Find Genealogy Records in Sussex County

Sussex County genealogy research covers land records from 1693, probate records from 1683, and vital records going back to the mid-1800s. Whether you are tracing a family line or searching for one document, this guide points you to the right offices, archives, and organizations in Delaware's southernmost county.

Sussex County Genealogy Records Overview

Sussex County was created on 8 August 1683 and named after Sussex in England. It is the southernmost county in Delaware and one of the oldest continuously governed counties in the country. The county seat is Georgetown. Because no major courthouse disaster has struck Sussex County, records here tend to survive in better shape than in counties that suffered fires or floods.

The range of Sussex County genealogy records is wide. Land records go back to 1693. Probate records start in 1683. Court records begin in 1680. Marriage records are available from 1847, and birth and death records from 1861. That gives researchers access to a deep pool of primary documents, even for families who lived here in the colonial period. Different offices hold different record types, so you may need to contact more than one agency depending on what you are looking for.

RAOGK volunteers in Delaware help researchers who cannot visit in person. The Sussex County page at raogk.org lists local volunteers who can look up records on your behalf at no charge.

Sussex County Genealogy Vital Records

Vital records in Delaware are split between two agencies depending on the date. The Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) holds more recent records. The Delaware Public Archives (DPA) holds the older ones. For Sussex County genealogy research, you will likely need both.

Here is how the split works for each record type. Birth records from 1942 to the present are at the state level through OVS. Birth records from 1861 to 1863 and from 1881 to 1930 are at the Delaware Public Archives. Keep in mind that statewide registration started in 1861, was reenacted in 1881, and general compliance didn't come until about 1921, so gaps exist in the earlier years. Marriage records from 1974 forward are at OVS; from 1847 to 1962 they are at the Archives. Death records from 1974 forward are at OVS; the Archives holds records from 1861 to 1863 and 1881 to 1962. Divorce records are available from 1935.

The OVS charges $25 for each certified copy. That covers the first copy. Each extra copy of the same record is $10. You can find guidance on ordering state certificates at delaware.gov/guides/certificates. Delaware vital records law falls under 16 Del. C. § 3101 et seq., and registration requirements are covered under 16 Del. C. Chapter 31, Subchapter II.

The Delaware Public Archives is the best place to start for pre-1974 vital records. Their digital archives guide at archives.delaware.gov explains what is available online and what requires an in-person visit or mail request. The DPA is located at 121 Duke of York Street in Dover.

Sussex County Genealogy Probate and Court Records

Probate records in Sussex County go back to 1683, making them among the oldest surviving records in the county. The Register of Wills is the office that handles these. They hold wills, estate inventories, letters of administration, and related documents. Copies cost $1.00 per page. The office is at P.O. Box 743, Georgetown, DE 19947, and can be reached at (302) 856-5601.

Court records for Sussex County start as far back as 1680. The Delaware Family Court, located at 25 The Circle in Georgetown, handles divorce cases filed after 1975. For older divorce records going back to 1935, check the Delaware Public Archives. The Clerk of the Peace, at 2 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947, handles marriage licenses. The current fee is $50. Both parties must appear in person. No waiting period and no blood test are required, and the license is valid for 30 days.

The Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture at Salisbury University holds a large collection of Sussex County probate materials. Their holdings include Will Book M (8 March 1860 to 13 April 1869), Abstracts of Orphan's Court from 1708 to 1709 and 1728 to 1777, Sussex County Wills covering 1775 to 1789 and ranges in the mid-1800s, and the Sussex County Orphan's Court Index from 1840 to 1914. They also hold Orphan's Court records from 1846 to 1914, Orphan's Court Dockets from 1728 to 1770, Bond Books from 1774 to 1869, and tax records covering many hundreds including North West Fork, Baltimore, Nanticoke, Dagsborough, Indian River, Little Creek, Cedar Creek, Broad Creek, Broadkill, Lewes and Rehoboth, Georgetown, South Little Creek, South Nanticoke, and Seaford. The Nabb Center is part of Salisbury University at salisbury.edu/libraries/nabb.

Sussex County Genealogy Land Records

Land records are one of the most useful tools in Sussex County genealogy research. The Recorder of Deeds has held these records since 1693, making them among the oldest in the entire state. Deeds, mortgages, and related documents from that year forward are on file at the courthouse in Georgetown. If your family owned land in this area during the colonial period, there is a good chance a deed exists for it.

