Population
585K
County Seat
Media
Libraries
28
Schools
107
Searching Delaware County: what to expect
By Pennsylvania standards Delaware County is well wired: 4 local sources publish directly from county offices, with state databases filling the remaining categories. You don't need a county-level docket here — Pennsylvania courts are searchable statewide, mapped on our Pennsylvania court records page. The standout local source is delcorealestate.co.delaware.pa.us, covering parcel and property-tax data. One gap: recorded documents aren't published by the county itself. Use the Pennsylvania recorded documents page for those. Anything not online lives with the county offices in Media.
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Delaware County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Pennsylvania state publishers on the review date. 7 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Delaware County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Delaware County, Pennsylvania — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
584,882
Population
Census estimate
215,833
Households
Census estimate
$86,390
Median income
Annual household
$289,700
Median home value
Census ACS
Media
County seat
In Pennsylvania
Criminal records
2 sources
Court records
4 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
2 sources
Vital records
2 sources
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
2 sources
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Delaware County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Delaware County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | CASE CAPTION CIVIL CASENOCV 20 52, a3;(/95 court of common pleas of delaware county |
| Criminal records | Bench Warrant Division | Delaware County, Pennsylvania Delaware County Archives |
| Wants & warrants | Troop K Information - PSP.PA.gov |
| Property records | Delaware County Pennsylvania Public Access System Government Open Records | Delaware County, Pennsylvania |
| Vital records | Marriage Records | Delaware County, Pennsylvania Delaware County Archives |
| Voter records | Voter Registration Application - PA Voter Services |
| Professional licenses | Getting Your Dog License | Delaware County, Pennsylvania Delaware County Archives |
| Recorded documents | Your County at a Glance: History | Delaware County, Pennsylvania |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Delaware County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Delaware County Records
2026
Delaware County official government portal active
The official Delaware County government website at www.co.delaware.pa.us continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Delaware County court records portal verified
State court system links for Delaware County verified against the Pennsylvania judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Delaware County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Delaware County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Delaware County property records online
Delaware County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
The 4-Step Delaware County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Delaware County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Delaware County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Pennsylvania statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Pennsylvania state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Delaware County Records
MYTH"Delaware County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Delaware County are held by the Pennsylvania state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Delaware County are gone everywhere."
FACTSealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
MYTH"Free 'instant background' sites have Delaware County data."
FACTOnly the official Pennsylvania state repository has verified, current Delaware County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Delaware County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Delaware County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
MYTH"All county records older than 50 years are public."
FACTPartially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- www.co.delaware.pa.us — Official Delaware County government website
- delcopublicaccess.co.delaware.pa.us — Court records — official source
- delcopa.gov — Criminal records — official source
- delcorealestate.co.delaware.pa.us — Property records — official source
- www.delcopa.gov — Vital records — official source
- archives.co.delaware.pa.us — Licenses — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Delaware County & Pennsylvania Records
For records not specific to Delaware County, use Pennsylvania's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Pennsylvania statewide record systems:
- Pennsylvania Court Records →
- Pennsylvania Criminal Records →
- Pennsylvania Property Records →
- Pennsylvania Vital Records →
- Pennsylvania Voter Records →
- Pennsylvania Wants & Warrants →
- Pennsylvania Licenses →
- Pennsylvania Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Pennsylvania statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
Looking for a person, not a database? Start with the Pennsylvania guides:
About Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is located in southeastern Pennsylvania. The county seat is Media (official site: http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/).
- Households: 215,833
- Median household income: $86,390
- Median home value: $289,700
- Below poverty line: 9.7%
- Land area: 183.8 sq mi
- Population density: 3,182.0 people / sq mi
CASE CAPTION CIVIL CASENOCV 20 52, a3;(/95
Official Free
Search a person's name, business name, case type, judgments against a person or business, case information or activities using the Delaware Courts Civil Docket Search .
court of common pleas of delaware county
Official Free
These restricted services, which calendars for common pleas courts and magisterial district courts; statewide warrants; and attorney registration. Approval for certain secure services must be granted by a county clerk of court or district court administrator
Delaware County Archives
Official Free
Delaware County Archives Orphan's Court Estate Cases 1790-1950
Delaware County Archives | Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Official Free
Local-history and genealogy holdings for Delaware County — older records and obituary indexes often surface here first. Searching the official side is free.
