Del. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 77 (2026)

Rule 77. Superior Courts; Prothonotaries, records and exhibits, fees. (a) Superior Court always open. The Superior Court shall be deemed always open for the purpose of the transaction of business. Each term shall continue until the formal opening by the Court of the next succeeding term. (b) Trials and hearings; orders in chambers. All trials upon the merits shall be conducted in open court and so far as convenient in a regular courtroom. All other acts or proceedings may be done or conducted by a judge in chambers, without the attendance of the Prothonotary or other court officials within the discretion of the judge. (c) Omitted. (d) Notice of orders of judgments. Immediately upon the entry of an order of judgment, the Prothonotary shall serve a notice of the entry by mail in the manner provided for in Rule 5 upon each party who is not in default for failure to appear, and shall make a note in the docket of the mailing. Such mailing is sufficient notice for all purposes for which notice of the entry of an order is required by these Rules; but any party may in addition serve a notice of such entry in the manner provided in Rule 5 for the service of papers. Lack of notice of the entry by the Prothonotary does not affect the time to appeal or relieve or authorize the Court to relieve a party for failure to appeal within the time allowed. (e) Duties of Prothonotary.

(1) Court attendance. The Prothonotary, a Deputy or Clerk, shall attend the Court in person. (2) Dockets. The continuance, foreign and domestic attachment, mechanic’s lien, judgment and other dockets shall be kept by the Prothonotary. The index to each continuance, foreign attachment, mechanic’s lien and judgment docket shall be both direct and indirect. All dockets may be maintained in an electronic form. (3) Docketing appeals de novo. Where on appeal the action is tried de novo, no appeal shall be entered by the Prothonotary on his docket until a certified transcript of the record shall be filed with the Prothonotary. (4) Notice of amendment of Rules. The Prothonotary shall give to all members of the Bar of this Court notice of any amendment to these Rules within 10 days from the adoption thereof. (5) Transmission of the record upon appeal to the Supreme Court. The Prothonotary shall comply with the procedures set forth in Supreme Court Rule 9 pertaining to the transmission of the record to the Clerk of the Supreme Court. (f) Records and exhibits. (1) Custody of. The Prothonotary shall have custody of the records and papers of the Court. The Prothonotary shall not permit any original record, paper or exhibit to be taken from the courtroom or from the Prothonotary’s office except at the direction of the Court or as provided by statute or by these Rules or by Rules of the Supreme Court. (2) Removal of exhibits. Exhibits shall not be removed prior to the time provided in these Rules except on motion or stipulation and order of the Court. (3) Disposition of exhibits. After the final determination of a cause by the Court and the expiration of the period for filing a notice of appeal, if no notice of appeal has been filed, all exhibits shall be removed by the party who introduced them. If not so removed, the Prothonotary shall notify the parties by mail to remove them forthwith; and if they are not removed within 15 days from the date of mailing said notice, the Prothonotary may obtain an order of the Court for their disposition. (4) Stenographic notes. The stenographers of Superior Court in all civil matters before the Court shall retain the stenographic notes in a place designated by the Court for a period of 10 years from the date of said notes. After such time, the stenographers are directed to destroy said notes unless the Court, or any judge thereof, has prescribed a longer period of time in a particular case. Stenographic notes of all civil matter shall be presumed to be destroyed after 10 years. (g) Opinions to be dated. Each written opinion (including letter opinions) shall bear two dates immediately under the caption of the case: (1) The date of the last oral argument, or brief filed, or other final submission of the case for decision; and (2) The date of the filing of the opinion or order. (h) Fees. A. All filing fees shall be non-refundable and shall cover costs, except Sheriff ’s service, which shall be paid separately by the moving party to the Sheriff. B. The filing fee shall cover the first fifty (50) filings of an action. An additional fee of $245.00 shall be paid after each increment of fifty (50) filings is recorded. C. A request for a trial date shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $150.00 paid by the requesting party. D. Fees do not include advertising costs which shall be billed directly to the filing party.

E. The Prothonotary may refuse any filing for which the fees set forth in the rule have not been paid. Whoever neglects or refuses to pay the fees set forth in this rule for any service or services performed, for 10 days after demand in writing by the officer to whom such fees are due, shall be fined $25.00 in addition to the fees due. The Prothonotary may refuse any filing from an attorney who fails, after second notice, to pay outstanding fees. It shall be the obligation of the attorney to pay timely any court costs or fees incurred by his client. F. The fees of Superior Court for the services specified shall be as follows:

COMPLAINTS

Complaints for Damages $200.00

Condemnations 200.00

Ejectments 200.00

Justice of the Peace Court Appeals 200.00

Automobile Arbitration Appeals 200.00

Declaratory Judgments 200.00

Foreign Judgments 200.00

Replevins 200.00

Foreign Attachments 200.00

Domestic Attachments 200.00

Interpleaders 200.00

Transfers from Court of Chancery 200.00

Removals from Court of Common Pleas 200.00

Amicable Actions 200.00

Complex Commercial Litigation Division $250.00

COMPLAINTS SUBJECT TO SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS FOR COMMERCIAL DISPUTES

The filing fee for complaints subject to Summary Proceedings for Commercial Disputes shall be .005 times the amount in controversy, but not less than $200.00 nor more than $5,000.

MECHANIC’S LIENS & MORTGAGES

Mortgages $200.00

Mechanic’s Liens 200.00

INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS

Involuntary Commitments N/C

APPEALS

Industrial Accident Board N/C

Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board N/C

Public Service Commission $200.00

Motor Vehicle 200.00

All Other Administrative Agencies 200.00

Court of Common Pleas 200.00

Certiorari 200.00

MISCELLANEOUS PETITIONS

Complaints Requesting Orders $ 75.00

i.e. Return of Property, Subpoena Requests,

Release of Surplus Funds from Sale of Property, etc.

Expungement of Criminal Record 75.00

Habeas Corpus N/C

Mandamus 200.00

Prohibition 200.00

Judgment or Mortgage Complaints 200.00

i.e. To extend, renew, satisfy, vacate, set aside, etc.

Appointment of Attorney N/C

Road Resolution 20.00

Tax Ditch, plus advertising costs 200.00

Possession of Property 50.00

Quo Warranto 200.00

Forma Pauperis N/C

Recording Bonds of Office 10.00

Recount of Vote 200.00

Road Vacation 200.00

JUDGMENTS

Transfers from Other State & District Court $50.00

i.e. Justice of the Peace, Court of Common Pleas,

Family Court, U.S. District Court, Chancery Court

Administrative Agency 25.00

i.e. Department of Labor, Division of Revenue, etc. Entering a judgment in Judgment Docket, except when confessed under warrant of attorney