The Register of Wills office will be closed on November 26th and November 27th.
An appointment is necessary to open (probate) an estate. The phone number is (302) 395-7800 and our office is open from 8:30 to 4:45PM Monday through Friday (closed from 12:00-1:00pm).
This is the website for the Office of the Register of Wills. It is the county probate office and is a branch of the Delaware Chancery Court. The Register of Wills office assists families and attorneys in obtaining the necessary documents to transfer the assets of a deceased person.
Whenever there is a death in New Castle County, the Register of Wills must be involved if:
1.
The decedent (the person who died) had a will.
2.
The decedent did not have a will, but died with over $30,000 in probate assets. (If the estate is less than $30,000, ONLY the closest next of kin may receive what is known as a "Small Estate Affidavit" instead in order to transfer property).
3.
The decedent had any solely held real estate in Delaware.
An estate needs to be probated in the county where the decedent resided.
Other services provided by the Register of Wills Office:
Genealogy Assistance
The Register of Wills Office has extensive archives the public can access for the purpose of tracing genealogies or to check title on real estate. Our records date back to the 1600's for New Castle County.
Safekeeping of Wills
The Register of Wills Office of New Castle County also provides a service to hold wills for safekeeping and confidentiality while a person is alive. For a fee of $10.00, an original will can be deposited with our office and kept until the death of the testator (the maker of the will). This is offered as an alternative for someone who perhaps does not have a safety deposit box or has not given it to an attorney to hold until the testator's death.
Workshops
If you would like us to come speak to your group or classroom about wills or our office, please call (302) 395-7800. Spanish workshops are available. For a list of upcoming workshops, click here. Prior to attending, please call the Register of Wills office at (302) 395-7800 to confirm that the schedule has not changed.
Newsletter
If you would like to sign up for our quarterly newsletter e-mail list, please contact Wills@nccde.org.
In addition to workshops held in the community, workshops are also offered at the Rosalie Obara Room on the 2nd Floor of the City/County Building located at 800 N. French Street. Workshops are held at 6:30pm. Pre-registration is required.
(302) 395-7800
The Register of Wills office will be closed on November 26th and November 27th.
