Welcome to the Delaware Justice of the Peace Court

Delaware State Courts

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Welcome to the Delaware
Justice of the Peace Court

As the place where justice starts, it is the mission of the Justice of the Peace Court to serve the people of Delaware by efficient and accessible administration of justice for all, and to treat all persons with integrity, fairness, and respect. Legal Jurisdiction of the Justice of the Peace Court is explained in our Jurisdiction section.

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Effective Monday, September 5, 2011 - Justice of the Peace Court 9 in Middletown is changing its hours of operations to 8am-4pm, Monday through Friday. This change will reflect a reduction of hours on Wednesdays only, where the Court formerly remained open until 8pm. The reduction of hours on Wednesdays will not affect any calendars, trials or arraignments.

NEW INTERACTIVE FORM TO HELP TENANTS AND LANDLORDS WITH CLAIMS FOR SUMMARY POSSESSION (5/1/2011)
A new interactive online tool is now available, free of charge, to help self-represented litigants file claims for summary possession in the Justice of the Peace Court. Read more...

RESOURCE INFORMATION

Instructions for payment of Your e-Traffic Ticket
Learn the different options for how to pay your e-traffic ticket. Now accepting online payments!

Glossary of legal terms
Definitions of commonly used legal terms in the Justice of the Peace Court

Court Rules
Civil and criminal rules; Delaware Code; Landlord Tenant Code; Rules of Evidence

Caseload Statistics
Statistical information including civil, criminal and traffic, court rankings and totals

Legal Memoranda and Policy Directives
Complete database of the Chief Magistrate's Legal Memoranda and Policy Directives

Brochures and Videos
Includes general civil actions, sample civil complaints, Landlord Tenant, and evidence

INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES:

General Civil Action
How to start, respond to, appeal a general civil action i.e. breach of contract, damage to property, return of property - up to $15,000

Garagekeeper's Lien
Instructions on how to start or contest a Garage-keepers Lien including statute, court rule and forms

Landlord Tenant claim
How to start, respond to and appeal a landlord tenant claim (summary possession action). Landlord Tenant Code.

Abandoned Personal Property
Forms, instructions and notices on how to obtain title to abandoned personal property

Form 50 - Certificate of Representation
Artificial Entity and Public Body Pro Se Representation in Civil Action in the Justice of the Peace Court

How to Appeal a Case
Includes instructions, faqs, and sample forms for civil cases and landlord/tenant appeals

How to Collect a Judgment
Information on collecting a judgment or reviving a judgment by scire facias

Traffic
Answers to FAQs including options to pay by voluntary assessment

Criminal Cases
Criminal court proceeding information including offense and defendant information & probation before judgment

Bail
List of bail bond companies provided as a source of available options

Victim's Assistance
Helpful resource and referral information for crime victims bout the criminal justice process

Probation Before Judgment
PBJ provides a means for a first offender to avoid having a conviction entered against him or her.

OTHER:

Frequently Asked Questions
Learn answers to the most frequently asked questions to the Justice of the Peace Court

Court Interpreters and Special Needs
Helpful information for accommodations of and services for special needs

Feedback
Submit comments you may have concering the Justice of the Peace Court

Truancy Court
Find current and past Truancy Court Annual Reports for Delaware

	Traffic Ticket ePayments Pay traffic violations online through the DELJIS ePayment system. Click for Instructions.
	Time to Pay Agreements Agreement to pay fines by making a number of payments over a specified period of time.
	Court Connect Access civil case information online 24-hours a day through CourtConnect.
	eFiling To learn more about the Justice of the Peace Court e-filing policy, click here.
	Interactive Forms Interactive process that will fill in the Court form based on your answers to the questions.

VIDEO SERIES on civil case process in the Delaware Courts. Includes videos on the steps of a lawsuit; starting, responding to and preparing your case; tips; and hearing information.

Check out the new interactive forms for Tenants and Landlords:

·	Claims for Summary Possession
·	Return of Security Deposit

Visit these links for additional information on:

·	Summary Possession
·	Return of Security Deposit