Evicting a bad tenant in Delaware costs ~$6,665.
How Delaware handles evictions
JP court handles landlord/tenant.
Most of that loss is preventable.
Bad tenants almost always leave a paper trail, the problem is that most landlords don't check carefully. Here's what a proper screening catches before you sign the lease.
Delaware eviction cost FAQ
How much does it cost to evict someone in Delaware?
TenantFort estimates a contested eviction in Delaware at around $6,665 all-in: a $45 filing fee, roughly 1.2 months of lost rent ($1,620 at a typical $1,350/mo), plus legal fees, property damage beyond the deposit, and turnover costs, using national planning figures for those three. Uncontested cases cost less.
How long does an eviction take in Delaware?
Roughly 35 days (~5 weeks) from notice to lockout, as an estimate; contested cases take longer. JP court handles landlord/tenant.
How much is the eviction filing fee in Delaware?
$45, filed with the Justice of the Peace Court. Service, writ, and execution fees are typically extra and vary by county/court.
What court handles evictions in Delaware?
Evictions in Delaware are handled by the Justice of the Peace Court.
Sources & methodology
The filing fee is the Justice of the Peace Court's published fee; it has not yet been checked against the official fee schedule for this page, so confirm it with the court before you file. The timeline and typical rent are estimates. Property damage ($2,500), legal fees ($1,000) and turnover ($1,500) are round planning figures, the same for every state, not costs measured in Delaware. Real costs vary by county, whether the tenant contests, and the market.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Consult a local attorney for your specific situation.