Sussex County Marriage License Office

About the Sussex County Clerk of the Peace

The Clerk of the Peace is one of the older county offices in Delaware. The role grew out of an earlier court system where magistrates kept the peace and the clerk recorded their work. Today the position is best known for running the Marriage Bureau. The current Sussex County Clerk of the Peace is Norman A. Jones Jr., known locally as Jay. Chief Deputy Maria Camila Pena Suarez assists in the office and is a Spanish speaker. Karen Mitchell serves as Clerk. The office operates from the Sussex County Administrative Office Building on The Circle in Georgetown.

Clerk of the Peace work is narrow but high-volume in Sussex County. Coastal Delaware draws in-state and out-of-state couples who plan ceremonies in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, and the surrounding inland towns. The Marriage Bureau is appointment-only for every service, which keeps the line manageable. The office does not handle divorces. Divorce cases are filed in Family Court and are governed by separate Delaware law. The Clerk of the Peace also does not record deeds or estates; those go to the Recorder of Deeds and the Register of Wills.

Sussex County Marriage Bureau Services

The Marriage Bureau covers four main services. Each requires an advance appointment. The office asks callers to leave a message if no one picks up the phone, and staff returns the call to schedule. Walk-ins are not accepted for any service because the appointment system keeps the small office workable.

• Marriage license issuance for ceremonies that will take place in Delaware
• Memorable Marriage ceremonies officiated by Marriage Bureau staff
• Certified copies of marriage licenses issued in Sussex County
• General Clerk of the Peace duties under Delaware law

Certified copies are limited to licenses originally issued in Sussex County. A license issued in Kent or New Castle County must be requested from that county's Clerk of the Peace. Out-of-state marriages are not held here. The office cannot certify a record it did not issue.

How to Get a Marriage License in Sussex County

The basic license process in Sussex follows Delaware Title 13. The steps below cover the typical applicant path. Couples planning a ceremony in Sussex County should call as early as possible because peak summer dates fill quickly along the coast.

1. Call 302-853-1717 to request an appointment. Leave a voicemail if no one answers. Email marriagebureau@sussexcountyde.gov is also accepted.
2. Schedule the license appointment. Both partners must appear together at the appointment. Confirm what identification documents to bring under current Marriage Bureau instructions.
3. Arrive at 2 The Circle, 2nd Floor, Room 226. Enter the Administrative Office Building during regular hours and go to the second floor.
4. Present the required identification. Delaware requires proof of age and identity. The Bureau confirms exact document requirements at the time of scheduling.
5. Pay the current license fee at the appointment. The official Marriage Bureau page links a Fees section; the dollar amount should be confirmed by phone before the visit.
6. Complete the license application. Both partners sign the application as required by 13 Del. C. Chapter 1.
7. Wait for the statutory waiting period if it applies under current Delaware Title 13. Confirm timing at the appointment.
8. Hold the ceremony with an authorized officiant. The license is then returned for recording under the Title 13 process.

Note: The Bureau also officiates short Memorable Marriage ceremonies on request, which can be scheduled at the same time the license is issued.

Marriage License Terms to Know

A few common terms come up at the Marriage Bureau counter. Knowing them in advance helps applicants follow the process and ask the right questions. The definitions below are short and plain.

Officiant

The person who performs the ceremony. Delaware law sets out which roles may officiate, including certain clergy, court officers, and other authorized individuals.

Witness

An adult who watches the ceremony and signs the license to confirm that it took place. Delaware sets the number of required witnesses by statute.

Solemnization

The act of performing the marriage ceremony itself. After solemnization, the license is signed and returned for recording.

Certified Copy

An official copy of a marriage license that carries the Clerk of the Peace seal and signature. Required for most legal and government uses.

Marriage Bureau

The office within the Clerk of the Peace that issues licenses, officiates ceremonies, and handles certified copies.

Sussex County Marriage License Fees

The Marriage Bureau page links a Fees section, but the exact current dollar amounts were not fully captured here. Fees in Delaware vary by residency and type of service. Couples should confirm the current amount with the Bureau at the time the appointment is set so there are no surprises at the counter.

Accepted payment methods can change. Confirm by phone before arrival, especially for non-resident license fees.

Marriage Law and Delaware Title 13

Marriage in Delaware is governed by Title 13 Chapter 1 of the Delaware Code. The chapter covers license requirements, who may officiate, waiting periods, residency questions for non-resident couples, and the rules for returning the license after the ceremony. The Sussex County Marriage Bureau page links this chapter as the authority for its work.

The Title 13 statute page is a good starting point for anyone planning a Sussex County wedding. The Delaware Code Title 13 Chapter 1 page displays the current text of the marriage statute.

The chapter is the controlling state law for marriage license issuance, solemnization, and recording in Sussex County.

Divorce Records Are Not Handled Here

The Clerk of the Peace handles marriage records only. Divorce and annulment in Delaware are governed by Title 13 Chapter 15 and are heard in Family Court. Sussex Family Court is at 100 East Market Street in Georgetown, a separate building from the Administrative Office and from the main courthouse on The Circle. Divorce file review is handled at the Family Court records room under supervised access rules.

Anyone who needs both marriage and divorce records will need to visit two offices. The marriage license comes from the Clerk of the Peace; the divorce decree comes from Family Court.

The Delaware Code Title 13 Chapter 15 page gives the divorce and annulment statute.

Family Court records access is described on its own page. The Sussex Family Court location page covers the building address, hours, and parking.

The Family Court page is the right source for the Sussex divorce filing address and contact line.

Indigent Defense and Court Resources

The Clerk of the Peace is a clerk office and not a court that hears cases. Couples who have legal questions about a marriage license, an annulment, or related family matters should consult a Delaware-licensed attorney. People charged with crimes who cannot afford counsel are served by the Delaware Office of Defense Services. ODS represents adults and youth in criminal matters and operates a Sussex office.

Note: The Clerk of the Peace cannot provide legal advice on marriage validity, prenuptial agreements, or divorce strategy.

The state defense services page describes how the office is structured and how to request representation. The ODS About page covers the agency's history since 2015 and its county offices.

ODS provides interpreters for legal representation free of charge for qualifying clients.

Related Sussex County Record Offices

For full marriage and divorce record coverage, see marriage and divorce records. For Superior Court civil filings and certified court copies, see the Prothonotary. For estate matters, see the Register of Wills. For Sussex County FOIA and other county-side records, see public records.