How Marriage Licenses Work Across Delaware

Delaware makes the licensing map easy to learn. The state has only three counties, and each one has its own Marriage Bureau run through the county Clerk of the Peace. Couples apply at one of these offices, wait out a short legal period, collect the license, and then hold a ceremony inside Delaware. There is no separate state licensing counter for weddings, so the county bureau is where the process starts and, for many couples, where it ends.

Marriage in Delaware is governed by Title 13 of the Delaware Code, which covers domestic relations. That law sets the basic rules on age, waiting periods, who may perform a ceremony, and how the signed license returns to the county. The counties handle the paperwork day to day, so front-desk details such as hours, payment types, and appointments can differ from one bureau to the next. Always call before you drive.

This directory lists all three bureaus: Kent County Marriage License in Dover, Sussex County Marriage License in Georgetown, and New Castle County Marriage License in Wilmington. With so few offices, the real question is not which agency to pick but which county fits your wedding plans, your schedule, and your travel time.

The title Clerk of the Peace sounds unusual if you are new to the state. It is a county-level office that issues marriage licenses and also performs civil wedding ceremonies. The same office that issues your license can often schedule your ceremony, which is why many couples finish both steps with a single bureau.

Dover, Georgetown and Wilmington: Three Bureaus in Three Different Settings

Delaware is a small state, but its counties feel very different. The drive from Wilmington to Georgetown takes well over an hour, and the pace of life changes along the way. The northern end is dense and suburban, the middle is anchored by state government, and the southern end mixes farmland with beach resorts. Each bureau reflects that setting.

New Castle County: Wilmington

The New Castle County bureau is at 800 N. French St., 2nd Floor, in Wilmington, and the phone number is 302-395-7780. This is Delaware's most urban county, and it includes Wilmington, Newark, and the suburbs between them. Expect more foot traffic here than at the other two offices. Couples planning a downtown venue, a Brandywine Valley wedding, or a quick courthouse-style ceremony often find New Castle County the most convenient choice. Because demand is higher, ask about appointments, ceremony scheduling, and busy days such as Fridays and Saturdays before you set your date.

Kent County: Dover

The Kent County bureau is at 555 S. Bay Road in Dover, and you can reach it at 302-744-2346. Dover is the state capital and the home of Dover Air Force Base, so the office serves state employees, military families, and long-time Kent residents. Its central position also makes it a practical meeting point for couples who live at opposite ends of the state. If you are weighing options, Kent County is often the easiest drive for people coming from both north and south.

Sussex County: Georgetown

The Sussex County bureau is at 2 The Circle, 2nd Floor, Room 226, in Georgetown, with a mailing box listed as P.O. Box 29. The phone number is 302-853-1717. Georgetown is the county seat, built around the open square known as The Circle. Sussex County also includes beach towns such as Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, and Bethany Beach, so many out-of-state couples plan destination weddings here. Summer weekends are busy across the county, so line up your application dates well ahead of any venue booking.

The metro-versus-rural split shows up in the details. In New Castle County, you are likely to find more couples, more appointment pressure, and more venue choices within a short drive. In Sussex County, wedding traffic is seasonal and clustered around the coast, while the Georgetown office sits inland. Kent County falls in between, with steady local demand and fewer tourists. None of this changes the legal requirements, but it affects how early you should call.

Delaware Marriage License Rules That Shape Your Timeline

Delaware's rules are fairly short, but a few of them affect when you can apply and when you can marry. The points below reflect long-standing state law. Confirm any detail with your bureau, because statutes and fees can change.

The waiting period is the rule that catches people out. A couple flying in for a weekend beach wedding cannot count on applying and marrying on the same day. Treat the license as a two-step process: apply first, then collect it once the wait has passed. Non-resident couples should ask each bureau how to schedule the application and pickup around that longer wait.

What to Bring and How to Plan Your Visit to a Delaware Marriage Bureau

Plan to apply together. Delaware bureaus generally expect both partners to appear in person, so confirm that before you travel. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport, and be prepared to give your full legal names, dates of birth, places of birth, and addresses. The form also asks for parents' names, and you may be asked for Social Security numbers. If you do not have a number, ask the clerk how the bureau handles that situation.

Ask about payment before you leave home. Some government counters take cards, others prefer cash or a money order, and policies can change. A short call to 302-395-7780, 302-744-2346, or 302-853-1717 can save a wasted trip. Also ask about opening hours, holiday closures, and whether the bureau offers on-site ceremonies, because that can turn your pickup visit into your wedding day.

After the ceremony, the officiant completes the license and it goes back to the Clerk of the Peace to be recorded. Certified copies of a marriage certificate, needed for name changes, insurance, or immigration filings, usually come from the bureau or from the state's Office of Vital Statistics in the Division of Public Health. Ask which applies to you and how long processing takes.

