Harrington Marriage License

Marriage licenses in Harrington are issued by the Kent County Clerk of the Peace in Dover. Harrington is one of three cities in Kent County, along with Dover and Milford. The Harrington City Hall at 106 Dorman Street handles local permits and city business, but marriage licenses are a county function. To get a marriage license in Harrington, you head to Dover. The Kent County Clerk's office there handles everything from application to certified copies.

Where Harrington Residents Apply

Harrington is served by the Kent County Clerk of the Peace in Dover. The office is at 555 Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901. Phone: 302-744-2346. Email: Clerk@kentcountyde.gov. The current Clerk is Hon. Brenda Wootten. Harrington is about 14 miles from the Dover office, roughly a 20-minute drive depending on traffic.

Licenses are issued Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM. Do not arrive after 4:15 PM expecting to start an application. The full process takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Kent County is cash only for all fees and ceremonies. Bring exact cash when you go. Both applicants must appear together at the time of application.

The Harrington city government website confirms that marriage licenses are not issued at the city level. For all marriage license applications, Harrington residents go to the Kent County Clerk of the Peace in Dover.

Harrington Marriage License Fees

The fee for a marriage license is $70 for Delaware residents and $120 for non-residents. Both are cash only. If one of you is a Delaware resident, you qualify for the lower rate. Bring proof of your current Delaware address. Fees are nonrefundable. If you don't use the license within 30 days, you must reapply and pay again.

If you want the Kent County Clerk of the Peace to perform your ceremony, additional fees apply. For in-state residents: $50 for a Monday through Friday regular hours ceremony, $75 for after-hours weekdays, and $100 on Saturdays or out-of-office. For non-Delaware residents: $100, $125, and $150 respectively. Out-of-office ceremonies cost $100 for residents and $100 for non-residents (cash only for everything).

What Harrington Applicants Need to Bring

Both parties must come in together during the license issuance window. Each person needs a valid photo ID showing their date of birth: a state driver's license or DMV ID, a passport, or an active duty military ID. Proof of your current Delaware address is needed for the resident rate. The name on your ID is the name that goes on the license.

You'll provide your parents' maiden names, your birthplace (state or country), and your current address. If you were previously married, bring the original or certified divorce decree, annulment, or death certificate. No photocopies accepted. If you've legally changed your name back after a divorce, bring the name change court documents. All documents not in English require a certified translation.

If one party does not speak English, a translator is required. The translator must be 18 or older and bring valid ID. An original Probation Officer letter is needed if either party is on probation or parole. All applicants must be at least 18 years old. No exceptions exist under Delaware law.

The Kent County About Us page lists Harrington as one of the three cities in Kent County and describes how the Clerk of the Peace serves the county's residents, including those in Harrington.

Harrington Vital Records and Marriage Certificates

Birth, death, and marriage records for Harrington residents are held at both county and state offices. The Kent County Clerk of the Peace issues and maintains marriage records at the county level. The Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Vital Statistics in Dover, holds statewide vital records and can issue certified copies of marriage certificates for events from 1969 forward. The Dover OVS office is at 417 Federal Street, Dover, DE 19901. Phone: (302) 744-4549.

Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $25 each. Valid photo ID is required for all requests. You can also order by mail by sending a written request, a photocopy of your ID, and a money order made out to "Office of Vital Statistics," plus a self-addressed stamped envelope. Online ordering is available through VitalChek.

Marriage records in Delaware are not public until 40 years have passed. Until then, only the parties on the document or their legal representatives can request copies. For older records (more than 50 years), contact the Delaware Public Archives at (302) 744-5000.

County That Handles Harrington Filings

Harrington is in Kent County. Marriage licenses come from the Clerk of the Peace in Dover.

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