Kent County, DE Chapter 177 Property, Purchase of

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Levy Court of Kent County as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]

Article I New Property Owner Information

[Adopted 6-12-2001 by Ord. No. 01-15[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance superseded former Art. I, Land Management Records Routing Form, adopted 4-27-1993 by Ord. No. 93-03.

§ 177-1 Collection of new property owner information.

The Recorder of Deeds shall collect property owner information with every deed recorded and shall forward such information to other county office(s) as the head of the Department of Finance may request.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: The Kent County Property Owner Information Form is included at the end of this chapter.

Article II Sheriff Sale

[Adopted 2-25-2025 by Ord. No. 25-01[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance provided an effective date of 5-1-2025.

§ 177-2 Registration required.

All bidders will be required to register between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. the day of the Sheriff sale.

A. Buyers will be required to register to be able to actively participate in a sale and receive a permanent bidder number.

B. To register, bidders will be required to fill out the Sheriff's required registration form, which can be obtained online or in the office, and provide a valid driver's license or a valid photo ID.

C. Once registered, the bidder will receive an assigned bidder number for that sale and all future sales.

D. A buyer must have this bidder number to place a bid.

§ 177-3 Deposit.

The Sheriff's Office requires a nonrefundable deposit of $4,000 for each property purchased.

A. Deposit must be made payable to Kent County Sheriff's Office in the form of a cashier's check, certified check or money order.

B. Deposit must be turned in between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to receive your the designated bidder number only if the buyer is a registered bidder.

C. Deposit will be held on deposit until the completion of the sale at which time the deposit will be refunded if the bidder is not a successful bidder and returns the same bid number to the office staff for return of deposit.

D. Successful bidder's deposit will be applied to the 20% deposit required for the purchase of the property.

E. Foreclosure. The remaining amount of the 20% deposit must be paid before 2:00 p.m. on the day of the sale or, the deposit will be forfeited and the property will be resold.

F. Monition sale. 100% of the winning bid minus the deposit is due before 2:00 p.m. the day of the sale.

G. Forfeited deposits get applied to any Sheriff's fees against the writ and balance refunded to the plaintiff's attorney.