Government Services Frequently Asked Questions


Government Services FAQs 

 

Common Frequently Asked Questions


Q. How do I request my birth or marriage certificate?

Our holdings contain birth records older than 72 years and marriage records older than 50 years. If you were born after 1950 or married after 1972 you need to contact the Office of Vital Statistics at (302) 744-4549 (https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/ss/vitalstats.html). If you were born or married before these years, please contact us directly using archives@delaware.gov or call (302) 744-5000 to obtain a certified copy of your certificate(s).

 

Q. Where do I get a copy of my divorce decree?

Divorce records are obtained from the county where the divorce was granted.

For Divorces from 1976 to the present please contact:

Kent County
Family Court
Records Section
400 Court Street
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 672-1000
New Castle County
Family Court
Divorce Unit
500 N. King Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 255-0300
Sussex County
Family Court
Divorce Section
22 The Circle
Georgetown, DE 19947
(302) 855-7400
 

For Divorces from 1975 and prior please contact:

Kent County
Delaware Public Archives
121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd North
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 744-5000
New Castle County
Prothonotary
Superior Court
500 N. King Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 255-0700
Sussex County
Delaware Public Archives
121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd North
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 744-5000
 

 

Q. How do I request a copy of my pardon?

The research room staff can supply you with a certified copy of your pardon if you provide us with your name at the time of the pardon, the year of the pardon, and the Governor that granted your pardon. The cost is $10.00 for each request.

 

Q. What are your fees?

We do not charge patrons a search fee. Please view our fees on our Duplication Fees Page.

 

Q. What photographic records does the archives have, and how can I obtain copies?

The Delaware Public Archives has over 1 million photographs in its collections. These images date from the 1850s to the present (the majority are from the 1920s to the 1990s) and include views of most aspects of Delaware life.
Some of our collections have been digitized and can be found in our digital archives. To view the collections that have not been digitized you will need to visit our facility.

 

Q. How can I preserve my family records at home?

Please view our Preservation Basics page for helpful information about preservation at home.

 

Q. How can I use the records at the Delaware Public Archives to research Supply Tax for the purpose of meeting the requirements for induction into the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) or Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)?

Kindly utilize the tax assessments and Treasurer Records (Journal A and Waste Book A) to demonstrate patriotic service. The links for both organizations are here:

Q. How long will it take to receive a response to my inquiry?

The rate at which we respond to inquiries depends primarily on the number of requests we receive. The more requests we receive the longer it will take for us to respond. In most cases we respond within a week or two; however, we may take up to one month to respond. We ask patrons not to resubmit a request until 30 days have passed.