Delaware requires every divorcing parent of a child age 17 or younger to complete a certified Parenting Education Course under 13 Del. C. § 1507(h). The course runs 6 to 8 hours, costs no more than $100 per adult, and both spouses must finish and file certificates within 180 days of filing the petition, or the case is dismissed.
Key Facts: Delaware Divorce and Parenting Class
| Item | Delaware Requirement |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $165 petition + $10 court security fee = $175 total (as of March 2026; verify with your local clerk) |
| Parenting Class Fee | Capped at $100 per adult by statute; online providers run $50–$100 |
| Waiting Period | 6-month separation typically required for irretrievable breakdown |
| Residency Requirement | One spouse resident 6 months before filing (13 Del. C. § 1504) |
| Grounds | No-fault: marriage irretrievably broken (13 Del. C. § 1505) |
| Property Division Type | Equitable distribution (13 Del. C. § 1513) |
| Parenting Class Statute | 13 Del. C. § 1507(h) |
| Course Length | 6 to 8 hours |
| Completion Deadline | Certificate due within 180 days of petition filing |
| Applies To | Children of the marriage up to age 17 |
What Is the Required Parenting Class for Divorce in Delaware?
The required parenting class for divorce in Delaware is a 6-to-8-hour Parenting Education Course certified by the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF). Mandated under 13 Del. C. § 1507(h), it educates divorcing parents on how family restructuring affects children and costs no more than $100 per adult by statute.
Delaware calls this requirement a Parenting Education Course, though families and providers commonly refer to it as a co-parenting class, a parent education program, or a family stabilization course. Whatever the label, the legal obligation is identical: parents dissolving a marriage that produced minor children must complete an approved curriculum before the Family Court will finalize the divorce. The Family Court of the State of Delaware administers this requirement across all three counties, New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, through the same statutory framework. The course is not a punitive measure or a parenting-fitness evaluation. It is an educational program grounded in research showing that conflict between separating parents drives most of the harm children experience during divorce. Delaware's statute specifically directs the curriculum toward reducing that harm by teaching co-parenting communication, age-appropriate ways to discuss separation with children, and how to shield children from adult disputes. Understanding this parenting class divorce Delaware requirement early helps parents budget time and money and avoid the 180-day dismissal trap.
Who Must Take the Parenting Class in Delaware?
Both parents in a Delaware divorce must take the parenting class when the marriage produced at least one living child up to age 17. Under 13 Del. C. § 1507(h), the petitioner and the respondent each complete the course independently and file separate certificates of completion. The requirement also extends beyond divorce to any party in a custody or visitation proceeding.
The statutory trigger is the presence of a child of the marriage who is 17 or younger at the time of filing. If the youngest child has already turned 18, the parenting class requirement does not apply, and neither spouse needs to enroll. When the requirement does apply, it applies to both spouses regardless of who filed, who has primary residential placement, or how amicable the separation is. A parent who lives out of state, who is not seeking custody, or who agrees to everything the other spouse proposes must still complete the co-parenting class. The requirement is individual and non-transferable: one spouse cannot complete the course on behalf of both, and a couple cannot attend a single session together and submit one shared certificate. Delaware also recognizes a domestic-violence exception in structure. Parents with a history of domestic violence may be directed to a specialized domestic-violence-focused seminar rather than the standard mixed-group class, so that survivors are not required to sit alongside an abusive co-parent. If you are unsure whether your case qualifies, a personalized divorce roadmap can walk you through the threshold questions based on your children's ages.
What Does Delaware Law Actually Require? (13 Del. C. § 1507(h))
Delaware law requires the Family Court to order both parties to pay for and participate in a certified Parenting Education Course in any divorce involving children up to age 17, under 13 Del. C. § 1507(h). The course must be certified by DSCYF, must address domestic violence prevention and its effect on children, and the statute caps the fee at $100 per adult.
The operative statutory language directs that the Court "shall order" participation, making the class mandatory rather than discretionary in the ordinary case. The statute carves out one exception: the Court, upon motion, may determine that participation is not necessary in a particular case. This is a narrow, motion-driven exception, not an automatic opt-out, and parents cannot simply decline to attend. The statute also defines the curriculum's mandate. The certified course must meet the goal of educating divorce litigants on the impact of family restructuring on children, and it must specifically provide information regarding domestic violence, its prevention, and its effect on children. Certification authority rests with DSCYF, which approves the providers and curricula that satisfy the statute. This is why parents cannot substitute any generic parenting seminar or unrelated online course; the class must appear on Delaware's approved list. The grounds and residency rules that surround this requirement, the 6-month residency under 13 Del. C. § 1504 and no-fault irretrievable breakdown under 13 Del. C. § 1505, operate independently, but the parenting class is the procedural gate that most often delays a decree when children are involved.
