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
On Monday February 16, 2026, Justice of the Peace Court 20 moved 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
- Right of Redemption: What to Know NEW!
- 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
Justice of the Peace Court Marks 60th Anniversary with Gala Dinner
October 6, 2026: Capping off a year of events, the Delaware Justice of the Peace Court closed out its 60th year celebrations with a gala dinner and reception for court employees and invited guests on Monday evening at King Cole Farm in Dover. Nearly 200 employees, judicial officers and guests attended.
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.