Search Delaware Public Records
Delaware public records cover FOIA files, court dockets, property deeds, business filings, and agency documents held by the state, its three counties, and dozens of cities and towns. Anyone can ask for these Delaware public records. You do not need to say why. The state, New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties all take requests online, by mail, by fax, or in person. Most offices also host free search tools that let you look up Delaware public records from home. This page shows you where to start and how to get the records you need.
Delaware Public Records Overview
Delaware Public Records Law and FOIA
Delaware public records are open to any citizen under the Delaware Freedom of Information Act. The General Assembly passed the law in 1977 and put it in 29 Del. C. Chapter 100. Section 10001 sets the tone. It says public business must be done in the open so the people can watch what their officials do. Section 10002 defines a public record as any data held by a public body that relates to public business. The term is broad on purpose. It covers paper files, emails, databases, and other stored data held by state, county, and city offices in Delaware.
Access is the default rule. Denial is the exception. Section 10002(o) lists 19 narrow groups that are not open. These include personnel files, medical files, trade secrets, and records of pending litigation. Most other Delaware public records are yours to see. The statute also covers open meetings under Section 10004. Boards and councils in Delaware must post agendas and let the public attend.
The Delaware Department of Justice tracks FOIA complaints. Citizens can ask the DOJ to review a denial, and the Attorney General writes a formal opinion. The DOJ also prints a Policy Manual for FOIA Coordinators every two years. The latest version came out in October 2025. You can read more about Delaware public records policy on the DOJ Open Government page, which explains how the law works and who it applies to.
The DOJ page above lists FOIA coordinators at every state agency. It also hosts past Attorney General opinions on public records disputes. Read these opinions when a denial seems off. They explain how Delaware judges and the DOJ read the FOIA statute in real cases.
Delaware State FOIA Portal
The Delaware State FOIA Portal is the main hub for state-level requests. Executive Order 31, signed by Governor Markell in 2011, told all executive branch agencies to use one standard form. The portal lets you pick an agency from a drop-down and send the request with a few clicks. A PDF form is there too for mail or fax.
The portal lists every major state body. You can send a Delaware public records request to the Governor's Office, the Lt. Governor, the Auditor of Accounts, the Insurance Commissioner, and the State Treasurer. Agencies like Agriculture, Corrections, the Delaware State Police, Education, Elections, Finance, Labor, and DelDOT are all there. Each has its own FOIA coordinator listed with a phone and email.
Before you file, check the target agency's website. Some records are posted and ready to download. Meeting agendas, budgets, and many reports do not need a FOIA request. A formal Delaware public records request is best saved for files that are not online.
Note: Under 29 Del. C. §§ 10001-10008, your FOIA request itself may become a public record subject to release.
Inside the Delaware FOIA Statute
The full text of the Delaware public records law sits in Title 29 of the Delaware Code. You can read it on the Delaware Code website. Every section has its own rules, and it helps to know them before you file.
Section 10003 covers the core right. All public records shall be open to inspection and copying during regular business hours. Public bodies in Delaware must respond within 15 business days. Fees are set by statute. The first 20 pages are free. Standard copies cost $0.10 per sheet. Extra staff time over one hour triggers an administrative fee. Section 10005 is the enforcement rule. A citizen can petition the Attorney General. A citizen can also sue within 60 days of a denial. Courts may award attorney fees to the winning party.
The statute lives online in the free Delaware Code. Bookmark the link above. When an agency claims a record is exempt, ask which subsection of 10002(o) covers it. A clear citation protects your right to appeal.
Delaware Court Records and CourtConnect
Delaware courts are not subject to FOIA. They run under their own rules set by the judicial branch. The Delaware Courts website lists all levels: the Supreme Court, Court of Chancery, Superior Court, Family Court, Court of Common Pleas, and the Justice of the Peace Court. The Administrative Office of the Courts keeps records for all of them.
The best online tool for court records is CourtConnect. It is the state's case management system for civil matters. You can search by person name, business name, or case type. The system shows case numbers, party names, filing dates, docket entries, orders, and judgments. Use it to check Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace cases all in one place.
Criminal case access is more limited. Juvenile files, adoption cases, guardianship files, and sealed or expunged records are not open. For full certified copies of an order, contact the clerk of the specific court. Most courthouses let you walk in and view the docket in person.
Delaware Criminal History Records
Criminal history records in Delaware are handled by the State Bureau of Identification (SBI). The SBI sits inside the Delaware State Police. Read the process on the Delaware State Police criminal history page.
As of September 11, 2023, the SBI books fingerprint appointments at nine sites across the state. The list includes Wilmington, two sites in Newark, Middletown, two sites in Dover, Milford, Georgetown, and Seaford. Appointments are set through uenroll.identogo.com. The fee is $72.00 for a certified Delaware criminal history. A combined state and federal report costs $85.00 and is only for uses mandated by law.
Service codes differ by purpose. Personal Criminal History uses code 27RVGT. Handgun Qualified Purchaser uses 27S8N2. Expungement uses 27S23V. The Division of Professional Regulation also runs background checks for licensed jobs. See the DPR criminal background check page for the right service code for nurses, barbers, therapists, and other regulated fields.
