Delaware City Deed Records
Delaware City deed records are filed at the New Castle County Recorder of Deeds at 800 N. French Street in Wilmington. Every Delaware City deed, mortgage, and lien goes through that office. The county also collects a local transfer tax for Delaware City on top of the state and county shares. Online search for Delaware City deeds is free through the county's PAXWorld system. This page covers how to search Delaware City deed records, where to file, the fees you pay, and how to pull a copy of any Delaware City property record.
Delaware City Overview
Where to File Delaware City Deed Records
Delaware City sits in New Castle County. All deeds, mortgages, and liens for Delaware City property get recorded at the New Castle County Recorder of Deeds at 800 N. French Street in Wilmington. The recorder also collects transfer tax for Delaware City as part of the eRecording agreement.
| Office | New Castle County Recorder of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 800 N. French Street, 4th Floor Wilmington, DE 19801 |
| Phone | (302) 395-7700 |
| Hours | Monday-Thursday: 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM Friday: 8:00 AM to 12:45 PM |
The New Castle County office accepts electronic filing for Delaware City deeds through the eRecording system. Acceptable documents include deeds, easements, mortgages, power of attorney forms, satisfaction pieces, and UCC forms. Electronic filing speeds up the process and reduces the risk of rejection for a formatting issue.
Search Delaware City Deed Records
Search Delaware City deed records online through the New Castle County Document Search. Run a query by grantor name, grantee name, book and page, or document type. Watermarked viewing is free. A clean copy runs $1 per page. For title companies that pull records daily, a $100 monthly subscription gives unlimited access.
The New Castle County Parcel Search is another useful tool. It shows the current owner, assessed value, tax status, and sales history for every Delaware City parcel. Click a result to see the full detail page, including a list of every deed in the chain of title.
To search Delaware City deed records, you need:
- Full name of the grantor or grantee
- Delaware City street address or parcel ID
- Approximate date of the transfer
- Book and page for older records
Some Delaware City deeds appear in the state legislative record when the city annexes property or passes a boundary adjustment. 
The Delaware legislative session laws sometimes cite specific Delaware City deeds by book and page. Use the book and page in the county search to pull the full document.
Delaware City Deed Record Types
The New Castle County Recorder of Deeds takes every kind of paper tied to a Delaware City property. Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds lead the volume. Mortgages and satisfaction pieces sit right behind. The office also indexes easements, liens, and plats for every Delaware City parcel.
Common Delaware City filings:
- Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
- Mortgages and satisfaction pieces
- Federal and state tax liens
- Easements and deed restrictions
- Assignments of mortgage
- Plot plans and subdivision maps
- Transfer on Death deeds
Delaware City is small but has a unique history. The city sits at the northern end of the old Chesapeake and Delaware Canal route. Many older Delaware City deeds carry canal-related easements or right-of-way grants. A title search for a Delaware City waterfront parcel should include a close look at any canal or shoreline easements in the chain of title.
Delaware City Recording Fees
A two-page deed for a Delaware City property costs $56 at the county office. A 20-page mortgage runs $251. Every extra page on either document adds $11.
Copy costs for Delaware City deeds:
- Self-service copy card: $0.50 per page
- Staff-printed copy: $1 per page
- Mail, fax, or email copy: $2 per page
- Certified copies: $3 at the counter or $6 by mail
Delaware City has a local transfer tax on top of the state and county shares. The state share drops to 2.5% and Delaware City adds its own local tax. This matches the setup used in Wilmington, Newark, and Middletown. Buyer and seller typically split the total 50/50. First-time home buyers may get the county share waived if they meet the Delaware test, but the local city share is not waived.
Note: Always check the current Delaware City transfer tax rate with the city office or your closing attorney before signing a sale contract.
Historical Delaware City Deed Records
Delaware City has a colonial past tied to the old trade routes along the Delaware River. Many Delaware City deeds from the 1700s reference the old Red Lion Hundred or St. Georges Hundred rather than modern city lines. Knowing the hundred name helps when tracing an old Delaware City parcel back to a colonial grant.
The Delaware Public Archives in Dover holds a large collection of early New Castle County land records. The archives deed roaster covers 1747 to 2009 and lists transfers by grantor, grantee, tract, and date. Microfilm copies of New Castle County deeds from the 1680s onward are available at the FamilySearch Library. The University of Delaware also keeps early deed records on microfilm for research use.
Delaware City Deed Records and Delaware Law
All Delaware City recordings follow Delaware Code Title 9, Chapter 96. Under Section 9605, the New Castle County recorder must accept deeds, indentures, mortgages, leases, and letters of attorney that affect a Delaware City property. Title 25, Section 151 requires each Delaware City deed to be recorded in New Castle County. The recorder cannot accept a deed without an affidavit of residence and gain from the seller, along with the tax parcel number and a "prepared by" line on the first page.
Delaware City is an attorney closing city within an attorney closing state. Only a Delaware-licensed attorney can conduct a Delaware City closing and disburse settlement funds. Both buyer and seller typically have their own attorney at closing. The attorneys run the title search, coordinate the final closing statement, and send the deed to the county office for recording.
Under the new Transfer on Death Act, Delaware City homeowners can record a Transfer on Death deed at the county office. The deed names a beneficiary who gets the property when the owner dies, with no probate. The owner keeps full control during life and can revoke or replace the deed at any time. This is a new, low-cost estate planning tool for Delaware City families.
Delaware City Deed Research Tips
Delaware City research moves faster when you use the right tool in the right order. Start with the New Castle County Document Search for any deed after the 1990s. For older Delaware City records, try the bound books at the Wilmington office or the state archives in Dover.
A few Delaware City-specific notes:
- Old Delaware City deeds may use the Red Lion or St. Georges Hundred name
- Shoreline parcels may include canal-era easements or rights of way
- The city's small footprint means most parcels have long ownership chains
- Use the parcel search to confirm current ownership before ordering a title search
New Castle County Deed Records
Delaware City is in New Castle County. For more on the county office, search tools, and fees, see the county page.
Nearby Cities
These Delaware cities are near Delaware City. Each files deeds through its own county recorder.