How to Look Up a Delaware Small Claims Case Online

Where to Search: CourtConnect

Delaware's public case search tool is CourtConnect (courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov). It covers all Delaware courts, including the Justice of the Peace Court where civil small claims cases are filed.

You can search by:

• Case number — The alphanumeric code on your summons (e.g., JP13-26-XXXXXX), where the first digits identify the court location
• Party name — Your name or the plaintiff's name
• Filing date range — Useful if you know approximately when the case was filed

CourtConnect shows docket events — filing dates, hearing schedules, judgment entries, and the status of service returns. It does not let you download copies of the actual filed documents (complaints, answers, evidence). For that, you'd need to request copies from the court clerk.

What You Can Find

A successful search returns:

• Case caption — Names of all parties and the case classification (Debt, Trespass, or Replevin)
• Filing and service dates — When the plaintiff filed and when service was completed
• Scheduled hearings — Date, time, and location (or Zoom link for virtual hearings)
• Judgment entries — Whether a judgment has been entered and for how much
• Post-judgment activity — Appeals filed, motions to vacate, writs of execution

This information is useful for verifying your case details, checking whether a default judgment has been entered, or confirming hearing dates.

When Your Case Doesn't Appear

If you've been served but can't find the case online, don't assume the lawsuit is fake. Several legitimate reasons can cause a delay:

• Paper filing lag — Cases filed in person at the clerk's counter may take several days to appear in the electronic docket.
• Pending constable returns — The case might be in the system but the service return hasn't been indexed yet.
• Clerk entry queue — High-volume courts (especially in New Castle County) can have multi-day backlogs.

To verify a case that doesn't show online, call the clerk's office at the specific JP Court listed on your summons. Use the contact information from the official Delaware Judiciary website (courts.delaware.gov), not any number printed on informal cover letters in your service packet.

eFlex: Delaware's E-Filing Portal

eFlex is Delaware's electronic filing system, separate from CourtConnect. While CourtConnect is for looking up cases, eFlex is for filing documents electronically.

Most individual defendants in JP Court don't need to use eFlex — paper filing is still accepted. eFlex becomes mandatory only if you've filed more than 10 civil actions in JP Court (as a pro se litigant) or if you're an artificial entity representative (Form 50 agent) with five or more filings.

If you do register for eFlex, there's a $1.25 technology surcharge per document filed.

Using Case Lookup Strategically

As a defendant, checking the docket regularly helps you:

• Confirm your Answer was received — After you file Civil Form 07 (CF07), verify it appears on the docket.
• Track the plaintiff's filings — See if they've filed a motion, an amended complaint, or requested a default judgment.
• Check hearing changes — Confirm dates haven't been moved, especially if a continuance was requested.
• Monitor post-judgment activity — If you lost at trial, watch for writs of execution or garnishment filings.

For a structured approach to tracking your case from service through resolution, our Delaware Small Claims Response Guide includes a case management checklist with every deadline and filing milestone.

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