How Much Does the Delaware Parenting Class Cost?
The Delaware parenting class costs no more than $100 per adult, a ceiling written directly into 13 Del. C. § 1507(h). In practice, DSCYF-approved online providers charge roughly $50 to $100 per parent, and some nonprofit in-person programs offer reduced or sliding-scale fees. Because each parent pays separately, a two-parent household budgets $100 to $200 total for the requirement.
That course fee sits on top of the base cost of filing. Delaware Family Court charges $165 to file the divorce petition plus a mandatory $10 court security fee, for a total filing cost of $175 as of March 2026 (verify with your local clerk, as fees change). Service of process typically adds $40 to $100 depending on method. The table below breaks down the mandatory cost components most parents encounter before a divorce with children is finalized.
| Cost Component | Typical Amount (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Petition filing fee | $165 | Paid to "Family Court" |
| Court security fee | $10 | Mandatory add-on |
| Parenting class (per parent) | $50–$100 | Statutory cap $100/adult |
| Parenting class (both parents) | $100–$200 | Each parent pays separately |
| Service of process | $40–$100 | Varies by method |
| Fee waiver (In Forma Pauperis) | $0 | If income ≤150% federal poverty line |
Parents whose household income falls at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines can request a filing-fee waiver by submitting an Affidavit in Support of Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. Many DSCYF-approved parenting-class providers also offer fee reductions or scholarships for low-income participants, so a tight budget rarely blocks completion of the divorce class for parents. If child support will be part of your case, our Delaware child support calculator can help you estimate ongoing obligations alongside these one-time filing costs.
What Does the Parenting Class Cover?
The Delaware parenting class covers the impact of divorce on children, co-parenting communication strategies, age-appropriate ways to explain separation, and mandatory content on domestic violence prevention and its effect on children. The 6-to-8-hour curriculum, certified by DSCYF under 13 Del. C. § 1507(h), focuses on reducing parental conflict, the single largest predictor of poor child outcomes after divorce.
Though curricula vary by provider, every DSCYF-approved course must cover the statutory core. Typical modules address several recurring themes. Parents learn how children of different developmental stages, toddlers, elementary-age children, and teenagers, perceive and react to divorce, and how those reactions change over time. The curriculum teaches concrete communication tools: using neutral language about the other parent, keeping children out of adult conflict, avoiding using children as messengers, and building a business-like co-parenting relationship. Courses also address practical logistics such as building parenting-time schedules, handling transitions between homes, and coordinating decisions about school, health care, and activities. Because the statute mandates it, every course includes a segment on domestic violence, covering warning signs, its effect on children who witness it, and available resources. Many programs also introduce the difference between legal and physical custody and how Delaware structures parenting arrangements, which pairs well with a broader understanding of child custody arrangements. The goal is educational and preventive: the family stabilization course does not evaluate whether a parent is fit, does not make custody recommendations to the judge, and does not become part of the contested record.
When Must You Complete the Course? Deadlines and Timing
You must complete the Delaware parenting class and file your certificate of completion within 180 days of the date the divorce petition is filed. If the Family Court has not received a certificate from both parties within that 180-day window, the petition is subject to dismissal, forcing the filing parent to start over and pay the $175 filing cost again.
The 180-day clock starts on the filing date, not the date either parent enrolls, so procrastination directly consumes the available window. Because both the petitioner and the respondent must independently complete the course and submit separate certificates, a divorce can stall even when the filing spouse finishes promptly, if the other spouse delays. This makes the parenting class one of the more common procedural bottlenecks in Delaware divorces involving children. Practical timing guidance follows a simple sequence:
- Enroll in a DSCYF-approved co-parenting class as soon as the petition is filed, ideally within the first few weeks.
- Complete the 6-to-8-hour course; online formats can often be finished in a single day or split across sessions.
- Obtain the provider's certificate of completion immediately upon finishing.
- File the certificate with the Family Court and keep a copy for your records.
- Confirm the other parent has done the same, since the court needs both certificates.
