Common Questions About New Castle County Court Records
Where do I search New Castle County court records online?
The main public search tool is Delaware CourtConnect at courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov. It runs name, business, case-type, judgment, and exact case-ID lookups across Delaware courts. CourtConnect is a docket-research tool, not a certified-copy system. For the full list of search portals and which courts each one covers, see our court records page. If you need a certified copy or a sealed file, you still have to call the clerk who holds the case.
Is CourtConnect an official certified record?
No. The Delaware Judiciary disclaimer states the data are provided as-is, without warranty, and the Civil Docket Report is "not for official use." Use it to locate a case and read docket activity. For anything that needs an official seal - a court order, a judgment, a sentencing record - request a certified copy from the proper clerk. The Prothonotary page lists how to order certified Superior Court copies and what the fee covers.
What court handles felony cases in New Castle County?
Superior Court handles felony criminal cases. Initial appearance and bail may happen in Justice of the Peace Court or the Court of Common Pleas depending on the arrest, but felony prosecution moves to Superior Court. The Superior Court page covers the felony docket, jury trial procedure, and how to look up a felony case on CourtConnect. Arrest reports and charging documents are usually filed there once the case is bound over.
What court handles small claims and landlord-tenant cases?
Justice of the Peace Court hears most small claims, debt, landlord-tenant, replevin, trespass, and routine traffic matters. JP Court is the entry point for many self-represented filers because the case caps are lower and the procedure is faster. For court locations, filing forms, and what to bring to a hearing, see the Justice of the Peace Court page. Appeals from JP Court usually go to the Court of Common Pleas.
Where do I get a marriage license in New Castle County?
Marriage licenses are issued by the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace, not by any court. The official office page is newcastlede.gov/126/Clerk-of-the-Peace. The Clerk of the Peace handles license application, waiting-period rules, fees, and the marriage certificate. For full guidance on marriage and divorce records - including where divorce files live and what stays sealed - see the marriage and divorce records page.
Where are probate records kept?
Estate administration in New Castle County runs through the Register of Wills at newcastlede.gov/2983/Register-of-Wills. The Register handles will probate, letters testamentary, inventory filings, and estate accounting. Contested estates and equity issues may also involve the Court of Chancery at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center. Our probate records page covers filing steps, forms, and what to bring when opening an estate.
Does New Castle County have a sheriff jail roster?
No. Delaware does not run county sheriff jails. Adult custody is handled statewide by the Delaware Department of Correction. The DOC inmate locator and VINELink are the standard tools to check custody, transfer, and release status. Our inmate records page walks through which facility holds New Castle County defendants, how to use the DOC locator, and what details you need to make a search work.
How do I get release notifications for an inmate?
Use VINELink at vinelink.com and select Delaware. The Delaware DOC inmate-locator page directs the public to VINELink for custody-status alerts. You can register for phone, email, text, or TTY notification when status changes. For more on how releases work in Delaware - probation, parole, supervision conditions, and post-release notifications - see the released inmates page.
Can I search active warrants online?
There is no single statewide active-warrant list open to the public. Check court dockets where public, contact the issuing court or arresting agency, or speak with an attorney before walking into any courthouse. Do not rely on unofficial warrant sites. The warrant records page covers the steps for finding out if a warrant exists, how to confirm it with the right court, and what counsel can do before a turn-in.
Are divorce records public?
Divorce is a Family Court matter. Some basic case information may be accessible, but files involving children, custody, support, abuse allegations, financial records, and protected personal data are usually restricted. Certified divorce decree copies must be requested through Family Court at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center. Our marriage and divorce records page lists what is public, what is sealed, and how to request a certified copy when you need it for a name change, benefits, or remarriage.
Are juvenile records public?
Generally no. Juvenile delinquency, child welfare, truancy, adoption, and many Family Court records are confidential by statute and court rule. Access usually requires party status, attorney representation, or a specific court order. The Family Court page covers what stays sealed in juvenile and family cases, who can request access, and how the Family Court restricts personal identifiers like minor names and addresses.
How do I expunge a Delaware criminal record?
Review 11 Del. C. §§ 4372 to 4374 at delcode.delaware.gov and the official Delaware expungement process. Some cases qualify for mandatory expungement; others require a discretionary petition and judicial approval. Eligibility depends on the outcome, the offense, and your full criminal history. The criminal records page covers the difference between sealing and expungement and which agency processes the request.
What if I miss court?
Missing court can trigger a capias, a bench warrant, default judgment, dismissal of your filing, bond forfeiture, or license consequences depending on case type. Call the clerk and your attorney the same day. Do not just show up at the next calendar without notice. Our warrant records page covers what to expect if a capias has already issued and how an attorney can move to recall it before an arrest.
Can I pay a traffic ticket online?
Delaware Courts offer online payment for many eligible cases, but not every citation can be paid online. Some charges - including DUI, certain misdemeanors, and reckless driving - require a court appearance. Verify through Delaware Courts e-payment and traffic resources before assuming the case can be closed by mail. The traffic court records page covers which court hears your ticket, payment options, and what a guilty-by-mail plea means for your DMV record.
What is the difference between a court traffic record and a DMV driving record?
A court record shows the citation case, plea, fine, court date, and disposition. A DMV driving record shows license status, convictions reported to DMV, points, suspensions, and the administrative history of the driver. They are not the same file and they are not held by the same office. For court-side information, start with the traffic court records page; for license issues, the DMV side is separate.
How do I request records from a public agency in Delaware?
Use the Delaware Freedom of Information Act under 29 Del. C. Chapter 100. The statute is online at delcode.delaware.gov/title29/c100/sc01/. Each public body has a FOIA coordinator who accepts requests and tracks response time. Court records often need a court-specific request through the clerk rather than a standard agency FOIA. The public records page lays out how to draft a FOIA request, what fees apply, and what to do if access is denied.
Can I view sealed records?
Only if authorized by statute, court order, or party status. A sealed file is not public just because you can see the case number in a docket index. Unsealing usually requires a motion, notice to interested parties, and a judicial finding. For more on what stays sealed in Delaware and the process for asking a court to unseal a file, see the court records page.
How do I find a federal case from New Castle County?
Federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. Use PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov for official federal dockets, including the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and the Third Circuit on appeal. CourtListener offers some free opinions and RECAP material. Federal cases are separate from state Superior Court files. For state-side coverage, return to court records.
Who prosecutes criminal cases in Delaware?
The Delaware Department of Justice prosecutes state criminal cases. Delaware does not use the "county district attorney" title that other states use. Felony cases in New Castle County are prosecuted by the DOJ in Superior Court. The Office of Defense Services provides indigent defense through the Public Defender. The criminal records page covers how charges move from arrest through filing, plea, and disposition in the Delaware system.
Are court records updated in real time on CourtConnect?
No. CourtConnect's disclaimer warns that timeliness is not guaranteed. Recent filings, sealed matters, and clerk processing delays may not show right away. A case that was filed yesterday may not appear on the search until clerk staff have docketed it. If you cannot find a case you know exists, call the clerk before assuming the record is gone. See court records for which search portal covers which Delaware court.
Still Have Questions?
For the right office, see Prothonotary. For broader access rules, see public records. For records-by-topic, browse court records, criminal records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or probate.