Start with the county that matches your venue, call the bureau, and confirm the waiting period for your situation. Book the ceremony only after you know when the license will be in your hands. Then use the Kent County, Sussex County, and New Castle County pages in this directory to find the office nearest you.

Marriage licenses in Delaware are issued by county clerks or recorders, with requirements for identification, fees, and waiting periods set by state law. Couples must obtain their license from a county within the state where the ceremony will be performed.

Marriage Licenses locations are available in 3 cities across Delaware. They are spread across 3 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Dover, Georgetown, Wilmington, which serve as county seats with the busiest marriage license offices in the state.

Couples in Delaware should verify current ID and documentation requirements directly with the issuing county clerk before applying, as requirements for previously divorced or widowed applicants may differ from those marrying for the first time.

Marriage Licenses by Counties

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Couples in Delaware should check whether their county clerk offers online appointment scheduling for marriage license applications, which can reduce wait times significantly compared to walk-in visits, especially during the busy spring and summer wedding season.

Browse Marriage Licenses by county across Delaware to find the nearest location.

Marriage Licenses in Delaware: Choosing the Right County Office

Because Delaware has only three marriage bureaus, your choice usually comes down to geography. If your venue is in Wilmington, Newark, or the Brandywine Valley, the New Castle County bureau on N. French Street is the natural fit. If you plan to marry in or near the capital, or you live somewhere between the two ends of the state, the Kent County bureau on S. Bay Road in Dover saves driving time. If your wedding is in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, or the inland towns around Georgetown, the Sussex County bureau on The Circle is closest.

Keep the license and the ceremony in sync. The waiting period delays pickup, the validity window limits how far ahead you can collect it, and your officiant needs the document in hand on the wedding day. Put the pickup date on your planning calendar next to the venue booking and the officiant's name. A few minutes of scheduling often matters more than any fee.

Finally, treat phone numbers and hours as moving targets. The numbers listed here come from our database of county offices, but counters change schedules around holidays, court events, and staffing. Check each bureau's current instructions, and keep any receipt or application number until your certificate arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions About Delaware Marriage Licenses

Each of Delaware's three counties has a Clerk of the Peace, and the county Marriage Bureau issues the license. You typically apply in person at the bureau for the county you choose: Kent County at 555 S. Bay Road in Dover, Sussex County at 2 The Circle in Georgetown, or New Castle County at 800 N. French St. in Wilmington. There is no single statewide counter. Procedures are managed locally, so phone the bureau about hours, appointments, and payment methods before you go. The staff there are the final authority on how your application will be handled.

Delaware requires a waiting period between your application and the date the license is issued. When at least one applicant lives in Delaware, it is generally 24 hours. When neither applicant is a Delaware resident, the wait is longer, commonly 96 hours. That means you cannot reliably apply and marry on the same day. Out-of-state couples planning a beach wedding in Sussex County should build the extra days into their trip and book lodging accordingly. Because waiting periods are set by statute and can be amended, confirm the current rule with the bureau when you call to schedule your application.

A Delaware marriage license is generally valid for 30 days from the date it is issued. If the ceremony does not happen in that window, the license expires and you would need to apply again and pay the fee again. The license is also meant for a ceremony in Delaware, so it will not cover a wedding in Maryland, Pennsylvania, or New Jersey. Collect it close enough to your wedding to stay inside the window, but early enough to allow for the waiting period. Give the license to your officiant, who must complete it and return it to the Clerk of the Peace.

No. Delaware issues licenses to out-of-state couples, which suits people planning a destination wedding in places like Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, or Bethany Beach. The Georgetown bureau in Sussex County is the closest office to those towns. The main difference for non-residents is the longer waiting period that applies when neither partner lives in Delaware. Bring valid photo identification and information about any prior marriages. If you live outside the United States or have unusual documents, call ahead and ask what the clerk needs to see. It is better to settle those questions by phone than to discover them at the counter.

No. Delaware law sets 18 as the minimum age to marry, and in 2018 the state became the first in the country to end child marriage with no exceptions for parental consent or court approval. Both applicants must be at least 18 when they apply. The bureau will check your photo ID and date of birth, so bring a current driver's license, state ID, or passport. If you are close to your 18th birthday, wait until you reach it before you book a venue or an officiant. The age rule applies the same way in Kent, Sussex, and New Castle counties.

After your officiant returns the signed license, the marriage is recorded. For certified copies needed for a name change, insurance, or Social Security updates, start with the bureau where you got the license and ask whether it can issue copies. The state's Office of Vital Statistics, within the Division of Public Health, also handles marriage records. Ask about processing times, acceptable ID, and fees when you call. Order a few certified copies at once, because banks, the DMV, and employers often keep the original. Do not rely on a decorative certificate from your officiant, since agencies usually want an official certified copy.