The Recorder of Deeds office is located at the Court House in Georgetown, DE 19947. For research purposes, land records can help establish residence, family relationships, and migration patterns. They often name wives, children, and neighbors. When combined with probate records, they paint a detailed picture of a family's holdings across generations. Because Sussex County records go back so far and survived intact, they are especially valuable for researchers tracing colonial-era families in the Delmarva region.

Sussex County Genealogical Society and Local Organizations

The Sussex County Genealogical Society (SCGS) supports Sussex County genealogy research through member resources, meetings, and connections to archives across Delaware. The society has about 80 members from multiple states. Individual membership is $25 per year, and a family membership is $30 per year. The society does not own its own facility or library. Meetings are held at the Lewes Public Library and via Zoom, which makes it accessible to researchers who live out of state.

SCGS operates two Special Interest Groups: one for RootsMagic 11 and one for Family Tree Maker. Their website lists research links that are useful for anyone doing Sussex County genealogy work, including the Delaware Library catalog at lib.de.us, the Delaware Archives at archives.delaware.gov, and the Nabb Center at Salisbury University. You can reach the society by email at info@scgsdelaware.org or by mail at c/o Rehoboth Beach Public Library, 226 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Their website is at scgsdelaware.org.

The SCGS website at scgsdelaware.org has member resources, meeting schedules, and links to databases useful for Sussex County genealogy research.

Several other local organizations also support historical research in the county. The Georgetown Historical Society is at 510 S. Bedford Street, Georgetown, DE 19947, and can be reached at (302) 855-9660. The Bridgeville Historical Society serves the northern part of the county. The Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society, based in Salisbury at P.O. Box 3602, Salisbury, MD 21802-3602, covers both Kent and Sussex Counties and is worth contacting for research on families who moved between Maryland and Delaware.

Lewes Historical Society and Sussex County Genealogy Archives

The Lewes Historical Society holds one of the most significant archives for Sussex County genealogy. Their collection includes books, photographs, decorative art objects, tools, paintings, and historical and genealogical records. The library has nearly 4,000 volumes. The photograph collection is particularly impressive, with about 60,000 historic images, including aerial photos from the mid-20th century.

One of the most valuable items in their holdings is one of only four complete copies of the Delaware Newspaper Project, a catalog of Delaware newspapers on microfilm going back to the late 1700s. The society also holds editions of The Breakwater Light and the Delaware Pilot, with issues going back to the 1870s. For newspaper research tied to Sussex County genealogy, this is one of the best places in the state to start.

The Lewes Historical Society archives are open for research visits. Contact Archivist Denise Clemons at (302) 645-7670 x104 to plan your visit.

Church Records and FamilySearch for Sussex County Genealogy

Church records fill gaps that civil registration missed. Before Delaware required birth and death registration in 1861, local churches often kept baptism, burial, and marriage records that survive to this day. Sussex County had many Methodist, Presbyterian, and Anglican congregations going back to the 1700s. The Delaware Public Archives and local historical societies hold some of these records. The Nabb Center at Salisbury University also holds materials related to vital records of Kent and Sussex Counties from 1686 to 1800.

FamilySearch has free digitized records and indexes useful for Sussex County genealogy work. The nearest FamilySearch Centers where you can access microfilm and specialist help are in Dover, Delaware; Annapolis, Maryland; and Salisbury, Maryland. The Dover Delaware FamilySearch Center is the closest option for most Sussex County researchers. FamilySearch's online catalog at familysearch.org includes Delaware land, probate, and vital records, some of which cover Sussex County specifically.

The Laurel Public Library at 101 E 4th Street, Laurel, DE 19956, phone (302) 875-3184, also serves as a local research hub for the western part of the county. It connects to the Delaware Library system and offers access to genealogy databases through the state's library network at lib.de.us.

Cities in Sussex County

Sussex County includes several communities worth knowing for genealogy research, since county lines and local churches often defined where records were kept. The cities below have their own genealogy pages with local resource details.

Other communities in Sussex County include Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, Bridgeville, Laurel, Selbyville, Milton, and Georgetown itself. All county-level records for these areas are held at the offices in Georgetown.

Nearby Counties

Sussex County borders Kent County to the north. New Castle County is further north and holds the Delaware Public Archives in Dover, which stores older vital records for all three counties. If your family moved between counties, check records in both places.