign country under the Hague Convention. This comes up often when a Delaware resident needs to send a record abroad.
Delaware Voter Records and Registration
Delaware uses Automatic Voter Registration through the DMV. The rule is in 15 Del. C. ยง 2050A. Anyone who applies for or renews a Delaware license, learner's permit, or state ID is registered if they qualify. You can also register online at the State of Delaware Voter Portal or at any Department of Elections office. The portal is at elections.delaware.gov.
The voter portal also offers a polling place lookup, sample ballot tool, absentee ballot request, and a registration status check. Party primaries are closed. If you pick no party, you are listed as "No Party."
Delaware voter file data is a useful piece of the Residents Directory. It confirms a current address and party affiliation. The state sells full voter lists to approved requesters. Military and overseas residents use the FVAP system for absentee voting.
Delaware Unclaimed Property Search
The Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property at unclaimedproperty.delaware.gov holds bank accounts, uncashed checks, stocks, dividends, insurance proceeds, and safe deposit box contents. The state holds property indefinitely. The rightful owner or heir can claim at any time. Director Brenda Mayrack leads the office.
The office warns residents about fake text messages that ask them to follow a link to a "DE un-claimed asset database." The office never texts claimants. Only use the official URL. A real claim needs proof of identity, proof of address, and proof of the link between you and the listed property.
Unclaimed property is a quick win for many family historians. Names of past owners show up in the database along with a partial address. For a Delaware Residents Directory search, this is often the last stop after court, vital, and property work.
Delaware Residents Directory by County
Delaware has three counties. Each one runs its own Recorder of Deeds, Clerk of the Peace, and Sheriff or Police department. Each one feeds into the Delaware Residents Directory in its own way. Pick a county to find the local offices, forms, and fees.
- New Castle County holds the largest share of state residents, with Wilmington, Newark, and Middletown inside its borders.
- Kent County covers Dover, Milford, and Harrington and runs the Levy Court for county services.
- Sussex County covers Lewes, Seaford, and the coastal towns, with offices at 2 The Circle in Georgetown.
Residents Directory for Delaware Cities
City offices hold their own slice of the Delaware Residents Directory. Most cities keep council minutes, ordinances, building permits, and local police reports. Pick a city below to find the FOIA coordinator, records request form, and court or clerk's office that handles resident records there.