The Delaware State Courts will be closed on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 for Election Day. Justice of the Peace Court 11 (New Castle County) and Justice of the Peace Court 7 (Kent County) will remain open 24 hours; Justice of the Peace Court 3 (Sussex County) will be open from 6AM – 12AM (no new cases after 11:30PM); and the Statewide Virtual Hearing Criminal Court operations will remain available.

Answer to Petition

Family Court Answer to Petition Form

Tip: The File Number and Petition (Case) Number can be found on the top right corner of your notice.

File Number on the Petition you received (required)

Petition (Case) Number on the Petition you received (required)

Petition Type (required)

Custody and Visitation Cases
Divorce and Ancillary Cases
Protection from Abuse Cases
Guardianship Cases
Child Support Cases
Termination of Parental Rights, Adoption, and Dependency/Neglect Cases
Adult and Juvenile Expungement Cases
Substantiation Cases
Minor Name Change Cases

Name (required)

Date of Birth (required)

Email address (required; if you do not have an email address, file your answer in person.)

Send a copy to me

Cellphone Number (required)

Other Phone Number(s) I can be reached at:

Street Address (required) including aprtment

P.O. Box Number

City (required)

State (required)

Zip Code (required)

Driver’s License (or other State Identification) Number or last 4 digits of your SSN (required)

Attorney Name, if applicable

Interpreter Need? Yes, an interpreter is needed.
No interpreter is needed.

Language Needed

Acknowledgement (required)

By filing this Answer, you can tell your side of the story to the Court. You can admit (you agree the statement is true) or deny (you believe the statement is false) any statements made by the Petitioner in the Petition.

If you deny the statement, explain to the Court why the Petitioner’s statement is not true. If you do not respond to a statement, the Court will assume you agree that the statement is true. If you believe a statement is false, you must deny it.

I have received a copy of a Family Court petition, and I would like to tell the Court my side of the story by: (required) Admitting (You agree the statements are true)
Denying (You believe the statements are false)

Furthermore (briefly state your position on the petition):

I am the individual named as the respondent in this case. (required)

Unsworn Declaration Made Under Penalty of Perjury (required)

By filing this Answer through the Family Court Website, I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of Delaware that the statements made in this Answer are true and correct and that I am the respondent named in this petition.

You will receive confirmation (with a copy of your answer) to the email you have provided. The email of the petitioner (or their attorney) may have been provided in the petition. You must forward a copy of your confirmation (including the attached answer) to that email. You must check the applicable box below: (required) I understand I must email TODAY a copy of the confirmation (with my answer attached) to the petitioner or their attorney and may be required by the Court to provide proof of this at a later date.
The petition did not contain an email for the petitioner or their attorney and I request the Court send the answer to them on my behalf.
There currently is or may be a no-contact between myself and the petitioner and I request the Court send the answer to them on my behalf.

Family Court Answer to Petition Form

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