Completing the course early carries no downside and removes a variable that parents cannot fully control, namely the other spouse's cooperation. Parents who expect a contested case should treat the class as an early administrative task to clear rather than a last-minute item, so that disputes over property or a find a divorce attorney search do not crowd out the deadline.
Approved Providers and Formats: Online vs. In-Person
Delaware parents may satisfy the parenting class requirement through either in-person or online DSCYF-approved providers, and both formats produce a certificate the Family Court accepts. Online co-parenting classes typically cost $50 to $100 and can be completed in a single 6-to-8-hour sitting or across multiple sessions, while in-person nonprofit programs sometimes offer sliding-scale fees below the $100 statutory cap.
The critical rule for either format is DSCYF approval. A course must appear on Delaware's certified list to count; a well-known national parenting course that is not certified in Delaware will not satisfy 13 Del. C. § 1507(h), and parents risk paying twice if they enroll in an unapproved program. Nonprofit organizations such as CHILD, Inc. have long provided the in-person Parenting Education Course in Delaware, and numerous approved online vendors serve parents who prefer to complete the requirement remotely or who live out of state. The comparison below outlines the practical trade-offs.
| Feature | Online Format | In-Person Format |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | $50–$100 per parent | Sliding scale up to $100 |
| Scheduling | On-demand, self-paced | Fixed class dates |
| Completion speed | Same day possible | Depends on session calendar |
| Best for | Out-of-state or busy parents | Parents preferring live facilitation |
| Certificate | Issued digitally on completion | Issued after attendance |
| DSCYF approval required | Yes | Yes |
Before enrolling, parents should confirm current approval status directly with the Delaware Family Court or DSCYF, because provider certifications are periodically updated. Choosing an approved provider up front is the single most reliable way to avoid a rejected certificate and a blown 180-day deadline.
How the Parenting Class Fits Into the Delaware Divorce Process
The parenting class is one procedural gate within Delaware's broader no-fault divorce process, which requires 6 months of residency under 13 Del. C. § 1504, a marriage that is irretrievably broken under 13 Del. C. § 1505, and equitable distribution of marital property under 13 Del. C. § 1513. For parents of minor children, the certified course must be completed before the Family Court will enter a final decree.
Delaware divorces generally proceed in a predictable order. One spouse must have resided in Delaware for at least 6 months before filing. The petitioner then files the divorce petition and pays the $175 filing cost, alleging that the marriage is irretrievably broken, usually supported by living separate and apart for 6 months, though no separation period is required when both spouses agree the marriage is irretrievably broken. Once children under 18 are involved, the parenting class requirement attaches automatically, and the 180-day completion clock begins. Meanwhile, the parties resolve custody, child support, and division of property. Delaware follows equitable distribution, meaning marital assets and debts are divided fairly but not necessarily 50/50, weighing factors listed in 13 Del. C. § 1513; understanding equitable distribution helps parents anticipate how the court approaches property. The parenting class does not resolve any of these contested issues, but the court treats it as a prerequisite that both parents must clear. A divorce that is otherwise ready to finalize can be held up solely because one parent has not filed a certificate, which is why experienced practitioners advise parents to complete the co-parenting class requirement well ahead of the substantive negotiations.
What Happens If You Don't Complete the Class?
If you do not complete the Delaware parenting class within 180 days of filing, the Family Court will dismiss the divorce petition, forcing the filing parent to refile and pay the $175 filing cost again. Because 13 Del. C. § 1507(h) makes the certified course mandatory in cases with children up to age 17, the court cannot enter a final decree until both parents submit certificates of completion.
The dismissal consequence is the primary enforcement mechanism, and it applies even to fully agreed, uncontested divorces. A couple that has settled every issue, custody, support, and property, still cannot finalize if either spouse skips the class. When one parent refuses to cooperate, the other parent's remedy is typically to complete their own course promptly and then ask the court to address the non-compliant spouse, since the requirement is individual. The narrow statutory relief valve is a motion asking the Court to determine that participation is not necessary in the specific case; this is a discretionary determination the judge must make, not a box a party can check unilaterally. Parents facing genuine barriers, such as documented domestic violence, disability, or distance, should raise those circumstances with the court or explore the domestic-violence-focused alternative seminar rather than simply failing to attend. The practical takeaway is straightforward: the parenting class divorce Delaware requires is not optional in most cases, and treating it as an early, low-cost administrative task, rather than an afterthought, is the surest way to keep a divorce on schedule and avoid paying the filing fee twice.