Delaware County Records Directory
Delaware County lies southeast of Philadelphia and borders the state of Delaware. Around 570,000 people live here. Media serves as the county seat. Delaware County operates under a home rule charter with a County Council form of government. The Delaware County residents directory covers court records, property files, vital records, voter data, and archived documents. This page explains where each type of record is held and how to request it from Delaware County offices.
Delaware County Quick Facts
Delaware County Court Records Search
The Office of Judicial Support handles both civil and criminal court records in Delaware County. The Civil Division maintains lawsuits, judgments, and other civil matters. You can view civil records online through the C-Track Public Access system, which provides civil case dockets and the judgment index for Delaware County.
The Criminal Division maintains criminal court records. This includes magisterial district court cases that were appealed to the Court of Common Pleas. Criminal dockets can also be accessed through the Pennsylvania UJS Web Portal. Both civil and criminal records in Delaware County are open to the public under the Right-to-Know Law.
The Office of Judicial Support is at 201 West Front Street in Media, PA 19063. You can call (610) 891-4370 for questions about court records in Delaware County. Files from the current year plus five prior years are kept in the office. Older files must be requested from archives, so call ahead to arrange retrieval.
Note: Only parties and their attorney may see the full contents of certain case files in Delaware County, though docket information is public.
Delaware County Archives Directory
The Delaware County Archives hold historical records going back to the late 1700s. The archives are in Building 19 at the Fair Acres Geriatric Complex. Free parking is available just outside the building. When you arrive, you must complete a registration form with your name, phone number or email, and address.
You can visit in person, send a request by mail, or submit a request by email. However, copies are not sent by email. Check the indexes online before you submit a request to the Delaware County Archives. This helps you know exactly which records to ask for.
The archives hold a wide range of Delaware County records. Birth records cover 1852 to 1854 and 1893 to 1906, though coverage varies by municipality. Death records span the same time periods. Marriage records are available from 1852 to 1854 and 1885 to 1950. Civil docket books go from 1797 to 1929, and criminal docket books cover 1806 to 1929. Orphans' Court docket books date from 1790 to 1882, with estate case files from 1789 to 1950. The Delaware County residents directory also includes naturalization records from 1795 to 1990 and veterans' grave registrations from 1775 to 2010.
The Pennsylvania State Archives website provides access to state-level records that may also cover Delaware County residents and properties.
The Ancestry PA partnership gives free access to digitized historical records for Pennsylvania residents, which can help with Delaware County research.
- Civil case files from 1789 to 1897
- Criminal cases from 1790 to 1922
- Delaware County assessments from 1791 to 1903
- Veterans records from 1860 to 1935
- Liquor licenses from 1860 to 1923
- Inmates in Delaware County prisons from 1873 to 1917
Delaware County Wills and Estates
The Register of Wills maintains estate records and issues marriage licenses for Delaware County. The office handles probate of wills and administration of estates. It also serves as Clerk of the Orphans' Court. Guardianship and adoption records are held here. Marriage license records in Delaware County are available for records after 1950. For older marriage records from 1885 to 1950, contact the Delaware County Archives.
Inheritance tax filing is also processed through this office. Staff can guide you through the probate process, but they cannot give legal advice about your Delaware County estate matter. The Register of Wills is located at the courthouse in Media.
Sheriff Records in Delaware County
The Sheriff's Office conducts monthly real estate sales of foreclosed properties in Delaware County. Sale listings and procedures are posted on the office website. The Sheriff also serves court orders and provides courtroom security. Concealed carry permit applications are handled by this office as well.
Records of sheriff sales and service of process are available through the Delaware County residents directory. If you need to confirm whether a property went through a sheriff sale, this office can help. Contact the Sheriff's Office for sale schedules and property listings in Delaware County.
Delaware County Open Records Requests
Delaware County has an Open Records Officer who handles all Right-to-Know requests. The officer is located at 201 West Front Street, Room 205, Media, PA 19063. Requests can be submitted by mail, hand delivery, email at OpenRecords@co.delaware.pa.us, or fax at (610) 891-4816. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Use the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records Standard Right to Know Request Form or the Delaware County JustFOIA Form. If you request an email response, you will get a link to view and download records through the JustFOIA portal. A request number and security key are provided for portal access.
The agency must respond within five business days. If there is no response, the request is deemed denied. You can appeal to the Office of Open Records within 15 business days. Standard fees are $0.25 per page for photocopies and $2.00 for certified copies in Delaware County.
Note: Requests to Delaware County must use the official RTK form or JustFOIA form to be processed.
Voter Records for Delaware County
The Bureau of Elections administers elections and keeps voter registration records for Delaware County. You can check your registration status through the Pennsylvania Voter Services portal. Absentee ballot applications, polling place lookups, and election results are also available.
Voter registration requires a driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Register online, by mail, or in person at the Delaware County Bureau of Elections. Campaign finance reports and election records are part of the public Delaware County residents directory.
Delaware County Vital Records
Birth and death records from 1906 to the present are maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Order certified copies through pa.gov Vital Records. For records before 1906, the Delaware County Archives hold birth and death records from 1852 to 1854 and 1893 to 1906. Coverage varies by municipality within Delaware County.
The Ancestry PA partnership provides free access to digitized records for Pennsylvania residents. This includes death certificates from 1906 to 1971 and birth records from 1906 to 1915. For Delaware County birth records, note that some municipalities did not submit records in 1906, including Radnor, Swarthmore, and Tinicum. Upper Darby has no birth records at the archives. Contact the Department of Health for records after 1906.
Marriage records at the Delaware County Archives cover 1885 to 1950. For marriages after 1950, contact the Register of Wills at (610) 891-4400. The Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes govern how vital records are maintained and who can access them.
Legal Help in Delaware County
Several organizations provide legal assistance in Delaware County. The Delaware County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service can be reached at (610) 566-6625. Legal Aid of Southeastern PA serves Delaware County residents at 877-429-5994. These services help people find lawyers or get help with court forms in Delaware County.
The Pennsylvania Courts website has forms and guides for self-represented litigants. The UJS Web Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives you free access to court dockets across all Pennsylvania counties, including Delaware County. The PAeDocket mobile app works on Apple and Android devices for on-the-go searches.
Cities in Delaware County
Delaware County has many municipalities. County-level records are maintained at the courthouse in Media. Local records may be held by individual cities and townships listed below in the residents directory.
Each municipality in Delaware County may maintain its own records for permits, zoning, and local services.
Nearby Counties
Delaware County borders Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Chester counties. If the person or property you are looking up is in a different county, use that county's residents directory instead. Records are filed in the county where the event or transaction took place.