Dover Divorce Decree Search
A Dover divorce decree is filed at the Kent County Family Court on Court Street, just blocks from the State House. Dover is the state capital and the seat of Kent County, so it serves as the main hub for divorce work in the middle third of Delaware. The Records Section pulls certified copies of a Dover divorce decree by name or case number. You can walk in, mail a request, or call first to confirm the file is on hand. This page lists the office, the steps, and the Dover resources that can help with a divorce case.
Dover Overview
Dover Divorce Decree at Family Court
The Kent County Family Court at 400 Court Street in Dover is the main office for any Dover divorce decree. The Records Section pulls case files, logs new requests, and issues certified copies. The main line is (302) 672-1000. The direct line for records is (302) 672-1045. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except legal holidays. A certified copy costs $4.00. Payment is by cash at the counter, or by check or money order for mail requests.
In-person service is the fast path for a Dover divorce decree. Same-day pickup is the norm when you bring both names, the rough year of the divorce, and a valid photo ID. Case numbers help but are not a must. Mail requests need a notarized signature and a check or money order. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days. The mailing address is Family Court Records Section, 400 Court Street, Dover, DE 19901. Do not send cash.
Dover is the anchor city for Delaware's Family Court in Kent County. Cases from Harrington, Smyrna, Milford, Camden, and other Kent County spots all route to the same building. The court sits a short walk from the Kent County Courthouse, the Delaware Public Archives, and the Office of Vital Statistics. Parking is free at William Penn and Water Street. Allow a few extra minutes to clear the front screening line on busy days.
Under Delaware Code Title 13 Chapter 15, a divorce decree is a final court order that ends a marriage. The decree spells out property splits, alimony, and custody terms. A certified copy is often needed to remarry, change a name on a driver's license, or settle a pension claim. The image below is the City of Dover portal, which links to the Dover offices that may tie into a local case.
See cityofdover.com for the mayor's office, police department, and other city services tied to Dover residents.
| Office | Kent County Family Court - Records Section |
|---|---|
| Address |
400 Court Street Dover, DE 19901 |
| Main Phone | (302) 672-1000 |
| Records Phone | (302) 672-1045 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Certified Copy Fee | $4.00 per copy |
How to Search Dover Divorce Records
Start with a call to the Records Section at (302) 672-1045. Staff can check the file and quote the fee. Then pick your path. Walk in with a photo ID for same-day help. Mail a signed, notarized request with a check. Or file a form by fax if staff allows it for your case. The court does not take email or credit card requests for certified copies of a Dover divorce decree.
The Delaware CourtConnect search at courts.delaware.gov/docket does not show Family Court divorce files. It covers Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace Court cases. A civil judgment tied to a former spouse might still turn up there. For a Dover divorce decree itself, you must go through Family Court. The Family Court divorce page lists the forms, the steps, and the cost.
To request a certified Dover divorce decree copy, bring or send:
- Full names of both parties at the time of the divorce
- Date of divorce or the year it was granted
- Case number if you have it
- Your name, date of birth, and a notarized signature
- Payment of $4.00 per certified copy by check or money order
The Kent County Resource Center at 400 Court Street helps pro se filers. Staff hand out form packets, give self-help computer time, and point you to the right guide. They do not give legal advice. Form 442 is the Petition for Divorce or Annulment. Form 240 is the Information Sheet. Form 448 is the Answer. All forms are free at the state court forms page. Print, sign, and bring them in, or fill them out at the court's self-help desk.
Note: Bring both spouses' names at the time of divorce. Maiden or prior names may be needed to find older files fast.
Dover Courthouse and Nearby Offices
The Kent County Courthouse at 414 Federal Street in Dover sits on a 5.3-acre site. The main entrance is on Federal Street. The Superior Court entrance is at 38 The Green. The site holds Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, Justice of the Peace Court 16, the Register in Chancery, the Prothonotary, the Law Library, and Jury Services. Free parking is at William Penn and Water Street, about two blocks from the main doors.
The Kent County Prothonotary at 38 The Green holds Superior Court files and some Dover divorce decree records granted prior to 1976. The Prothonotary also has civil case records, felony case records, and pre-1975 historical files. For old divorce work, this office or the state Archives is the right start.
