Lewes Divorce Decree Records
A Lewes divorce decree is on file with the Sussex County Family Court in Georgetown. Lewes sits on the east coast of Delaware in Sussex County, and every case filed by a Lewes resident goes to the county seat. This page walks you through the search for a Lewes divorce decree. You will find the court address, phone, hours, and the steps for a walk-in or mail copy. Older files from the 1970s and earlier are at the state archives in Dover. Links to help groups and related records are also here. Use the info to pick the right office on the first try.
Lewes Overview
Where a Lewes Divorce Decree Is Filed
Lewes is in Sussex County. Every Lewes divorce decree from 1976 to now is held by the Sussex County Family Court. The court sits at 22 The Circle in Georgetown, DE 19947. Main line is (302) 855-7400. The Records Room phone is (302) 855-7473. Georgetown is about 20 miles west of Lewes. Take Route 9 west to Route 113, or the back roads through Milton. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The city of Lewes does not issue a divorce decree. The city office deals with permits, parking, and local taxes. For a Lewes divorce decree, you have to go to the Family Court. The clerk there will certify a copy for $4.00. Walk-in requests are the fastest path. Mail takes about two weeks. Staff will ask for a photo ID at the counter. A mailed request needs a notarized signature.
Pre-1976 files are at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover. The Archives keeps bound books, microfilm, and paper files for older cases. More on the Archives appears below.
Note: Call ahead if you need a Lewes divorce decree from the 1970s or earlier. Older files may take extra time to pull from the stacks.
Sussex County Family Court for Lewes
The Sussex County Family Court at 22 The Circle handles every Lewes divorce decree. The Records Room is on the ground floor. Off-street parking is open at the courthouse. Walk-in requests are the fastest route. Bring both names and the year of the divorce. The case number is a plus but not a must. Staff can run the name index and pull the file while you wait. A certified copy costs $4.00. Cash, check, or money order made out to Family Court are taken at the counter.
For a mail request, send a signed letter with full names of both spouses, the divorce year, and the case number if known. The letter must be notarized. Mail goes to Records Department, 22 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947. Mail orders ship back in 10 to 15 business days. The court does not take credit cards by mail. Plain copies of a file are about $0.50 per page at the counter.
| Office | Sussex County Family Court - Records Department |
|---|---|
| Address |
22 The Circle Georgetown, DE 19947 |
| Main Phone | (302) 855-7400 |
| Records Phone | (302) 855-7473 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Distance from Lewes | About 20 miles west via Route 9 and Route 113 |
How to Search a Lewes Divorce Decree
Have the facts ready. A full name and the year of the divorce will find most files. A case number makes the pull faster. The Records clerk runs the name in the court's index. If the file is in the stacks, the clerk will print a certified copy the same day. Older files on microfilm take a bit more time. The public can view the file at the counter or order a certified copy. Some pages may be sealed if they hold confidential items like a financial affidavit.
The City of Lewes website lists local offices and resources. The image below shows that page.
Visit ci.lewes.de.us for the city home page. The city clerk does not keep court files. For a Lewes divorce decree, the Family Court in Georgetown is the right office.
To pull a Lewes divorce decree, gather these basic items:
- Full names of both spouses at the time of the divorce
- Year the decree was granted
- Case number if you have it
- Photo ID for the counter
- Notarized letter for a mail order
Delaware Code Title 13 Chapter 15 lays the rules. Section 1504 sets the residency rule. One spouse must have lived in Delaware for six months before the court can rule. Section 1505 names the one ground: the marriage is irretrievably broken. The full chapter is at delcode.delaware.gov Title 13 Chapter 15.
Historical Lewes Divorce Records
Lewes has deep roots in Delaware. The town was founded in 1682 and is known as the First Town in the First State. Some divorce records for Lewes families go back more than a century. Files from 1975 and earlier are not at the Family Court. They are held by the Delaware Public Archives at 121 MLK Jr. Blvd North in Dover. Call (302) 744-5000 for a pre-1976 file. The research room is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Staff-made copies run $0.50 per page. A certified copy from the historical set is $10.00. Mail orders are on tiered pricing based on page count. The Archives also runs the state-wide index for pre-1976 cases. Give a year range and both party names when you call. Staff will check the card index and let you know if the file is on hand. Bring a photo ID to the research room. Dover is about 40 miles north of Lewes via Route 113 and Route 1.
Section 1507 of Title 13 lists the items that must be in a divorce petition. Names, addresses, date of the marriage, minor children, and the broken-marriage claim are all in that section. Old petitions may look different from the modern form. The core facts are the same.
Legal Help for Lewes Filers
Free legal help is open to low-income Lewes residents. Delaware Volunteer Legal Services at (302) 478-8680 takes family law cases. DVLS is the main pro bono group in the state. Intake starts by phone. Priority goes to cases with kids or domestic abuse. Call early to get on the list.
The Resource Center inside the Sussex County Family Court gives self-help tools for pro se filers. Form packets are free. Staff cannot give legal advice but can show you where the form goes. Form 442 is the Petition for Divorce or Annulment. Form 240 is the Information Sheet. Form 448 is the Answer to the Petition. Parent Education Class is a must when minor children are in the case. The class runs four hours and is capped at $100 per parent by statute.
Section 1513 of Title 13 shapes property division. Delaware follows equitable distribution, so the court splits marital property by fairness, not a straight 50-50. Section 1512 covers alimony, with a cap at 50% of the marriage length for shorter marriages. Marriages of 20 years or more have no cap. A Lewes divorce decree often spells out alimony and the split of the marital home in the final order. Section 1509 kicks in at filing and blocks both sides from hiding or moving assets.
Lewes County
Lewes files at the Sussex County Family Court in Georgetown. Visit the county page for the full guide.
Nearby Cities
Other Delaware cities near Lewes use the same Sussex County Family Court. Check the pages below for local info.