Kent County, Delaware Court Records
Individuals, organizations, and government agencies submit documents and fill out forms to initiate court proceedings in Kent County. Respondents, alongside case initiators, file information, paperwork, and evidence to prove innocence, guilt, or civil liability. These filed items and other details created by the court, such as case numbers and judicial opinions, make up the county's court records.
Case parties can also initiate court proceedings for non-dispute purposes, such as estate administration for the deceased and name changes, and the information they produce also qualifies as court records.
People look up these records when following up court proceedings, checking the outcomes of specific cases, performing background checks, and researching family histories. Judges and lawyers can also refer to details of past cases when preparing legal arguments or judicial decisions.
Are Kent County Court Records Public?
Yes. Kent County court records are, like information created by other public bodies, considered public information. Various Delaware administrative directives, such as the Superior Court's policy on public access (Administrative Directive No. 2000-5), establish public access to court records. However, specific rules, statutes, or court records can prohibit the release of certain records to members of the public.
Unreturned or unexecuted arrest and search warrants, mental commitment case records, and juvenile arrest information are examples of records that the public cannot review or obtain. Custodians can deny access to these records outright or, when only part of a document constitutes protected information, apply redactions before release.
That being said, parties to cases with records restrictions and their attorneys can access their files, and a judge may extend access to other entities with verified interest. In some situations, law enforcement agencies are permitted by law to review records maintained under seal for criminal justice purposes.
What Information is Available in Kent County Court Records?
The following are examples of information available in Kent County court records:
- Civil docket information
- Party names, searchable by person or business name
- Case type
- Judgments against an individual or business
- Docket reports
- Case file numbers
- Filing and judgment dates
Kent County Court Records Search
How a person looks up a Kent County court record depends on which case produced the record and the type of record they want to access. Confirming a hearing date might only require a quick online docket check, whereas requesting a certified copy of the decree is required for other legal proceedings.
Online Access
Generally, people can use the CourtConnect portal, the state judiciary's unified online portal for searching civil cases and criminal judgments, to view basic case information. This information includes party names, filing date, case status, and docket entries. The system allows users to search cases by name and case numbers.
Inspecting or Ordering Physical Copies
Obtaining plain or certified copies of court documents requires contacting the appropriate record custodian. Confirming the type of case that produced the record helps prospective searchers identify the right custodian to approach. Each custodian offers different request and search options.
The Superior Court, Delaware's highest trial court, also known as the court of general jurisdiction, is responsible for civil cases without any monetary threshold and exclusively handles felony criminal cases. It also oversees most drug offenses and appeals from the Court of Common Pleas. People looking for records from these cases can contact the Prothonotary's office to inquire about inspection and request options.
Records related to misdemeanors, civil cases worth $75,000 or less, and preliminary felony hearings reside with the Court of Common Pleas. People interested in these cases can visit or contact the court using the following details:
Justice of Peace courts in Kent County are responsible for civil cases in which the amount in dispute is valued at less than $25,000, certain misdemeanors, and non-felony vehicle cases. Record seekers can contact the relevant court, depending on the case. For example, Justice of the Peace Court 07, located in Dover, handles criminal, truancy, and DUI cases, while Justice of the Peace Court 16 focuses on civil cases.
Fees for Court Records in Kent County
Inspecting court records at the office of the custodian, such as the prothonotary's office at the courthouse, is free. The judiciary's CourtConnect system is also free to access for people looking to view basic case details.
However, requestors are required to cover the cost of reproducing court records:
- Copies: $2 maximum per page
- Copies (fax): $8 maximum per page
- Certified copies: $15 (additional charges will apply after 3 pages)
- Exemplified copies: $25 (additional charges apply after 3 pages)
Kent County Courthouse Locations
The following are court locations in Kent County and their phone numbers.
Court of Chancery
414 Federal Street
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 735-1930
Fax: (302) 735-2155
Superior Court
414 Federal Street
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 735-1900
Fax: (302) 739-6717
Family Court
445 South Governors Avenue
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 672-1000
Court of Common Pleas
414 Federal Street
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 735-3900
Justice of the Peace Court 7
480 Bank Lane
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 739-4554
Criminal Records Access in Kent County
Criminal records are the documents and details created during arrests, detention, criminal trials, and incarceration after conviction. Post-conviction information, such as probation and parole details, can also be included in criminal records.
Individuals looking for arrest records to locate recent arrestees can approach the local arresting authority, such as the Kent County Sheriff's Office or Dover Police Department. Since arrested persons are housed at the Baylor Women's Correctional Institution and James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, the public can contact the Department of Corrections for inquiries about people recently taken into custody. The department can provide information on the crimes for which inmates were arrested, their custody status (whether still in custody), and bond data, such as the bond amount or bondsman.
When people appear in court for their first hearing following their arrests, clerks create new court records, such as case numbers, case titles, bond and bail details, and dockets. Probable-cause affidavits, criminal complaints, and warrants are also court-created documents related to arrests. Other criminal case records, including evidence, witness statements, orders, verdicts, and sentencing information, are generated when arrestees are formally prosecuted. The public can look up these records by approaching the custodians for the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, or Justice of the Peace Court, depending on the type of charges involved.
For complete criminal histories, including arrest and case records, the Delaware State Police's Bureau of Identification is the right department to contact. The agency serves as the state's official repository for criminal records and provides those records to authorized entities through a fingerprint-based request system. Authorized entities include people requesting their own criminal histories, employers in regulated fields-such as childcare, education, healthcare, and private residences-and certain government organizations.
Kent County Probate Records
Probate case records in Kent County are produced during proceedings related to the administration of the estates of deceased persons, will validation, the appointment of executors and administrators, guardianships, and conservatorships. Disputes over appointments, trusts, and heirships can also produce probate records.
The Court of Chancery handles these cases, and the Register of Wills serves as its clerk. Routine estate matters, such as the validation of wills, go through the Register of Wills, while the chancery judge hears disputes.
People interested in reviewing basic details of probate cases can use the Kent County Probate Search System.
Kent County Family Court Records
The Family Court creates family case records when it handles domestic matters, such as divorce, child custody and visitation, child support, protection from abuse cases, and paternity. The court provides a Records Room where members of the public can inspect case files for free in the presence of Family Court staff. However, interested parties must provide identification to ensure they are qualified to view files in the room.
The court also allows authorized parties, such as case parties and their attorneys, to order copies of releasable family court records at the required fee. Copies of some files related to protected proceedings, such as psychological evaluations and custody investigations, are only available with judicial permission.
Federal Court Records in Kent County
Records related to federal cases heard in Kent County, such as bankruptcy matters, Department of Justice prosecutions, and civil suits raising federal questions, are created and collected by the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), the federal judiciary's case search system, is available to members of the public who wish to look up federal records online. It is accessible only to registered users and requires a search fee to access records.
Viewing each document costs 10 cents, although there is a $3 maximum fee, and listening to audio recordings, which do not include a maximum fee, costs $2.40. Interested parties can find more billing information, including fee waiver requirements, on PACER's fees page.
One can visit the local courthouse in Wilmington to inspect court records for free using onsite public access terminals. The court's clerk can also provide guidance about requesting copies of court records in person, by mail, or by phone.
500 North King Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 255-0000
