Find Kent County Death Records
Kent County death records are held by the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics at the central office in Dover. Dover is the seat of Kent County and the state capital. The central office on Federal Street is the main state hub for all vital records work. Deaths from 1986 to the present go through the OVS. Deaths older than 40 years sit with the Delaware Public Archives, also in Dover. This page lays out how to search Kent County death records, what you need to bring, and the other Kent County offices that hold tied documents.
Kent County Overview
Kent County Office of Vital Statistics
The Kent County Office of Vital Statistics is the central office for the state. It is at 417 Federal Street, Dover, DE 19901. Phone is 302-744-4549 and fax is 302-736-1862. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed on state holidays.
The OVS central office holds death records from 1972 to the present. Certified copies of Kent County death records from 1986 to today are issued here. Copies cost $25 each. Walk-in orders are often same day. Mail requests go to the Jesse S. Cooper Building in Dover with a check or money order made out to "Office of Vital Statistics."
The full state page with forms, fees, and mailing rules is at the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics. Forms include the Application for a Certified Copy of a Delaware Death Certificate and a separate form for funeral directors.
| Office | Office of Vital Statistics - Central Office |
|---|---|
| Address |
417 Federal Street Dover, DE 19901 |
| Phone | 302-744-4549 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Historic Kent County Death Records
Delaware moves death records to public status 40 years after the date of death. That means Kent County death records from 1985 and earlier are now held by the Delaware Public Archives at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. North in Dover. Phone is (302) 744-5000.
The Archives maintains an index to Series 1500-008-003, Death Records 1855-1910. This index covers the old Department of Health and Social Services Vital Statistics Death Records collection and its predecessors. Anyone with an ancestor who died in Kent County in that window will want to check this index first.
One of the most useful Kent County holdings at the Archives is the Kent County Almshouse Births and Deaths Database. It covers the register of births and deaths of inmates at the Kent County Almshouse.
The almshouse database is sorted by last name, first name, birth or death indicator, date, age, residence, sex, race, and short notes. Email archives@delaware.gov with the record details and the Research Room sends a price quote within 10 business days. The full collection page is at Kent County Almshouse Births and Deaths Database.
Public computers at the Archives offer free Ancestry.com access for Delaware residents. The Research Room also has microfilm scanners and reader-printers. Bring a USB flash drive for free scans. Printed copies run $0.50 per page.
Kent County Register of Wills
The Kent County Register of Wills records wills after death and runs estate proceedings in Kent County. Every estate file is kept as a permanent record. The Register also oversees the appointment of personal representatives and confirms that each estate follows Delaware law.
The Kent County Register of Wills, D.J. Cox, is at the Kent County Levy Court Administrative Complex, 555 Bay Road, 2nd Floor, Room 214, Dover, DE 19901. Walk-in hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Phone service is 302-744-2330, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office page is at Kent County Register of Wills.
To open an estate in person at the Kent County Register of Wills, bring the original Kent County death certificate, the original will if one exists, an estimate of the value of assets and real estate owned by the decedent, a list of next of kin with full names, addresses, and relationships, and a valid driver's license or passport. Appointments are needed. Fees are paid by cash, check, or money order.
Kent County also has an Online Estate Search database. Use it to see if an estate file exists for a deceased person before you visit or call. The Forms Library holds probate and non-probate forms in PDF format. Non-Delaware residents need a special affidavit to open an estate.
The Court of Chancery Register in Chancery in Kent County also touches on death cases. That office sits at 38 The Green, Suite 208, Dover, DE 19901. Phone is 302-735-1930. The Register in Chancery handles guardianships, trusts, and adjudications of presumed death. Some of these filings need a Kent County death certificate.
Kent County Recorder of Deeds
The Kent County Recorder of Deeds runs free online deed searches from the 1700s to today. Documents are watermarked for security. A paid account removes the watermark at $2.00 per page or a $75 monthly subscription. The office is at 555 Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901. Phone is 302-744-2314.
Search options include owner name, document instrument number, book and page, and date. Click View Image to pull up a document. Use the arrows at the top to move through multi-page filings. The full office page is at Kent County Recorder of Deeds.
The Recorder of Deeds now handles Transfer on Death Deeds. Delaware added the TODD in 2025 as a cheap option for small estates that are mostly real estate. No attorney is required to record a TODD. The beneficiary inherits the home at the owner's death without probate. The Kent County Property Fraud Alert system is free and emails you within days whenever a document is recorded under your name.
Medical Examiner and Kent County Deaths
Delaware does not use county coroners. The Medical Examiner at the Division of Forensic Science handles all non-natural, violent, drug-related, in-custody, and unexplained deaths statewide, including in Kent County. The unit also covers deaths under suspicious circumstances, unidentified remains, and deaths that may be a threat to public health. The unit gets over 1,800 reports of death a year.
The Medical Examiner Unit is housed in Wilmington with a smaller Georgetown facility that serves Kent and Sussex counties. Full details and online request forms are at Division of Forensic Science Medical Examiner Unit.
Title 29, Section 4706 of the Delaware Code lists all death types that require Medical Examiner review. Willful neglect to report such a death is punishable by up to one year in prison, up to a $1,000 fine, or both. Autopsy reports are released only after a written request from the legal next of kin.
Note: Medical Examiner death certificates are filed through DelVERS, the state online system. If the cause or manner of death is pending, the final certificate may take weeks or months.
Cities in Kent County
Kent County cities host city clerks, libraries, and historical societies that often hold obituary and burial data that pair with the state Kent County death records collection. Dover is the county seat and the home of the Archives and the central OVS office.
Part of Milford crosses into Sussex County. The city clerk page covers both sides.
Nearby Delaware Counties
Kent County sits in the middle of the state. New Castle County borders it to the north, and Sussex County lies to the south. Both hold their own death, probate, and deed records.