Harrington Divorce Decree Records
A Harrington divorce decree is filed at the Kent County Family Court in Dover, about 20 miles north of town. Harrington is a small Kent County city along Route 13, and all divorce work for local residents routes through the county seat. The Records Section in Dover pulls certified copies of a Harrington divorce decree by name or case number. You can drive up, send a mail request, or call ahead. This page lists the office, the steps, and the Harrington resources that help with a local case.
Harrington Overview
Harrington Divorce Decree at Family Court
The Kent County Family Court at 400 Court Street in Dover is the main office for any Harrington divorce decree. The Records Section holds 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 are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except legal holidays. A certified copy costs $4.00. Harrington residents drive to Dover for in-person service or mail a notarized request.
Harrington is about 20 miles north to Dover via Route 13. The drive takes about 25 to 30 minutes in light traffic. Plan for a full morning if you need to walk in, hand over the request, and wait for the staff to print and seal the copy. Same-day pickup is the norm when you bring both names, the year of the divorce, and a valid photo ID. Case numbers speed things up, but the clerk can look up the file with names alone.
The image below links to the City of Harrington official site, which lists the mayor, police, and public works offices that may tie into a local case.
See harrington.delaware.gov for the main city portal, contact info, and news about Harrington services.
Mail a Harrington divorce decree request to Family Court Records Section, 400 Court Street, Dover, DE 19901. Include a notarized signature, a check or money order for $4.00 per copy, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days. Do not send cash. Do not send email. The court does not take credit cards for certified copies by mail.
| 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 Harrington Divorce Records
Start with a phone call to (302) 672-1045. Staff can check if the file is on hand. They can quote the fee. They can say if you need more info to find the case. Have a pen ready to take down the case number. Then pick your path. Drive up to Dover for walk-in help. Or mail a signed, notarized request with a check. Plan around the 20-mile trip from Harrington, and build in time for the 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. window.
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 cases. A civil judgment tied to a former spouse may still show up there. For a Harrington divorce decree itself, you must go through the Family Court. The Family Court divorce page lists the full flow, forms, and court costs.
To request a certified Harrington divorce decree copy, bring or send:
- Full names of both parties at the time of divorce
- Year of divorce or the exact date
- Case number if known
- Your name, date of birth, and a notarized signature
- Payment of $4.00 per copy by check or money order
Pro se filers from Harrington use the Kent County Resource Center at 400 Court Street. Staff hand out form packets and give self-help computer time. They cannot give legal advice. Form 442 is the Petition for Divorce or Annulment. Form 240 is the Information Sheet. Form 448 is the Answer to Petition. All forms are free at the state court forms page. Print them, sign them at home, and bring them to Dover, or fill them out at the court's self-help desk.
Note: Call ahead before you drive from Harrington. Staff can tell you if the file is on hand and if a same-day copy is likely.
Harrington Justice of the Peace Court
Harrington has one local court. Justice of the Peace Court 6 is at 35 Cams Fortune Way, Harrington, DE 19952. The phone is (302) 422-5922. JP Court 6 hears minor matters for the Harrington area. This court does not process a Harrington divorce decree. Family Court in Dover handles all divorce work for Kent County under Section 1505. JP Court 6 does hear civil disputes up to $25,000, landlord-tenant fights, small claims, and traffic tickets.
JP Court 6 can issue an emergency Protection From Abuse order when the main Family Court is closed. Section 1509 of Title 13 adds an automatic asset freeze at divorce filing, but a PFA is a separate step that blocks contact and bars entry to the home. Emergency PFA orders are open 24/7 through any Justice of the Peace Court. Harrington residents can drive to JP 6 for the after-hours PFA filing, or call 911 if the danger is active.
Note that JP Court 6 hours are limited and can shift. Call (302) 422-5922 before you head over. The court is on the west side of town, near the Harrington Raceway and State Fairgrounds. Parking is free. Bring a valid photo ID and the court papers or case number.
Harrington City Government Resources
Harrington city hall does not issue a Harrington divorce decree. All divorce work runs through Family Court in Dover. The city does run the police, public works, and code offices that may tie into a divorce case when a shared home or city service is involved. The image below links to the Harrington city government page.
See harrington.delaware.gov/government for the full list of city departments, council meetings, and public forms.
For an older Harrington divorce decree granted before 1976, the Kent County Prothonotary at 38 The Green in Dover holds the file. Call (302) 735-1900. The Prothonotary is on the 5.3-acre courthouse site next to the Family Court. Pre-1976 Kent County divorce cases are on paper, often bound by year. Allow extra time for staff to pull an older file.
For even older Harrington divorce decree records, the Delaware Public Archives at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd North in Dover is the right stop. Call (302) 744-5000. Records go back to the founding of Kent County in 1683. A certified copy of an archived decree is $10.00, and staff-made copies are $0.50 per page. See archives.delaware.gov for the full FAQ and hours.
Delaware Law for a Harrington Divorce Decree
Delaware Code Title 13 Chapter 15 sets the rules for every Harrington 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 sets the residency rule. At least one spouse must have been a Delaware resident for six months before the court rules on the petition. Harrington residents who just moved to the state should count the months first. You can file earlier. The court just holds the ruling until the six-month mark is met. Proof of residency can be a driver's license, a lease, or a utility bill.
Section 1509 adds an automatic restraining order at filing. Both sides are blocked from hiding or moving assets except for normal bills. Section 1513 covers property division. Delaware uses equitable distribution, not a 50-50 split. The court splits marital property fairly based on factors like age, income, length of marriage, and contributions to the home. Section 1512 caps alimony 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.
Harrington Legal Help
Free and low-cost legal help is a short drive away in Dover. Delaware Volunteer Legal Services takes family law cases for low-income residents. 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 Kent County Courthouse at 414 Federal Street in Dover is open to the public and free to use.
The Parent Education Class is a must when minor children are part of a Harrington divorce decree case. Class runs four hours. Cost is capped at $100 per parent by state statute. Certificates of completion go in the file before the judge signs the final decree. Family Court Rule 16.1 requires mediation in most cases, but a Protection From Abuse order waives it. Emergency PFA orders are open 24/7 through a Justice of the Peace Court, including JP 6 in Harrington.
Kent County Divorce Decree Page
Harrington is in Kent County, and all Harrington divorce decree work routes through the Family Court in Dover. The county page lists every courthouse, JP court, and local legal aid group. Visit the Kent County divorce decree page for the full county-wide rundown.
Nearby Cities
Dover and Milford are the nearest Kent County cities to Harrington. Both file divorce cases at the Family Court in Dover. Both sit along the Route 13 corridor.