New Castle County Court Records
Per Justice of the Peace Court Policy on Public Access to Court Records, court records are any data, information, document, or other item generated, collected, received, and maintained by a New Castle County concerning a particular case. It also comprises information derived from the selection, aggregation, or reformulation of information from multiple cases. The court clerks are the custodians of court records in New Castle County. These records are maintained based on Delaware Court Rules. Court records offer transparency and accountability in the judicial system. This allows the public to observe the functioning of New Castle County Courts. Court records also serve as valuable resources for historical record-keeping and legal research.
Are Court Records Public in New Castle County
Generally, most New Castle County court records and case information are open to the public according to the Delaware Freedom of Information Act and Policy on Public Access to Judicial Records. Upon request, a person can inspect or obtain copies of court records open to the public at the appropriate record custodian’s office during regular working hours. Note that some court records are deemed confidential in New Castle County. Examples of such records are:
- Sealed records
- Grand jury records
- Court reporters' notes
- Judicial work product
- Drivers license records
- Expunged judicial records
- Witness or victim Information
- Mental commitment case records
- Presentence investigation reports
- Unexecuted or unreturned warrants
- Personal information (such as juror address, phone number, and social security number) of jurors
What Do New Castle County Court Records Contain?
New Castle County court records contain vital information about a case. These records are created during a judicial proceeding. Court records may be open to the public if not categorized as confidential. Typically, record seekers should be able to find the following information during a court record search:
- Case ID
- Docket start and ending dates
- Case description (case type, status, and description, and filing date)
- Case parties (sequence number, case type, party name, and address)
- Docket entries (filing date and time, description, name, monetary, and entry)
- Judgment (Judgment status, date, and amount)
Where to Conduct a New Castle County Case Lookup
Most records generated during a court case are available to the public. This provides individuals access to any public court record available at New Castle County courts. Below are the custodians of court records in New Castle County:
- Delaware Supreme Court
- Delaware Court of Chancery
- Delaware Superior Court
- Delaware Family Court
- Delaware Court of Common Pleas
- Delaware Justice of the Peace Court
How to Conduct a New Castle County Case Records Search
There are several ways to conduct a New Castle County case records search depending on the court where the case was filed. Delaware Courts have a Judicial Case Database that provides access to civil case information. The database allows access to civil records by a person's name, business name, or case type, judgments against a person or business displaying case information or activities.
Record seekers can view case records for free through public access terminals in the New Castle County courthouse. Access to these terminals is by appointment. To schedule an appointment, contact the court by email at Linda.Coursey@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 255-0740. Ensure to indicate “Public Access” in the email's subject line. All appointments must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. After scheduling an appointment, the requester will receive a date, time, and assigned terminal to conduct the court record search. Note that there is a fee for copies of court records. Individuals can use the Application for Access to Court Records form to request copies of court records at the Superior Court. Contact the court where a case was filed for more information on how to find court records on a person.
New Castle County Civil Court Case Records
Civil case records reveal information on lawsuits filed by a corporation or individual against another corporation or individual requesting a New Castle County court monetary compensation for damages. The different courts in New Castle County have different levels of civil jurisdictions:
- The Justice of the Peace Courts handles civil cases involving money debts, property damages, or the return of personal property. The Justice of the Peace Court handles civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $25,000.
- The Superior Court hears civil cases that involve personal injury, libel, slander and contract claims, medical and legal malpractice, property cases, and appeals related to landlord-tenant disputes.
- The Court of Common Pleas handles civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $75,000. It also hears change of name petitions, administrative appeals from the Division of Motor Vehicles, and civil case appeals from the Justice of the Peace Courts.
A New Castle County civil court case search can be done online or in person at the court where the case was filed. Requesters can use the Civil Case Search tool available on the Delaware Courts Judicial Branch’s website to search court records at no cost. Alternatively, individuals can find civil court records using public access terminals at the New Castle County courthouse.
New Castle County Criminal Court Case Records
A criminal record is the formal record of offenses a person has been convicted of because they either pleaded guilty or have been found guilty. The courts in New Castle County have different levels of criminal jurisdictions:
- The Justice of the Peace Court hears criminal cases like traffic cases, designated misdemeanor cases, truancy cases, and local ordinance violations.
- The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over felonies and drug offenses. This excludes possession of marijuana cases and felonies and drug offenses involving minors.
- The Court of Common Pleas handles criminal cases like misdemeanors, motor vehicle offenses, criminal case appeals from the Justice of the Peace Courts, and preliminary hearings in felony charges.
New Castle County courthouse has six(6) public access terminals where individuals can view criminal court case records for free. Copies of criminal court records can be obtained from the record staff at a fee. Information regarding the case (like party name, case ID, or filing date) would be required to facilitate the search. All in-person searches should be conducted during regular business hours.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
New Castle County Courts have an online tool where individuals can get civil case records online for free. The tool is available on the Delaware Courts Judicial Branch’s website. Upon reaching the website, click the “eServices” menu at the top bar and select Civil Case Search from the dropdown. Click the Access CourtConnect button to access civil records by:
- Searching a person's name, business name, or case type
- Searching for judgments against a person or business
- Displaying case information or activities
Courts in New Castle County
Below are the addresses of all the courts in New Castle County:
Leonard L. Williams Justice Center
500 North King Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 255-0544 (Court of Chancery)
(302) 255-0800 (Superior Court)
(302) 255-0300 (Family Court)
(302) 255-0900 (Court of Common Pleas)
Justice of the Peace Court 9
757 North Broad Street
Middletown Square Shopping Center
Middletown, DE 19709
Justice of the Peace Court 11
2 Penns Way
Suite 100A
New Castle, DE 19720
Phone: (302) 323-4450
Fax: (302) 323-4452
Email: JPCourt11@delaware.gov
Justice of the Peace Court 13
2 Penns Way
Suite 203
New Castle, DE 19720.
Phone: (302) 323-6070
Fax: (302) 323-6079
Email: JPCourt13@delaware.gov
