Find a Marriage License in Wilmington

Wilmington residents and couples planning to marry in Delaware's largest city apply for their marriage license at the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace office on N. French Street. The office is right in the city, on the second floor of the county building at 800 N. French Street. As of April 2025, all visits require an appointment. Both parties must come together and bring valid ID. The license is valid statewide, not just in Wilmington.

Where to Apply for a Wilmington Marriage License

Wilmington does not have its own marriage license bureau. The city is the county seat of New Castle County, and all marriage licenses for the area come from the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace. The office is at 800 N. French Street, 2nd Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801. You're not going to a separate building or a different city. It's right here in Wilmington.

As of April 1, 2025, you cannot walk in without an appointment. Call (302) 395-7780 to schedule your appointment before you come in. Both parties must arrive at the scheduled time. The office is open Monday through Friday. License applications are processed from 8:00 to 11:30 AM and again from 1:00 to 3:30 PM. The office closes for lunch, so timing matters.

What You Need to Get a Wilmington Marriage License

Both applicants must come to the office at the same time. Each person needs a valid photo ID that shows their date of birth. Options include a state driver's license or DMV ID, a passport, a consulate ID, or a military ID for active duty personnel. Proof of current address is also required. If only one of you is a Delaware resident, you still qualify for the resident fee of $70 total. Both the $70 resident fee and the $120 non-resident fee include the $20 recording charge.

You'll be asked for your parents' birth names (maiden names), your place of birth (state or country only), and your current address. If either party was previously married, bring the original or certified copy of the divorce decree, annulment, or death certificate. No photocopies. If a prior divorce also involved a name change you later reclaimed, bring the original name change court documents too.

If one of you doesn't speak English, a third-party translator must come with you. The translator must be at least 18 and bring their own ID. An original letter from a Probation Officer is required if either applicant is on probation or parole. All applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Civil Ceremonies in Wilmington

Wilmington offers civil ceremony options beyond what the Clerk of the Peace provides. The city has its own City Hall at 800 N. French Street, and civil ceremonies can be arranged for an additional fee. Contact City Hall directly to ask about scheduling and what's involved.

For wedding venues in Wilmington, the area has a wide variety of options. The Wedding Spot venue guide for Wilmington lists local options ranging from historic buildings to waterfront settings. Keep in mind that for gatherings in city parks or public spaces, permits may be required for events over a certain size. Check with the city's Parks and Recreation office if your ceremony will be outdoors.

Under Delaware law, judges, justices of the peace, licensed ministers, and clergy registered with the Clerk of the Peace may perform marriages. The mayor of an incorporated municipality can also solemnize marriages within city limits. That means Wilmington's mayor is legally authorized to perform wedding ceremonies within the city's boundaries.

Wedding Spot's Wilmington venue listings shows available ceremony and reception sites in the city, helpful for couples who want to plan the whole event locally.

License Rules for Wilmington Couples

The same Delaware rules apply in Wilmington as everywhere else in the state. You must apply at least 24 hours before the ceremony. The license is valid for 30 days. If you don't use it within 30 days, it's void. You'd need to start over and pay again. No refunds or reinstatements.

After your ceremony, the officiant must return the completed marriage license to the Clerk of the Peace within 4 days. They also send copies to the Office of Vital Statistics within 5 days. Once the record is processed, you can request a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Office of Vital Statistics at their New Castle County branch at 258 Chapman Road, Newark, DE 19702. Phone: (302) 283-7130. Copies cost $25 each and require photo ID.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Delaware since 2013. The first same-sex marriage license in the state was issued right here in Wilmington, in the city council building, on July 1, 2013. That day, 53 same-sex couples married in New Castle County alone.

County That Handles Wilmington Filings

Wilmington is in New Castle County. All marriage license applications go through the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace at 800 N. French Street.

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