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New Castle County exact answer

How is a completed marriage license returned 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

In New Castle County, the officiant keeps the original for the couple and must mail the second copy of the completed license to the Clerk of the Peace within 15 days of the ceremony. The marriage is not recorded with the State of Delaware until that copy is returned. A license returned late incurs a $50 late fee, and an officiant with an unpaid late fee cannot perform ceremonies in Delaware. Incomplete, illegible or inaccurate licenses are sent back for correction.

Published rule and conditions

Return and recording rule
The officiant keeps the original for the couple and must mail the second copy of the completed license to the Clerk of the Peace within 15 days of the ceremony. The marriage is not recorded with the State of Delaware until that copy is returned.

A license returned late incurs a $50 late fee, and an officiant with an unpaid late fee cannot perform ceremonies in Delaware. Incomplete, illegible or inaccurate licenses are sent back for correction.

Official requirement

Officiators must mail the second copy of the license within 15 days to Clerk of the Peace.

Issuing office

New Castle County Clerk of the Peace (Marriage Bureau)

Open the issuing office

Official sources for this answer

  • 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.

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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