Sussex County Court Docket

The Sussex County court docket is kept at the courthouse in Georgetown. Civil case info is open through CourtConnect. Records that are not online can be pulled in person at the Prothonotary or by a written request. Sussex is Delaware's southernmost county. It covers Georgetown, Seaford, Lewes, Milford (partly), Rehoboth Beach, and Bethany Beach. Joyce Collins is the current Sussex County Prothonotary.

Sussex County Courthouse and Court Docket

The Sussex County Courthouse stands at 1 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947. The historic building houses the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, Court of Chancery, Register in Chancery, and Prothonotary. The main phone line is (302) 855-7055. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Public access begins at 8:30 AM.

Read the full details on the Sussex County Courthouse page.

The page lists the courts at the courthouse, posted hours, security rules, and a link to the court calendar. Cell phones and iWatches are not allowed inside the courthouse. Security screening is required at the door. Photo ID is also required.

The Court of Chancery also keeps a separate office in Sussex County at 34 The Circle, Georgetown. Phone (302) 856-5777. The court hears corporate, trust, and guardianship cases for the area. Published opinions are on the court's website.

Sussex County Superior Court Docket

The Superior Court in Sussex County hears felony cases and civil matters over $50,000. The Prothonotary keeps the civil court docket. Contact info is 1 The Circle, Suite 2, Georgetown, DE 19947. Phone (302) 855-7055. Fax (302) 856-5739. The Prothonotary direct line is (302) 858-5340.

Check the Sussex Superior Court page for forms, fee schedules, and office hours.

The Superior Court page has the current fee chart, e-filing info, and the records request form. Civil docket info is searchable online. Criminal records need a written request.

Certified copies cost $15 for the first three pages. Each extra page is up to $2. A $25 retrieval fee may apply to old records. Pay by cash or check. Credit cards are not taken. Records are held for pickup; the office does not mail them.

Under 10 Del. C. § 2304, the Prothonotary keeps two indices of judgments, one by plaintiff and one by defendant. Each judgment is indexed the same day it is entered. Bond judgments are noted with the exact hour and minute.

Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court Docket

Sussex County runs six JP Court locations across the county. The courts cover civil cases up to $25,000, landlord-tenant cases, traffic, and minor crimes. JP Courts are not courts of record, so appeals head to the Court of Common Pleas.

Visit the Sussex JP Court page for the full list.

The page covers Court 2 in Lewes, Court 3 in Georgetown, Court 4 in Seaford, Court 14 in Georgetown, Court 17 in Georgetown (civil), and the Truancy Court in Seaford. Each location has its own phone and address.

Sussex JP Court locations and case types:

• JP Court 2 (Lewes): criminal, (302) 645-6163
• JP Court 3 (Georgetown): criminal, (302) 856-1445
• JP Court 4 (Seaford): criminal, (302) 628-2036
• JP Court 14 (Georgetown): criminal, DUI, (302) 856-4657
• JP Court 17 (Georgetown): civil, (302) 856-1447
• Truancy Court (Seaford): (302) 629-5433

JP Court record fees are set: disposition record $7, certified civil copy $10, civil docket $0.25 per page, audio recording CD $25. Submit Form MISC35 to pull a record.

Sussex County Alderman's Court Docket

Sussex County has four Alderman's Courts in municipal areas. These are not part of the Delaware judicial system. They handle local ordinances, parking, and minor offenses inside town limits. Appeals go to the Court of Common Pleas within 15 days of judgment.

The four Alderman's Courts in Sussex:

• Rehoboth Beach (Court 37): 229 Rehoboth Avenue, (302) 227-7917
• Bethany Beach (Court 31): 214 Garfield Parkway, (302) 537-3891
• Dewey Beach (Court 36): 105 Rodney Avenue, (302) 227-6630
• Laurel (Court 35): 201 Mechanic Street, (302) 875-2855

Each court handles cases within its own town's charter. Judges are nominated by the governor and confirmed by the state senate. Appeals must be filed on time with a $500 bond. Taking an appeal waives the right to a writ of certiorari in Superior Court.

Sussex County Court Records Info

The Sussex Records site has a detailed guide to court records in the county. It covers retention, access, and fees. Read the Sussex Records court records page for a breakdown.

The page goes through record types held by each Sussex court, what is public, and what is restricted. It also lists the retention schedule for each record type.

Superior Court civil cases are kept 20 years after final disposition if a judgment was entered. Common Pleas civil files are held 7 years. JP Court civil files are kept 5 years. Criminal cases in the JP Court run 5 to 7 years. Traffic cases are kept 3 years. Family Court divorce records are permanent.

Family Court records that involve minors are not open. Juvenile files are sealed at age 18 and destroyed at age 21. Mental health cases are closed. Adoption records are sealed. Records with personal identifiers, such as full SSNs or bank accounts, are redacted in public copies.

Other Sussex County Court Docket Resources

The Sussex County Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records and jail info. The office is at 22215 DuPont Boulevard, Georgetown, DE 19947. Phone (302) 856-5890. The Sussex Correctional Institution is at the same address.

Local police departments handle arrest records for their towns. These include Georgetown PD, Seaford PD, Lewes PD, Rehoboth Beach PD, and Milford PD.

For a certified Delaware criminal history, contact the State Bureau of Identification at 1407 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901. Phone (302) 739-5880. Fee is $52 per check. Bring a rolled fingerprint card and a photo ID. The SBI is the only office that can issue a certified Delaware criminal history.

Property records for Sussex County, including judgment liens on real estate, are at the Sussex County Recorder of Deeds. The office is in the Sussex County Courthouse at 2 The Circle, Suite 102, Georgetown. Civil judgments from the Superior Court often get recorded here as liens. Basic index searches are public. Deeds and mortgages are open as well.

Cities in Sussex County

Sussex includes Seaford, Lewes, Milford (partly), and many beach towns. Pick a city to see its JP Court and local info.

Other Delaware Counties

New Castle County is the northernmost. Kent County sits in the middle. Each county keeps its own court docket and courthouse staff.