Introduction to Delaware Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a Delaware Marriage certificate.  Marriage Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Marriage Certificates is that states have not been registering marriages for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register marriages.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the marriage took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Marriage Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Marriage Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Marriage certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Marriage certificate by following the correct procedure.  

Delaware Marriage certificates have been maintained by the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics for individuals married in the state of Delaware since 1969.

Delaware Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

By Delaware state law, Delaware Marriage certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the Delaware Marriage Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Delaware Marriage Certificate
• Adult Son/Daughter of Person Named on the Delaware Marriage Certificate
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Delaware Marriage Certificate

Delaware Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

To obtain a Delaware Marriage certificate for genealogy reasons you need to meet one of the above criteria.

Delaware Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Delaware Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Delaware Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Delaware Marriage Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Delaware Marriage Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Delaware Marriage certificate online.  It usually takes 3 months upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Delaware Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Delaware Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Delaware Marriage certificate
• Date of Marriage on the Delaware Marriage certificate
• County (or city) of Marriage on the Delaware Marriage certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose Delaware Marriage certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the Delaware Marriage certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

Jesse S. Cooper Building

417 Federal Street

Dover, DE 19901

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in Delaware: You may go to any county health department in the State of Delaware to obtain a certified copy of a Delaware Marriage certificate. Most Delaware Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

Delaware Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a Delaware Marriage certificate is $25.00, which includes one certified copy of the Delaware Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Delaware Marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $25.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Office of Vital Statistics." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.