New Castle County, Delaware Genealogy Records

Selected record inventories for New Castle County, their listed years, and where to ask for access.

Selected inventory review: 2026-11-02. Selected collection metadata checked against repository catalog descriptions. This is not a complete holdings audit, examination of original records, or certification of current access. See the access note for limitations. Repository catalog or holdings guide

Formed
1673
County seat
Wilmington
Kent CountyNew Castle CountyKentNew Castle
New Castle CountyToday's boundaries · U.S. Census Bureau

Listed record inventories

Selected holdings and indexes for New Castle County, checked against the repository descriptions linked below. Date spans may contain gaps; an index is not a complete set of original records.

Deeds and land

Poor relief and institutions

Court records

Wills and estates

See the repository's descriptions and search options

Repository access note: Selected county-specific indexes linked by the Delaware Public Archives collection gateway to its current Collections Portal. Dates were not supplied on the gateway; check the portal entry. An index result does not establish online access to the original record.

Sources: the catalogs and repository descriptions linked on the entries above. Selected inventories do not establish complete coverage of every record type or online access to original documents. Read the repository access note for source dates and limitations.

Where to find the records

  • Find New Castle County's official website

    We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the recorder of deeds and the register of wills.

  • The recorder of deeds

    Deeds and other land records, one office in each county.

  • The register of wills

    Wills, estates and guardianships.

  • The Delaware Public Archives

    In Dover: most of the state's older county records, including deeds, wills, estates, court and vital records.

  • Delaware Public Archivesfree

    The state archives in Dover, which holds most of Delaware's older county records: probate, land, court, tax and vital records.

  • FamilySearch Catalogfree

    Search by place for "Delaware, New Castle" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.

Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.

Boundaries and parent counties

Formed from: Land not yet in any county

Somerset (Md.)Worcester (Md., original, extinct)New AmstelNew AmstelWorcester (Md., original, extinct)
New Amstel as created in 1673Where its land was the day beforeToday's boundaryBoundaries: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1673, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.

Research tip

Delaware has only three counties, and the Delaware Public Archives holds most of their older records in one place. Check its probate and land records first.