The DPR cannot give you a copy of your own check. Copies go straight to the licensing board. If you need your personal record, run a Personal Criminal History through the SBI instead.
Delaware Business Entity Public Records
Delaware is a top state for business filings. The Division of Corporations holds records for every LLC, corporation, and limited partnership formed here. The free name search lives at icis.corp.delaware.gov.
A free search shows the entity name, file number, formation date, registered agent name and address, and residency. Paid add-ons go deeper. A status retrieval costs $10.00. Detailed info with franchise tax status and filing history runs $20.00. Certified copies of a filing need a separate request through an agent or the Document Filing service.
Automated scraping is not allowed. The Division blocks data mining. Use the tool for one-off lookups, title work, due diligence, or background research on a Delaware entity.
To check an LLC or corporation before signing a contract, start with this tool. A few seconds tells you if the entity is still active, who agent is, and what the official file number is.
Separate from corporate filings, the Delaware Department of State handles FOIA requests for its own agencies and divisions.
The Department of State takes requests online, by email, by fax at (302) 739-8436, by U.S. Mail, and in person at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. N., Dover, DE 19901.
Delaware Public Archives
The Delaware Public Archives holds historic state and local records. The building sits at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. North in Dover. Call (302) 744-5000 to reach staff. The Mabel Lloyd Ridgely Research Room is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Collections include colonial papers, military service files, land records, and vital statistics that go back to Delaware's founding. The archives also run a public records availability page at archives.delaware.gov/records-availability that explains what is open and what is not.
Some sets need lead time. Audio-visual records need a staff appointment. Architectural drawings need a notarized photo ID and a written request to the State Archivist. Medical records stay closed under Delaware law even after many years, and can only go to verified next of kin or under a court order.
The records availability page breaks down which Delaware public records stay closed. Educational, medical, criminal, personnel, and building or structural plans are all off-limits to FOIA. The law also excludes General Assembly files and Delaware court records.
Delaware General Assembly Records
The Delaware General Assembly has its own FOIA process, outlined on the General Assembly FOIA page. The coordinator is Mark Cutrona at Leghall_FOIA_Requests@delaware.gov or (302) 744-4114. Mail goes to Division of Legislative Services, Legislative Hall, 411 Legislative Avenue, Dover, DE 19901.
Many legislative records are already online. The site hosts bills from the 140th General Assembly forward (1998 onward). The Delaware Code sits under the "Delaware Laws" tab. House, Senate, and Joint Committee records are posted. Live video streams and archived recordings of floor sessions and committee meetings are free to stream.
Not everything is open. Emails between legislators are not released. Talks between a member and a constituent stay private. The body cites these carve-outs often when it denies a request.
For police-related data, use the Delaware State Police FOIA page. The DSP FOIA Coordinator is Angie von Bank at angie.vonbank@delaware.gov. The office is at 1441 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
Police reports, use-of-force data, and department policies fall under FOIA when not part of an active investigation. The DSP also runs the SBI for criminal history and the Delaware Justice Information System (DelJIS).
Fees and Response Times for Delaware Public Records
Fees are set statewide by 29 Del. C. § 10003. The rules apply to every public body in Delaware from state agencies down to small towns.
Standard fees for Delaware public records:
- First 20 pages of standard copies: free
- Standard black-and-white copies: $0.10 per sheet
- Double-sided standard copies: $0.20 per sheet
- Administrative fees: for staff time over one hour
- Certified copies: varies by agency
- Electronic records: often free when emailed
Timing matters just as much. A public body in Delaware must respond within 15 business days. The response must do one of three things. It can grant access. It can deny access and cite a specific exemption. It can state that more time is needed for voluminous records, legal review, or archived files. Silence is not an answer. A missed deadline is a violation you can report to the DOJ.
What Delaware Public Records Are Not Open
Not every state record is yours to see. Section 10002(o) of the FOIA lists the 19 main exemptions. Know these before you file so you can write a tighter request.
Common exemptions include trade secrets and proprietary commercial data. Personnel files and medical files are closed. Investigatory files for open law-enforcement cases are closed while the case is active. Intelligence files, records of pending litigation, and records of labor contract talks stay out of public view. Executive session minutes, certain tax returns, and records made confidential by other statutes are also exempt.
The FOIA does not reach the Delaware courts or the General Assembly. Court records follow judicial rules and are still mostly open through CourtConnect or the clerk's office. General Assembly records follow the legislative policy described above.
Note: An agency that claims an exemption must cite the section. Ask for the citation in writing if it is missing.
Browse Delaware Public Records by County
Delaware has three counties. Each one keeps its own property deeds, tax rolls, and FOIA requests. Pick a county to find local contact info, hours, and the right links for Delaware public records at that level.
Delaware Public Records by City
City halls in Delaware take their own FOIA requests for local files like meeting minutes, permits, and police reports. Pick a city below to see where to file and what records each town keeps.