Delaware Office of Vital Statistics
Division of Public Health

Vital Statistics Office locations:

• New Castle County: Limestone Building - (302) 995-8586
• Kent County: Jesse S. Cooper Building - (302) 744-4549
• Sussex County: Georgetown State Service Center - (302) 856-5495

The holdings of the Office of Vital Statistics contain birth records more recent than 72 years and marriage records more recent than 40 years. Information on how to obtain these records can be found at http://www.state.de.us/dhss/dph/ss/vitalstats.html.

Any extant birth, death, and marriage records older than these dates can be found in the Delaware Publich Archives (see below).

Delaware Public Archives
Hall of Records
121 Duke of York Street
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 739-5318
Fax (302) 739-2578

The Public Archives of Delaware has staff that will search early births, marriage, and death records that have been compiled from family Bibles, newspapers, church records, tombstones, and similar sources in their holdings. Prior to 1913 the state of Delaware did not strictly enforce any law to require the registration of births, deaths, or marriages. Vital records prior to this date are incomplete.

The Delaware Public Archives houses birth certificates created since 1913 that are 72 years or older and death and marriage certificates 40 years old or older. See their web site for more information and to order records.

Another helpful vital record resource available from the DPA is their Probate Database Search, which includes pre-1925 probates.

Wilmington Vital Records
310 Kiamensi Road
Wilmington, DE 19804
(302) 995-8588

Kent County Clerk
414 Federal Street
Dover 19901

New Castle County Clerk
800 French Street
Wilmington 19801

Sussex County Register of Wills
P.O. Box 743
Georgetown 19947

The National Archives, Mid-Atlantic Region
9th and Chestnut Streets
900 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 597-3000