New Castle County Register of Wills

New Castle County Register of Wills The Register of Wills Office, led by Register of Wills Ciro Poppiti III,
is a county probate office and branch of the Delaware Court of Chancery.

The office assists in obtaining the necessary documents to transfer the assets of a deceased person. Ciro Poppiti, III, has served as the New Castle County Register of Wills since he was first elected in 2010. Under his leadership, the office launched an effort to audit more than $150 million in unaccounted assets, returning money to families and netting approximately $2.3 million in “found” money

for New Castle County. In 2015, Ciro released the Delaware Estate Administration handbook, a how-to manual that unified statewide estate administration policy for the first time. For his efforts, the Delaware State Bar Association presented Ciro with the 2015 Outstanding Government Service Award, its highest award for government service. In 2021, Ciro achieved a unique milestone by collecting $35 million dollars in revenue during his tenure. Ciro became the first Register of Wills in state history to do so. Ciro was born and raised in the Cleland Heights neighborhood of Wilmington, the sixth child of Louise and Ciro Poppiti. He grew up in a big family, in a home that included his paternal grandmother, Lydia Poppiti, a first-generation American. As a young immigrant, Lydia taught herself to read and write English and later taught a young Ciro to take pride in his heritage, honor his family, and respect the elders of his community. Ciro attended Princeton University and returned to Delaware to join his family’s legal practice, receiving his law degree from Delaware Law School (Widener University). Ciro practices law as a Major in the Delaware Army National Guard. Since the fall of 2017, Ciro has been the lead attorney for the legal defense of Soldiers statewide. Ciro authored a 250-page tome Defense Counsel Deskbook (2019-20), for which he received the U.S. Army Commendation Medal. He volunteered for active duty during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2007, Ciro received the Outstanding Young Wilmingtonian Award from Wilmington Mayor James Baker for outstanding community service, especially his work with the Italian-American community as the founding chairman of the Delaware Commission on Italian Heritage and Culture. Ciro has been regularly appointed by the Court of Chancery as a master pro hac vice, ruling from the bench on over 150 matters. His well-regarded decision in The Estate of Leonard Rich (2013) established a three-factor paradigm for determining the appropriateness of deductions in an estate accounting. Ciro teaches as an adjunct professor at Wilmington University. He writes frequently and has contributed regular columns to several local publications over the years. Ciro lives in Wilmington with his wife, Laura, and two children, Jake and Louise.

07/15/2026

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services has announced cooling centers will reopen across the First State as soaring temperatures return this week.

07/04/2026
**REMINDER** Today, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in-person services will be available until 3:00 p.m., and tomorrow, Friday, ...
07/02/2026

**REMINDER** Today, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in-person services will be available until 3:00 p.m., and tomorrow, Friday, July 3, 2026, the office will be closed for the Independence Day holiday. Please call (302) 395-7800 for assistance.

07/02/2026

A heat wave means days of unusually high temps. Learn why a Delaware heat can turn dangerous and how to stay safe.

NCCo. REGISTER OF WILLS Modified Schedule: On Thursday, July 2, 2026, in-person services will be available until 3:00 p....
07/01/2026

NCCo. REGISTER OF WILLS Modified Schedule: On Thursday, July 2, 2026, in-person services will be available until 3:00 p.m., and on Friday, July 3, 2026, the office will be closed for the Independence Day holiday. Please call (302) 395-7800 for assistance.

07/01/2026

Delaware's Department of Health and Social Services says its facilities across the state will open as cooling centers from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

"HB 333 is part of a multi-layered initiative to expedite the probate process,” Poppiti said in the statement. “I am tru...
06/30/2026

"HB 333 is part of a multi-layered initiative to expedite the probate process,” Poppiti said in the statement. “I am truly grateful to the bill's champions: Register DJ Cox in Kent County, Representative Eric Morrison, and Senator Dan Cruce. They have repeatedly been at the forefront of legislation that protects our seniors."

Probate exemptions for wills in Delaware are different because of a new law.

06/23/2026

New Castle County Register of Wills Ciro Poppiti III Announces A Win for Delaware Taxpayers, Families
New law raises Delaware's probate exemption to $50,000,
expediting the probate process for many families

Wilmington, Del. – New Castle County Register of Wills Ciro Poppiti III is pleased to announce the passage of Delaware House Bill 333, which is commonsense legislation that protects Delaware’s seniors and taxpayers.

HB 333 raises the probate exemption level from $30,000 to $50,000, meaning that as of June 10, 2026, if a Decedent has less than $50,000 in his or her own name, family members do not have to open formal probate. This saves all stakeholders – including the Decedent's family and New Castle County – from spending time, money, and needless red tape for a low-asset estate. Register Poppiti praised the bill and the legislators who made it happen.

"HB 333 is part of a multi-layered initiative to expedite the probate process,” said Register Poppiti. “I am truly grateful to the Bill's champions: Register DJ Cox in Kent County, Representative Eric Morrison (House District 27), and Senator Dan Cruce (Senate District 1). They have repeatedly been at the forefront of legislation that protects our seniors."

The $30,000 threshold had not been updated since 2005. Since then, the Consumer Price Index for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington region has risen approximately 66.5%. Neighboring states including Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York already use a $50,000 threshold, leaving Delaware out of sync with the region.

The outdated limit created real hardship. A surviving family left with one car and a miscellaneous bank account (assets that easily exceed $30,000 today) could be forced into full probate proceedings despite having a modest estate. HB 333 corrects that.

"Working together with our Registers of Wills in all three counties, we were able to advance commonsense legislation that makes an often-difficult process a little easier for Delaware families,” said Senator Cruce, emphasizing the new law’s human impact. “At a time when so many neighbors are already coping with the loss of a loved one, we should be reducing unnecessary financial burdens, not adding to them. This collaborative effort is about affordability, compassion, and ensuring government works for people when they need it most."

Highlighting the need to modernize Delaware’s estate laws, House sponsor Representative Eric Morrison said that he was happy to work with New Castle County Register of Wills Ciro Poppiti to pass this important legislation. “HB 333 modernizes the small estate threshold, which has not been updated in more than twenty years, and will help many Delawareans, especially surviving spouses and individuals on the lower socioeconomic end of the spectrum."

"I am happy that the probate amount of $30,000 has been changed to $50,000,” said Kent County Register of Wills DJ Cox, a key partner in building statewide support for the bill. “This will allow a smoother and faster process for many families when using the Register of Wills office."

With the passage of HB 333, Delaware joins its regional neighbors in bringing the small estate threshold in line with today's cost of living, further ensuring support for families in their most vulnerable moments.

For any questions please contact: Register of Wills Ciro Poppiti at (302) 395-7800.

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The Register of Wills office will close at 3:00 p.m. on Thurs., June 18th, and will be closed on Fri., June 19th, to com...
06/16/2026

The Register of Wills office will close at 3:00 p.m. on Thurs., June 18th, and will be closed on Fri., June 19th, to commemorate the Juneteenth holiday. The office will reopen for in-person services on Mon., June 22, 2026.

06/11/2026

State health officials are making air-conditioned space available during the next few days for people who want - or need - to get out of the heat.

Address

800 North French Street, Second Floor
Wilmington, DE
19801

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 3:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 3:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 3:30pm
Thursday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 3:30pm

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