About the Sussex County Prothonotary
The Prothonotary in Sussex County is the civil clerk of Superior Court. Each Delaware county has its own Prothonotary. The Sussex office sits on the second floor of the Sussex County Courthouse in Room 214, the same suite as Superior Court Administration. The role grew out of older English court tradition and still uses the historic name. Daily duties include intake of new civil filings, docket maintenance, writs and judgments, collection of court fees, calendar coordination with Superior Court judges, and jury services support.
Delaware splits clerk work across several offices, which is why the Prothonotary does not handle every record type. The marriage license clerk is the Clerk of the Peace. Estate administration is handled by the Register of Wills. Land records are kept by the Recorder of Deeds. The Family Court has its own records room. Knowing which office to contact first saves time and avoids duplicate requests. The Sussex County Prothonotary covers the Superior Court civil and criminal docket only.
Sussex County Prothonotary
Sussex County Courthouse, Room 214
1 The Circle, Suite 2
Georgetown, DE 19947
302-855-7055
Fax: 302-856-5739 · TDD: 302-856-5895
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Public access begins 8:30 a.m.
What the Sussex County Prothonotary Does
The Prothonotary is more than a counter clerk. The office is the official keeper of the Superior Court record. It accepts new pleadings, docket-stamps each filing, assigns case numbers, issues writs and subpoenas, records judgments and liens, manages the jury wheel, and collects court fees and surcharges. The Prothonotary also coordinates courtroom logistics with bailiffs in Room 203 and with the chambers staff in Room 207.
- Civil case intake and docketing for Superior Court
- Judgment and lien recording on the civil judgment docket
- Issuance of writs, summons, subpoenas, and other court process
- Collection of filing fees, surcharges, and court costs
- Certified copies of court orders, dockets, and case papers
- Jury services coordination with Room 217
- Acceptance of expungement petitions for cases from Common Pleas and JP Court
The expungement role is worth noting. The Delaware Courts expungement page directs petitioners whose case ended in Court of Common Pleas or in Justice of the Peace Court to file the petition with the Superior Court Prothonotary, not with the originating court.
Sussex County Prothonotary Records Access
Public access to Superior Court case information starts online at Delaware CourtConnect, the State of Delaware Courts Judicial Case Database. CourtConnect lets a user search by person or business name, by case type, by judgment, or by docket report when the case ID is known. The portal is free. It is not certified for official use. The Delaware Judiciary disclaimer says the data is provided as is, with no warranty, and that email or web communication through the site does not constitute filing or legal notice.
For full file content beyond docket entries, the Prothonotary handles in-person review and copy requests at Room 214. CourtConnect's docket report shows filings and orders but does not publish every pleading. Visitors who need pleadings, transcripts of court actions, or certified copies should plan a visit. Family Court files are not held by the Prothonotary; they are at the Family Court records room.
The Family Court records access rules are useful context because many users mix the two. The Family Court records access page explains supervised in-person review and the records-room hours.
The same page makes clear that Family Court files cannot be reviewed without staff present.
How to Request a Certified Copy from the Sussex Prothonotary
Certified copies are court-stamped, signed copies of an order, judgment, docket entry, or other Superior Court paper. They are needed for many legal uses such as title work, debt collection, license restoration, immigration filings, or service on out-of-state parties. The basic process is the same whether the request is in person, by mail, or by phone-led email follow-up.
- Identify the case. Find the Superior Court Case ID through CourtConnect name search. Note the party names, filing date, and case type.
- Decide what is needed. A docket sheet is different from a certified copy of a specific order or judgment. List the exact items.
- Contact the Prothonotary. Call 302-855-7055 or visit Room 214 in the Sussex County Courthouse between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
- Submit the request. Provide the case caption, case number, the document being copied, the number of copies, and a return address if requesting by mail.
- Pay the fee. Court copy and certification fees are court-set. The Prothonotary collects the fee at request time. Verify accepted payment forms before the visit.
- Receive the copy. Most certified copies are produced quickly for in-person pickup. Mailed requests take longer depending on volume and staffing.
