Legal Statutes: Delaware

UPDATED December 2, 2012

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• Delaware Code (select sections)
  • Title 10. Courts and Judicial Procedures
    • Part 1. Organization, Powers, Jurisdiction and Operation of Courts
      • Chapter 9. THE FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
        • Subchapter I. Organization, Administration and Operation
          • § 901. Definitions
          • § 902. Purpose; construction
          • § 903. Court of record; name; subtitles
        • Subchapter II. Jurisdiction and Powers
          • § 921. Exclusive original civil jurisdiction
          • § 922. Exclusive and concurrent original criminal jurisdiction
          • § 924. Concurrent original civil jurisdiction
          • § 925. General jurisdiction
        • Subchapter III. Procedure
          • Part C. Adult Proceedings
            • § 1031. Disposition
          • Part D. Protection From Abuse Proceedings.
            • § 1041. Definitions
            • § 1042. Commencement of action; procedure
            • § 1043. Ex parte orders and emergency hearings
            • § 1044. Nonemergency hearings
            • § 1045. Relief available; duration of orders, modification and termination
            • § 1046. Enforcement; sanctions for violation of order
            • § 1047. Nonpreclusion of remedies
            • § 1048. Jurisdiction
          • Part E. Interstate Enforcement of Domestic Violence Protection Orders
            • § 1049. Title
            • § 1049A. Definitions
            • § 1049B. Judicial enforcement of order
            • § 1049C. Nonjudicial enforcement of order
            • § 1049D. Registration of order
            • § 1049E. Immunity
            • § 1049F. Other remedies
  • Title 11. Crimes and Criminal Procedure
    • Part I. Delaware Criminal Code
      • Chapter 2. GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING OFFENSES
        • § 222. General definitions
      • Chapter 5. SPECIFIC OFFENSES
        • Subchapter II. Offenses Against the Person
          • Subpart A. Assaults and Related Offenses
            • § 601. Offensive touching; unclassified misdemeanor; class A misdemeanor
            • § 602. Menacing; unclassified misdemeanor
            • § 603. Reckless endangering in the second degree; class A misdemeanor
            • § 604. Reckless endangering in the first degree; class E felony
            • § 605. Abuse of a pregnant female in the second degree; class C felony
            • § 606. Abuse of a pregnant female in the first degree; class B felony
            • § 611. Assault in the third degree; class A misdemeanor
            • § 612. Assault in the second degree; class D felony
            • § 613. Assault in the first degree; class B felony
            • § 614. Abuse of a sports official; class G felony; class A misdemeanor
            • § 621. Terroristic threatening
            • § 625. Unlawfully administering drugs; class A misdemeanor
            • § 628. Vehicular assault in the second degree; class B misdemeanor
          • Subpart D. Sexual Offenses
            • § 761. Definitions generally applicable to sexual offenses
            • § 762. Provisions generally applicable to sexual offenses
            • § 763. Sexual harassment; unclassified misdemeanor
            • § 764. Indecent exposure in the second degree; unclassified misdemeanor
            • § 765. Indecent exposure in the first degree; class A misdemeanor
            • § 767. Unlawful sexual contact in the third degree; class A misdemeanor
            • § 768. Unlawful sexual contact in the second degree; class F felony
            • § 769. Unlawful sexual contact in the first degree; class D felony
            • § 770. Rape in the fourth degree; class C felony
            • § 771. Rape in the third degree; class B felony
            • § 772. Rape in the second degree; class B felony
            • § 773. Rape in the first degree; class A felony
          • Subpart E. Kidnapping and Related Offenses
            • § 781. Unlawful imprisonment in the second degree; class A misdemeanor
            • § 782. Unlawful imprisonment in the first degree; class G felony
            • § 783. Kidnapping in the second degree; class C felony
            • § 783A. Kidnapping in the first degree; class B felony
            • § 785. Interference with custody; class G felony; class A misdemeanor
          • Subpart F. Coercion
            • § 791. Acts constituting coercion; class A misdemeanor
        • Subchapter III. Offenses Involving Property
          • Subpart B. Criminal Trespass and Burglary
            • § 820. Trespassing with intent to peer or peep into a window or door of another; class B misdemeanor
            • § 821. Criminal trespass in the third degree; a violation
            • § 822. Criminal trespass in the second degree; unclassified misdemeanor
            • § 823. Criminal trespass in the first degree; class A misdemeanor
            • § 824. Burglary in the third degree; class F felony
            • § 825. Burglary in the second degree; class D felony
            • § 826. Burglary in the first degree; class C felony
        • Subchapter VII. Offenses Against Public Health, Order and Decency
          • Subpart A. Riot, Disorderly Conduct and Related Offenses
            • § 1311. Harassment; class A misdemeanor
          • Subpart E. Offenses Involving Deadly Weapons and Dangerous Instruments
            • § 1448. Possession and purchase of deadly weapons by persons prohibited; penalties
  • Title 13. Domestic Relations