The Delaware Public Archives at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd North in Dover holds the oldest Dover divorce decree files. Records go back to the county's founding in 1683. Call (302) 744-5000 to plan a visit. Staff-made copies are $0.50 per page. A certified copy of a historical divorce decree is $10.00. Research room hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. See archives.delaware.gov for the full FAQ.
The Office of Vital Statistics at 417 Federal Street in Dover is the main state office for vital records. The phone is (302) 744-4549. Vital Statistics does not issue Dover divorce decree copies, as that is Family Court work under Section 1505. The office does hold index files and can verify divorce info for statistical reports. See the Vital Statistics page for a full list of services.
Dover has two Justice of the Peace Courts. JP Court 7 is at 480 Bank Lane. The phone is (302) 739-4554. Court 7 handles criminal, truancy, and DUI matters in the Dover area. JP Court 16 is in the Kent County Courthouse at 414 Federal Street. The phone is (302) 739-4316. Court 16 handles civil disputes up to $25,000. Neither JP court processes divorces. They do hear protection orders, small claims, and landlord-tenant fights that can tie into a divorce case under Section 1509 restraints.
The Kent County Law Library at 414 Federal Street inside the courthouse has Delaware Code books, court rule books, and family law reference texts. It is free to use. Bring your own paper if you plan to take notes. Delaware State Police Troop 3 at 1655 Bay Road, (302) 678-4300, is the Dover-area state police post. Troop 3 can run criminal background checks when a Dover divorce decree case involves custody or domestic abuse claims.
Delaware Law for a Dover Divorce Decree
Delaware Code Title 13 Chapter 15 sets the rules for every Dover divorce decree. Delaware is a pure no-fault state. Section 1505 names the only ground: that the marriage is irretrievably broken with no reasonable hope of reconciliation. The break can be shown by voluntary separation of six months, incompatibility, misconduct, or serious mental illness. The full chapter is at delcode.delaware.gov.
Section 1504 covers residency. At least one spouse must have lived in Delaware for six months before the court rules on the petition. You can file earlier. The court just holds the ruling until the six-month mark. Dover, as the seat of Kent County, sees filings from people who just moved to the state for a new job with the capital or a base near Dover Air Force Base. Count the months before you file.
Section 1509 adds an automatic restraining order at filing. Both sides are blocked from hiding or moving assets except for normal bills. Section 1513 shapes property division. Delaware uses equitable distribution, not a 50-50 split. The court splits marital property fairly based on age, income, length of marriage, and contributions to the home. Section 1512 caps alimony duration at 50% of the marriage length, though marriages of 20 years or more have no cap. Section 1514 lets a party resume a former name in the final decree.
Dover Legal Help and Divorce Support
Free and low-cost legal help is close at hand in Dover. Delaware Volunteer Legal Services takes family law cases for low-income people. The main phone is (302) 478-8680. The state Legal Help Link at delegalhelplink.org is a referral site that sends you to aid groups and pro bono lawyers. The Kent County Law Library inside the courthouse is free and open to the public.
The Parent Education Class is a must when minor children are part of a Dover divorce decree case. Class runs four hours, with the cost capped at $100 per parent by statute. Certificates of completion go in the file before the judge signs the final decree. Delaware Family Court Rule 16.1 mandatory mediation is waived when a Protection From Abuse order is active in the case. Emergency PFA orders are open 24/7 through a Justice of the Peace Court.
Dover has a range of support groups for people going through a divorce. Local churches, the state bar's lawyer referral line, and community centers run weekly meetings. Contact the Family Court Resource Center for a current list. The clerk at 400 Court Street can point you to free mediation slots and low-cost counseling if you ask. Keep copies of any court orders in a safe place, as a Dover divorce decree is often needed to change a last name, update a bank record, or claim a pension share.
Kent County Divorce Decree Page
Dover is the seat of Kent County, so all Dover divorce decree work ties back to the county Family Court. The county page has a full list of courthouses, JP courts, and local legal aid groups. Visit the Kent County divorce decree page for more detail on county-wide records.
Nearby Cities
Harrington and Milford are the other major Kent County cities near Dover. Both file divorce cases at the Family Court in Dover. Both sit along Route 13 south of the capital.