Note: Records that are sealed, expunged, juvenile, or otherwise restricted will not be released even when a case number is provided.
Records Request Form Fields
A clean records request saves staff time and avoids back-and-forth. Whether the request is on a paper form or in a phone call, the same data points are typically needed. The table lists the standard fields used at the Sussex Prothonotary counter.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Case Number / Case ID | Yes | Required for docket report on CourtConnect; helpful at the counter. |
| Party Names | Yes | Last name or company name plus first name where known. |
| Document Type | Yes | Order, judgment, docket sheet, transcript reference, or other. |
| Filing Date Range | No | DD-MON-YYYY format on CourtConnect. |
| Number of Copies | Yes | Specify total of plain and certified. |
| Certification | Yes/No | Indicate whether certified copies are required. |
| Requester Contact | Yes | Name, mailing address, phone, and email. |
Sussex County Prothonotary Fees
Delaware Superior Court fee schedules are published by the Delaware Judiciary and are subject to change. The current Prothonotary fee schedule is not fully captured here because the official Delaware Courts fee page is the source of truth. Below is the type of fee that visitors should expect to be quoted at the counter; the exact dollar figures must be confirmed with the office or on the courts site before payment.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plain copy per page | Verify with office |
| Certified copy per page | Verify with office |
| Certification fee | Verify with office |
| Search fee | Verify with office |
| Civil filing fee | Verify with office |
| Judgment lien recording | Verify with office |
Filers should never assume online dockets or third-party sites quote current Delaware Superior Court fees. Always confirm at 302-855-7055 or at the Delaware Courts site before paying.
Sussex County Law Library Support
The Sussex County Law Library is a useful neighbor to the Prothonotary office for pro se filers, court reporters, and researchers who need legal forms or case law. The library is staffed by a law librarian and serves both lawyers and the public. The library page says callers should call ahead because hours and access may vary.
The Sussex County Law Library page lists the address, phone, librarian contact, and operating notes.
The library does not replace the Prothonotary for filings, certified copies, or court records, but it helps users prepare documents before they reach the clerk's counter.
The Sussex County Split-Clerk Structure
Sussex County does not have a single "county clerk" that does everything. The work is split across several offices, each elected or appointed for a specific record type. The Prothonotary covers Superior Court civil and criminal dockets. The Clerk of the Peace runs the Marriage Bureau. The Register of Wills handles estate administration. The Recorder of Deeds keeps deeds, mortgages, and recorded land instruments. Family files live in the Family Court records room. The Sheriff serves court process and holds sheriff sales.
This means a user looking up "Sussex County clerk records" may need to visit two or three different offices in the same week. Picking the right one first matters. A divorce file is not in the Prothonotary office. A marriage license is not in the Recorder of Deeds office. A probated will is not in CourtConnect. The Prothonotary office staff will direct visitors to the correct location when needed.
Note: Sussex County FOIA does not cover state court records; court files use the Delaware Judiciary's own access rules through the clerk or records room that holds the file.
FOIA and County Records Beyond the Court
Public records held by Sussex County departments are governed by Delaware FOIA, 29 Del. C. Chapter 100. The county runs an online FOIA request portal at sussexcountyde.mycusthelp.com for executive and administrative records that are not posted publicly. The portal is separate from court records; Superior Court files are not requested through county FOIA.
The Sussex County FOIA portal handles many county-side records that may otherwise be confused with Prothonotary holdings.
The county FOIA coordinator routes requests across departments, so duplicate filings to each office are usually not needed.
Prosecution, Victims, and Defense Contacts
The Prothonotary is the clerk side of Superior Court, not the prosecutor or defender. Sussex prosecutions are handled by the Delaware Department of Justice. Victims should contact the DOJ Victim and Witness Program rather than the Prothonotary for case status, safety planning, and compensation referrals. The Sussex Victim and Witness number is on the DOJ contact page.
The DOJ Victim and Witness contact page gives Sussex and statewide numbers.
Indigent defendants in Superior Court are served by the Office of Defense Services, which has a Sussex office and a request-representation route.