    • Chapter 1. MARRIAGE
      • § 101. Void and voidable marriages
    • Chapter 5. DESERTION AND SUPPORT
      • Subchapter I. Duty to Support
        • § 501. Duty to support minor child; duty to support child over 18 years of age
    • Chapter 7. PARENTS AND CHILDREN
      • Subchapter I. General Provisions
        • § 701. Rights and responsibilities of parents; guardian appointment
      • Subchapter II. Custody Proceedings
        • § 721. Commencement of proceedings; venue; notice; pleadings; attorney for child; removal from jurisdiction; considerations
        • § 722. Best interests of child
        • § 723. Temporary orders
        • § 724. Interviews
        • § 726. Hearings
        • § 727. Custody
        • § 728. Residence; visitation; sanctions
        • § 729. Modification of prior orders
        • § 730. Petition to modify custody
        • § 731. Attorney's fees
        • § 732. Procedural rights
        • § 733. Stepparent custody in certain circumstances
    • Chapter 7A. CHILD PROTECTION FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEX OFFENDERS ACT
      • Subchapter I. Child Protection from Domestic Violence Act
        • § 701A. Title
        • § 702A. Purpose
        • § 703A. Definitions
        • § 704A. Fleeing from domestic violence
        • § 705A. Rebuttable presumption against custody or residence of minor child to perpetrator of domestic violence
        • § 706A. Evidence of domestic violence
        • § 707A. Counseling
        • § 708A. Visitation
        • § 709A. Modification of orders
        • § 711A. Ordered mediation prohibited
    • Chapter 8. UNIFORM PARENTAGE ACT
      • Subchapter II. Parent-Child Relationship
        • § 8-201. Establishment of parent-child relationship
    • Chapter 15. DIVORCE AND ANNULMENT
      • § 1502. Purpose; construction
      • § 1503. Definitions
      • § 1504. Jurisdiction; residence; procedure
      • § 1505. Divorce; marriage irretrievably broken and reconciliation improbable; defenses; efforts at reconciliation
      • § 1506. Annulment
      • § 1507. Petition for divorce or annulment
      • § 1509. Preliminary injunction; interim orders pending final hearing
      • § 1511. Response; counterclaim; prayers; reply to counterclaim
      • § 1512. Alimony in divorce and annulment actions; award; limitations
      • § 1513. Disposition of marital property; imposition of lien; insurance policies
      • § 1514. Resumption of maiden or former name
      • § 1515. Attorneys’ fees
      • § 1519. Modification or termination of decree or order; termination of alimony; enforcement of alimony order
      • § 1520. Independence of provisions of decree or temporary order
    • CHAPTER 19. UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT
      • Subchapter II. Jurisdiction
        • § 1920. Initial child custody jurisdiction
        • § 1923. Temporary emergency jurisdiction
    • Chapter 23. GUARDIANSHIP OF A CHILD
      • Subchapter I. Definitions and Jurisdiction
        • § 2302. Definitions
      • Subchapter II. General Procedures for Appointment of Guardians
        • § 2320. Persons eligible to petition for guardianship
        • § 2321. Consent by parent
      • Subchapter III. Guardian of the Child
        • § 2330. Grounds for guardianship of the child
        • § 2331. Duties and rights of parents
      • Subchapter V. Permanent Guardianships for Children
        • § 2353. Standard for permanent guardianship
    • Chapter 24. THIRD PARTY VISITATION
      • Subchapter I. General Provisions
        • § 2401. Intent and purpose
        • § 2402. Definitions
        • § 2403. Jurisdiction and venue
        • § 2404. Hearing procedure and notice requirements
        • § 2405. Sanctions
        • § 2406. Confidentiality of proceedings
        • § 2407. Appeals
      • Subchapter II. Third Party Visitation Proceedings
        • § 2410. Persons eligible to petition for third party visitation
        • § 2411. Contents of third party visitation petition
        • § 2412. Grounds for persons obtaining third party visitation with a child
        • § 2413. Modification of orders granting third party visitation
    • Chapter 25. DSCYF CUSTODY
      • Subchapter II. Dscyf Custody Proceedings
        • § 2512. Grounds for DSCYF custody; preliminary injunction

Chapter 15. DIVORCE AND ANNULMENT

back to top§ 1511. Response; counterclaim; prayers; reply to counterclaim

(a) Respondent may file a verified response, move or otherwise plead in answer to the petition, and may counterclaim for divorce or annulment against petitioner, within 20 days after personal service, receipt of service by mail, appearance personally or by counsel, or the date of publication of notice.

(b) Respondent may seek an award of interim relief under § 1509 of this title, alimony where appropriate under § 1512 of this title, disposition of property, attorney's fees, resumption of former name or any other relief available to a petitioner.

(c) Petitioner may reply, move or otherwise plead in response to a counterclaim for divorce or annulment within 20 days after service of the counterclaim.

(d) For good cause shown, the Court may extend the time stipulated for responding to the petition or a counterclaim.

(e) In any case where there are living children of the marriage, the respondent shall submit with the response, or other responsive pleading, an affidavit signed by the respondent showing that the respondent has read or been advised of the children's rights set forth in § 1507(g) of this title, which rights shall be set forth in full in said affidavit.