Delaware Genealogy Records

To begin, add a genealogy record or view a list of locations and resources for Delaware genealogy records.

One of the initial thirteen colonies, Delaware has a long and varied past. Family history is usually intertwined with a state history and so searching through state history and genealogy records can be a good read. In fact, both family history and the history of the country make Delaware genealogy records especially interesting.

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services has charge of the registration and preservation of documentation of births, deaths, marriages, divorces and fetal deaths throughout the State. The vital records management is important in an effort to prevent the loss of information which is crucial to the continuing operation of the State. The Office of Vital Statistics is maintains a high level of confidentiality with each record in its possession. Before anything can be released, the request has to pass through a subcommittee. This can be a hindrance to genealogical research, however it shows that Delaware values privacy and confidentiality.

You can get a copy of a death, birth, or marriage certificate in person, through a written request, or via their website. The Department takes privacy seriously and so certain documents are considered classified. However, once a birth record is seventy-two years old, or the date of death is more than forty years past, the records are considered to be public material, and no special permission is required to get the information you need. If you have good cause to access the records, Delaware genealogy records are available.