Supreme Court Prothonotary's Addresses | Supreme Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania
Official Free
This is the court-records channel for Delaware County: case searches and docket details. Searching the official side is free.
Bench Warrant Division | Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Official Free
The sheriff's side of Delaware County record-keeping — bookings, incident reports, and records requests start here. Searching the official side is free.
Delaware County Archives
Official Free
Delaware County Archives Inmates in Delaware County Prison 1873-1917
SP 4-164A (10-2025) PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE
Official Free
The Pennsylvania State Police response will be based on the comparison of the data provided by the requester
Marriage Records | Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Official Free
In addition, the name of each applicant's parents as well as their occupations and places of birth are part of each application. The Delaware County Marriage Records Department maintains all marriage records for licenses issued in Delaware County from 1885 to the present .
Delaware County Archives
Official Free
Welcome to Delaware County, PA Public Access System · While every effort is made to keep information provided over the internet accurate and up-to-date, Delaware County does not certify the authenticity or accuracy of such information.
Birth, Death, Vital Statistics - Pennsylvania Department of Health
Official Free
Welcome to the birth, death, and other vital statistics page, the premier source for vital statistics data in Pennsylvania. Use the following links to download or print various vital statistics and reports. At the bottom of this page you will find links to other websites and resources with an emphasis on vital statistics. Large volume of the latest available and historical state, county and municipality data by age, race/ethnicity and various birth-related topics.
Getting Your Dog License | Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Official Free
Yearly Dog License Application Form Lifetime Dog License Application Form Permanent Identification Verification Form (portions must be filled out by the vet) To qualify for a disability license, please provide a copy of your handicap placard or equivalent proof of disability. To qualify for a senior license, you must be 65 years or older and provide proof of age. A duplicate tag can be obtained by written request, accompanied by a fee of $1.70 made payable to Delaware County Treasurer.
Delaware County Archives
Official Free
Welcome to Delaware County, PA Public Access System · While every effort is made to keep information provided over the internet accurate and up-to-date, Delaware County does not certify the authenticity or accuracy of such information.
Delaware County Pennsylvania Public Access System
Official Free
Important: This site provides access to the assessment office property records database in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. You can access public records by searching by street address or parcel ID.
Government Open Records | Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Official Free
Property research in Delaware County starts here: parcels, assessments, and tax detail. Searching the official side is free.
DelawarePAROD
Official Free
This site will not function properly if IE Compatibility Mode is enabled. Please disable Compatibility Mode and refresh the page. If you do not know how to disable Compatibility Mode please submit a ticket to our support team and they will be happy to assist you.
Troop K Information - PSP.PA.gov
Official Free
Office directory for Pennsylvania. It maps which office holds which record type, the question that stalls most searches. Directories like this exist because the right office varies by county — confirm before you mail anything.
Voter Registration Application - PA Voter Services
Official Free
This is where Delaware County handles voter registration records and election operations. If a link breaks, the office homepage at pavoterservices.pa.gov carries the new path.
Your County at a Glance: History | Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Official Free
|The History of Delaware CountyThe BeginningDelaware County, presently consisting of over 184 square miles divided into forty-nine municipalities is the oldest settled section of Pennsylvania .
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Delaware County?
Delaware County court cases are searchable through the Delaware County Archives | Delaware County, Pennsylvania portal: https://www.delcopa.gov/delaware-county-archives. Pennsylvania also operates a state-level case lookup through the UJS Portal system. For federal matters, see PACER.
Can I find out if someone is divorced in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Search the court case index for the person's name in the county where they lived. Most Pennsylvania counties offer free online case-search portals. The state vital records office also issues divorce verifications for a fee.
Can my employer see a sealed record in Pennsylvania?
Generally, most private employers running a standard name-based check cannot see a sealed Pennsylvania record. However, government employers, law enforcement, schools, healthcare facilities, and any role requiring a fingerprint-based check can see sealed records under specific statutory exemptions. Confirm specifics with the sealing court.
How do I run a Pennsylvania background check?
Pennsylvania background checks are handled by the Pennsylvania State Police. Name-based searches are available through the official state portal (per-search fee applies). Fingerprint-based checks — required for licensing, foster care, and many employers — must be submitted through an approved vendor.