Civil Cases
How to file, defend, respond to, and appeal a general civil action. Also, obtain information on collecting a judgement and post judgement procedures.
Justice of the Peace Court
Due to a shortage of Justice of the Peace Court judicial resources throughout the state, several operational changes are in place until further notice:
- Court 7 (Dover) will be closed from midnight-0600 beginning on Sunday, January 4, 2026. Justice of the Peace Court 11 (New Castle) and the Statewide Virtual Hearing Criminal Court operation will remain available 24 hours every day.
- Court 3 (Georgetown) and Court 7 (Dover) will be operational daily, including holidays and weekends, from 0600-midnight.
- Court 8 (Smyrna) will be closed beginning on Monday, January 5th. All Court 8 business may be handled at Court 7.
- Court 6 (Harrington) will remain open Mon-Fri but will not have a judge on Fridays.
On Monday February 16, 2026, Justice of the Peace Court 20 will be moving to 824 N. Market Street. More information about the Court 20 move.
When Coming to
Court
Who We Are
As the place where justice starts, it is the mission of the Justice of the Peace Court to serve the people of Delaware and its court users through the efficient and accessible administration of justice and to treat all persons with integrity, fairness, and respect. Legal Jurisdiction of the Justice of the Peace Court is explained in our Jurisdiction page.
Information and Assistance
- Request for Shielding of Record NEW!
- Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit Hearings NEW! — Everything you need to know about the denial or revocation of a handgun qualified purchaser permit.
Criminal Cases
Criminal court proceeding information including crime victim information, offense and defendant information and probation before judgement.
Court Proceedings
See the differences between a civil, criminal, and traffic case. You can also learn about your options if you have received a traffic ticket, and check out our FAQ and Legal Glossary.
Landlord/Tenant
Everything you need to know about landlord/tenant matters in the JP Court.
Make an ePayment
Make an ePayment using the Delaware Courts payment service designed to allow citizens to pay, using a safe and secure online form.
eFiling in Justice of Peace Court
Any person intending to eFile in the Justice of the Peace Court must register and attend the eFlex class. Please visit the efiling page for available training sessions and to sign up for class.
Latest News
Delaware Judiciary Issues Warnings About Text/Phone Scams
In the latest version of an ongoing scam, official looking, but bogus “Final notice” court warnings have been texted to cell phone numbers across Delaware this weekend, claiming to be from the Delaware Justice of the Peace Court. Do not download the message, as it may contain malicious software, and do not click on or scan the QR code.
Justice of the Peace Court 20 Moving to 824 Market St.
On Monday February 16, 2026, Justice of the Peace Court 20 will be moving to the second floor of 824 N. Market Street, a building that is also home to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. At its new location Justice of the Peace Court 20 that handles criminal matters, will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Governor Meyer Recognizes 60th Anniversary of the Justice of the Peace Court Joining the Delaware Judiciary
In a short ceremony at his Wilmington office on March 31, 2025, Gov. Meyer signed a proclamation recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the Justice of the Peace Court joining the Delaware State Court System, declaring the Justice of the Peace Court “a cornerstone of our state’s judicial system” that has provided the citizens of Delaware accessible, efficient and fair judicial services.
Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown to Change Hours of Operation
Effective March 3, 2024, Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown, Delaware, will be reducing its hours as part of a pilot program. The court will be open from 6:00 a.m. – midnight daily and will be staffed with judicial officers from 8:00 a.m. – midnight. The court will not accept new cases after 11:00 p.m. and all in-person and virtual activity after 11:00 p.m. should be directed to Justice of the Peace Court 7, 480 Bank Lane, Dover, Delaware.
Justice of the Peace Court Call Center Logs One Million Calls
This month (January 2024) the Justice of the Peace Court’s eight-year-old call center – set up to improve access for the public and increase efficiency for court staff – received its one millionth call, a significant milestone and proof that the center is fulfilling its mission. The Mark E. Hitch Information Center was created in 2015 to improve access for the public and allow staff at courthouses to focus on in-person clients.