Wilmington Deed Records
Wilmington deed records are filed at the New Castle County Recorder of Deeds at 800 N. French Street in Wilmington. Every deed, mortgage, and lien for property in Wilmington ends up in this office. The city is the largest in Delaware, and the Recorder of Deeds handles a steady flow of recordings each day. This page covers how to search Wilmington deed records online, where to go in person, and how to pay the right fees on a new filing. You can also look up Wilmington property tax records through a separate city portal.
Wilmington Overview
Where to File Wilmington Deed Records
Every Wilmington deed, mortgage, and lien gets recorded at the New Castle County Recorder of Deeds. The office sits at 800 N. French Street on the 4th floor, right in downtown Wilmington. This is the same office that serves every city and town in New Castle County.
| 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 county recorder collects transfer tax for the City of Wilmington. In Wilmington the state share of transfer tax is 2.5% and the city adds its own local tax on top. This is different from the straight 3% split used in most other Delaware towns. Separate checks are required for state and county portions, and both checks go to New Castle County at the time of recording.
Search Wilmington Deed Records Online
You can search Wilmington deed records online through the New Castle County Document Search. Visit newcastlede.gov/144/Document-Search and run a query by name, date, or document type. Watermarked viewing is free. A clean copy costs $1 per page.
For property tax records, Wilmington also runs its own city portal. 
The Wilmington Citizen Self-Service portal lets you search by parcel number, address, or owner name. Users can view and pay Wilmington property tax bills online. The tool also points to zoning data through the city Department of Land Use and Planning.
To search Wilmington deed records, you need:
- Full name of the grantor or grantee
- Street address or parcel ID
- Approximate date range for the transfer
- Book and page for older records
The parcel search at newcastlede.gov/parcel/search is another good tool. It shows the current owner, tax status, sale history, and building info for any Wilmington parcel. Click a result to see the full detail page, including a list of every deed in the chain of title.
For deeper research on older Wilmington deeds, the Delaware Public Archives chain of title research guide explains how to use the state's historical records. The guide lays out the old "hundred" system, which matters for any Wilmington property that traces back before 1832 to Christiana Hundred.
Types of Wilmington Deed Records
The New Castle County Recorder of Deeds handles all kinds of Wilmington papers. Deeds are the most common filing. Mortgages come in right behind. The office also takes easements, liens, and many other documents that touch real property.
Common Wilmington filings:
- Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
- Mortgage papers and satisfaction pieces
- Federal and state tax liens
- Easements and deed restrictions
- Assignments of mortgage
- Plot plans and subdivision maps
- Transfer on Death deeds
Wilmington residents can now use the new Transfer on Death deed to pass a home to an heir without probate. The form is standard across Delaware and has been accepted at the county office since Dec. 5. The owner keeps full control while alive and can revoke or replace the deed at any time. For most Wilmington families, this is a simple way to plan a transfer without setting up a trust.
Wilmington Recording Fees
Recording a two-page deed for a Wilmington property costs $56. A standard 20-page mortgage runs $251. Every extra page on a deed or mortgage adds $11.
Copy costs at the county office:
- 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
Transfer tax on a Wilmington home sale is 2.5% to the state plus a Wilmington city transfer tax. This usually comes out to 3% or more in total. Buyer and seller typically split the total 50/50 unless the sale contract says otherwise. First-time home buyers may get the county share waived if they meet the Delaware test, but the city share is not waived.
Note: Wilmington is a "home rule" city with its own transfer tax on top of the state share. Always confirm the exact rate with the city finance office or your closing attorney before a sale.
Historical Wilmington Deed Records
Wilmington deeds reach back to the late 1600s. The oldest records are on microfilm at the University of Delaware library, with paper books held in Dover at the state archives. Many of the early deeds describe land using the hundred system, with Wilmington sitting inside Christiana Hundred until about 1832. Later records use modern city and street lines.
For historical Wilmington research, the county office at 800 N. French Street is the first stop. Deeds are kept in books on shelves lining one side of the room. Older deeds are on microfilm. Indices to the deeds are located on tables in the middle of the room. You can also find early deed records at the University of Delaware on microfilm, and deed records are also available in Dover at the Delaware Public Archives.
Wilmington Deed Records and Delaware Law
All Wilmington recordings follow Delaware Code Title 9, Chapter 96. Under Section 9605, the recorder must take in any deed, mortgage, or lease affecting real property. Under Title 25, Section 151, a deed is not fully effective against third parties until it is recorded at the county level. These rules apply the same way to every Wilmington property.
Wilmington is an attorney closing city within an attorney closing state. Only a Delaware-licensed attorney can conduct the closing and disburse funds. Both the buyer and the seller typically have their own attorney. After signing, the deed and mortgage get recorded at the county office. Only after the filing does the transfer show up in the Wilmington deed records search.
Wilmington title language usually follows the same "grant, bargain and convey" format used across Delaware. This creates a special warranty of title rather than a full general warranty. Buyers often order a title search and title insurance to cover any gaps from older owners. The search usually runs through both the county and the state archives. Wilmington has a particularly long record chain, and older deeds may carry easements or use restrictions that do not appear in modern subdivision filings. Always budget time for a full title search on an older Wilmington home.
New Castle County Deed Records
Wilmington is in New Castle County, and all Wilmington deeds go through the New Castle County Recorder of Deeds. For more on the county office, search tools, and fees, see the county page.
Nearby Cities
These Delaware cities are near Wilmington. Each one files deeds through its own county recorder.