REQUESTING RECORDS
Thank you for your interest in the records housed at the Delaware Public Archives. Please read the following information before placing your request, as it will provide information to help you form your inquiries for better results. If you already have exact references and merely need to request a price quote, please mail or submit the Record Request Form listed below. Exact references must include the appropriate citation needed to access a record; including: type of record, county, name of individual, date of record, volume, page number, etc.
Record Request Form
This form will aid you in providing the information the Delaware Public Archives will need to process your request in the most expeditious manner. Download it, fill it out, then print it and bring it with you or press the submit button at the bottom of the page and the form will be automatically attached to an email you can send to us. Download Form.
Associated fees:
Reader Printer Copies - $.50
Reader Printer Scanner - $.50 per image, $2.50 per CD (scanning from microfilm)
Manuscript/Book Copies - $.50
Computer print outs - $.10
Vital Statistics - $25.00 certified copy
Hundreds Maps - $1.00 per sheet
Architectural Drawings/Oversized maps – $3.50 a sheet
Mail orders:
1 – 10 pages - $10.00
11-20 pages - $15.00
21-30 pages - $20.00
31-40 pages - $25.00
41-50 pages - $30.00
51-60 pages - $35.00
Please note: Orders over 50 pages may be requested either on paper or CD at no additional cost.
Genealogical Research
We are unable to perform genealogical research for patrons. We encourage patrons to visit our facility located at 121 Duke of York Street, on the corner of Duke of York Street and Legislative Avenue in Dover, Delaware.
Historical Research
The research room staff will provide searches of our record group database to verify the existence of pertinent records regarding the research topic requested. However, the research room staff cannot perform research for patrons. Once the staff has identified the records pertinent to your query, arrangements can be made for the researcher to view the records on-site.
Vital Records
The research room staff will undertake searches of indexed births, deaths and marriages abstracted from many of our holdings. Before 1913, the vital records of Delaware are not complete. Our files of early births, marriage, and death records have been compiled from family Bibles, newspapers, church records, tombstones, and similar sources; however, our holdings do contain vital records materials that are not indexed and cannot be searched by the staff. Please visit our facility to research all available materials. On July 1, 1913, that state of Delaware established a law requiring the registration of births, deaths, and marriages. 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. This means that we only have birth certificates up through and including 1935, and marriage and death certificates up through and including 1967. Please use the "Record Request" form on our Public Forms page to order.
To obtain vital records issued after the dates above please contact the Office of Vital Statistics. Contact information for the Office of Vital Statistics is available on their website at http://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/ss/vitalstats.html.
Marriage Record
Approximate dates must be provided if a specific date is not known .
Vital Records: $25.00 certified copy
Photographic Records Request
Fill out the Photograph Order form on the Photo Order Instruction page, print it out, and then mail it along with your payment to Delaware Public Archives, Hall of Records, 121 Duke of York Street, Dover, Delaware 19901. This order form is in pdf format and requires Acrobat Reader software.
Associated fees are listed on the Photo Order Instruction page.
Probate Requests
To request probate files please include the name(s), date of death or probate file, and county of residence of the deceased. For example: New Castle County Probate John Smith died about 1797. Link to the Probate Index
Corporations
For information regarding companies incorporated in the state of Delaware after March 10, 1899 please visit the Division of Corporations at http://corp.delaware.gov .
Things to Remember
We will search the indexed birth, death, and marriage records, the checklisted probate materials, and naturalization records for up to five items per request.Provide all pertinent information regarding your request (i.e. record type, name, date, place) in order for us to be able to respond to your request.
When you place your request the research room staff will perform a search for the record requested provided that all pertinent information is included. If a record is found, the staff will send you via e-mail a price quote for obtaining copies of the records requested. To order: print, sign and return the price quote with payment. Please use the Records Request Form for a price quote or additional information.
