Delaware Municipal Court Information

The judicial system in the state of Delaware resembles a pyramid. At the top is the Supreme Court, followed by the Superior Court, the Court of Chancery, the Court of Common Pleas, the Family Court, the Alderman’s Court and finally the Justice of the Peace Courts. While the Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the state, the Justice of the Peace Courts and the Alderman’s courts lie at the very base of the legal pyramid. As one moves up the judicial structure, the cases tend to become more and more complicated.

Currently there is no Delaware municipal court. The Court of Common Pleas in the state (http://courts.delaware.gov/Courts/Court%20of%20Common%20Pleas/) has jurisdiction over matters that are usually handled by the municipal courts. The Delaware Court of Common Pleas has the power to decide civil cases worth not more than $50,000. Applications for the change of one’s name are also to be filed in this court. It acts as a court of appeals in civil matters such as civil lawsuits from the Justice of the Peace Court and also administrative appeals forwarded from the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Contact Information for the Delaware Court System

The Delaware Court of Common Pleas is spread across three locations in the state. These include Sussex County, New Castle County and Kent County. The mailing address, contact numbers and working hours of each of these courthouses are given below:

Sussex County Courthouse
1 The Circle, Suite 1
Georgetown, DE 19947
Hours:     Monday – Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
(302) 856-5333

New Castle County Court of Common Pleas
500 North King Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Kent County Court of Common Pleas
38 The Green
Dover, DE 19901
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
(302) 739-4618

The courthouses remained closed on the days listed in the link http://courts.delaware.gov/Hours%20and%20Locations/?closings_holidays.htm.

Information on the Court of Common Pleas civil rules can be obtained from http://courts.delaware.gov/Courts/Court%20of%20Common%20Pleas/.

Information on criminal rules can be obtained from http://courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspx?id=39298.

If you want to get any information apart from what is featured on their website and case information, fill in the form available at http://courts.delaware.gov/Feedback/Court%20of%20Common%20Pleas/?feedback.htm .

More Information about Delaware Municipal Court

As far as criminal matters are concerned, the court has the power to hear cases concerning misdemeanors. The only exceptions in this regard are cases that involve traffic infractions and drug abuse. Felony cases are heard by the Delaware Court of Common Pleas. The Court of Common Pleas acts as an appellate court for decisions of the Alderman’s Court and the Justice of the Peace Court that are appealed.

The Justice of the Peace Court handles cases that are usually decided by the municipal courts. It has jurisdiction over cases where the amount involved is not more than $15,000. The judge of the peace court hears cases of motor vehicles except for those of felonies and also of some misdemeanors.

Permissible appeals are addressed to the Court of Common Pleas except for instances of juvenile delinquency where there has been a contempt of court during a truancy case proceeding. These cases come under the jurisdiction of the family court.

Specific Delaware Municipal Court Information:

Wilmington Municipal Court