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New Castle County exact answer

Do both applicants have to appear in New Castle County?

This answer belongs to the issuing office and task named above. It does not substitute a statewide summary or infer a rule the office does not publish.

Direct answer

Yes. Both applicants must appear as the office describes in New Castle County. State law makes the joint appearance a condition of issuance and provides one narrow exception: where one applicant is critically ill, the attending physician may appear as proxy for that applicant on a sworn affidavit. The Clerk does not publish a procedure for that exception.

Published rule and conditions

Applicant appearance rule
Yes

State law makes the joint appearance a condition of issuance and provides one narrow exception: where one applicant is critically ill, the attending physician may appear as proxy for that applicant on a sworn affidavit. The Clerk does not publish a procedure for that exception.

Official requirement

Both applicants must appear together in person at the scheduled time to complete the process and receive the license.

Issuing office

New Castle County Clerk of the Peace (Marriage Bureau)

Open the issuing office

Official sources for this answer

  • Marriage LicensesNew Castle County Clerk of the Peace - checked July 30, 2026

    Both applicants must appear together in person at the scheduled time to complete the process and receive the license. A marriage license cannot be issued solely online — in-person verification is required by law. The license is valid for 30 days, and the ceremony must take place within the State of Delaware. A 24-hour waiting period applies after the license is issued. Marriage license extensions of 30, 60, or 90 days are available for an additional fee. If previously married, the original or a certified copy of the divorce decree, annulment, or death certificate must be presented.

  • License & Ceremony FAQsNew Castle County Clerk of the Peace - checked July 30, 2026

    Both parties must be 18 years of age or older and not related to each other. Both parties must appear in person to verify their valid, government-issued photo ID. After IDs are verified, three copies of the license are provided to the marrying couple. The license is valid for 30 days unless either party appears in person for an extension. There is a 24-hour wait period after the license is issued before getting married. If either party is active-duty military or critically ill, the wait period can be waived. The marriage ceremony must take place in the State of Delaware to be legal. The ceremony must have two witnesses present that are 18 years or older. Officiators must mail the second copy of the license within 15 days to Clerk of the Peace.

  • 13 Del. C. § 120: Marriage license application; appearance of parties; exceptionState of Delaware — Delaware Code Online - checked July 30, 2026

    Before any marriage license shall be issued by the issuing officer, the parties desiring to marry shall together appear before such officer to be examined upon oath or affirmation in the presence and hearing of each other according to the form prescribed in § 122 of this title to which the parties applying for the license shall subscribe their names. In the case of critical illness of 1 of the parties desiring to marry, the physician attending such party may appear for the ill party and make an application for a marriage license for such party, if such physician first makes an affidavit and delivers it to the issuing officer.

Answer boundary

MarriageLicenseCheck is an independent reference, not the issuing office or legal advice. Applicant facts, timing, prior marriages, and document type can change the result. The official office decides what it will accept.

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