New Family Court Building Opens in Georgetown
Georgetown, DE - A ceremonial ribbon-cutting was held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, to mark the official opening of the new Family Court building in Georgetown, located at 100 E. Market Street. The event was attended by the public, along with state and local officials.
Family Court Chief Judge Michael K. Newell stated that the new facility is the result of a years-long effort to improve the safety and security of the court. "We sought - with our partners in the governor's office and in the legislature - to create a building that would offer dignity, privacy and security for our litigants and court staff, and we have delivered on that promise," he said.
Speakers at the ceremony included Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz, Jr., former Delaware Governor John C. Carney, Jr., State Senator Brian Pettyjohn, Georgetown Mayor Bill West, and William J. Lenihan of Tevebaugh Architecture, the firm that designed the courthouse.
The new three-story building is 107,800 square feet, approximately three times the size of the previous courthouse. It features eight larger courtrooms, each between 1,400 and 1,800 square feet, designed to enhance comfort and safety.
The building includes a two-story lobby, wide hallways with alcoves, and private meeting areas. It also has a designated waiting area for children and rooms equipped for video testimony, allowing children to appear at proceedings without entering the courtroom.
Security and operational spaces have also been expanded. There are more holding cells to ensure proper separation of individuals in custody from judicial officers and staff. The facility provides increased space for court staff and dedicated areas for justice system partners, including the Department of Justice, the Office of Defense Services, and the Office of the Child Advocate.
Additionally, the new building features a 400-car parking garage, the first of its kind in Georgetown.
Construction for the new Georgetown court began in June 2022. A similar Family Court building is scheduled for completion in Dover this summer.
