United States · State guide
Divorce inDelaware.
Family law is state law. Here is how it works in Delaware: the property rules, support, how to file, what it costs, who enforces it, and every FairWell guide and tool set up for Delaware.
Official source: courts.delaware.gov
Property division
Equitable distribution state: marital property is divided fairly, which usually means roughly equally but the court can adjust based on statutory factors; separate property stays with the owner.
Residency and waiting period
Court: Family Court6 months residency; the spouses must have been separated for 6 months before the decree in most cases.
Child support
Melson formula. Delaware courts consider pet well-being.
Retirement accounts
Workplace retirement plans are divided by a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) prepared after the decree; IRAs are divided by the decree itself. A former spouse married ten years or more may claim Social Security on the ex's record.
Enforcement
Child support is enforced by Delaware Division of Child Support Services under the federal Title IV-D program: income withholding, tax refund intercepts, license suspension and passport denial for arrears.
Health insurance
Divorce ends a former spouse's eligibility on an employer plan. COBRA continuation is available for up to 36 months at full cost; the ACA marketplace opens a special enrollment period.
Official guidelines and tools
The government and court sources for child support, spousal support, the family law statute and self-help. Use these to check any estimate, including ours.
Common questions
How is property divided in a Delaware divorce?
Equitable distribution state: marital property is divided fairly, which usually means roughly equally but the court can adjust based on statutory factors; separate property stays with the owner.
How do I file for divorce in Delaware?
6 months residency; the spouses must have been separated for 6 months before the decree in most cases. File in the Family Court.
When does child support end in Delaware?
Child support usually ends at 18, or up to 19 if the child is still in high school and expected to graduate. College support is not required unless the parents agree.
What happens to property when unmarried couples separate in Delaware?
Delaware does not allow couples to form a common-law marriage, so unmarried partners who separate are not covered by the state's divorce property-division rules. Property generally belongs to whoever holds title, subject to any written agreement or contract between you.
How long do you need to live in Delaware to file for divorce?
You or your spouse must have lived in Delaware (or been stationed there with the military) for at least 6 months immediately before filing. Divorce is handled by the Family Court of the State of Delaware.
Official help: Family Court of the State of Delaware: Divorce. Rules change, so confirm with a family lawyer in Delaware before you rely on them.
Read next
Guides for Delaware
Filing for an uncontested divorce in the US
GuideWhat divorce costs in the US
GuideQDROs and retirement accounts
GuideDivorce and US taxes
GuideHealth insurance after divorce
GuideRelocation with children
GuideThe complete parenting plan guide
GuideYour separation date controls everything
GuideHidden assets: warning signs
GuideJoint debt at separation
GuideWhen your ex won't pay
GuideSeparating when there is abuse
Professionals
Family lawyers, mediators and coaches in Delaware
Family lawyers
Listings marked Verified have been checked against the state bar directory. Each lawyer sets their own fees.
DirectoryMediators
Family mediators for parenting and financial issues. Listings marked Verified have been checked against their association.
DirectoryDivorce coaches and counselors
Decision support, communication and co-parenting help. What a coach does.
Are you a professional in Delaware? List your practice.
Delaware
Get organized in Delaware
Guided questions for separation agreements, parenting plans and financial disclosure, linked to the official sources on this page and organized into a plain-language summary for a local family lawyer, who prepares the agreement and advises you.
Sources and further reading
This page is legal information, not legal advice. It summarizes how the process works in Delaware so you can plan; the official sources above are where current fees, forms and deadlines live, and they are the final word if anything here differs. When you're ready, the assessment and FairWell's guided questions link to the rules for Delaware; a local lawyer prepares any agreement and advises you before you sign.