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Divorce prep · Delaware
How child support works in Delaware
Delaware support is set using the Delaware Child Support Formula, also called the Melson Formula. Both parents must support a child until 18, or until high school graduation or age 19, whichever comes first. The first time parents come to Family Court for a support order, they attend a mediation conference.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- Delaware support is set using the Delaware Child Support Formula, also called the Melson Formula. Delaware Family Court: Child Support. Checked November 2, 2026
- Both parents must support a child until 18, or until high school graduation or age 19, whichever comes first. Delaware Family Court: Child Support. Checked November 2, 2026
- The first time parents come to Family Court for a support order, they attend a mediation conference. Delaware Family Court: Child Support. Checked November 2, 2026
- Wage attachment is the most common way support is enforced. Delaware Family Court: Child Support. Checked November 2, 2026
Official links
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Bank, retirement and debt statements
- Pay stubs and tax returns
- Household bills and expenses
- Home, car and property papers
- Agreements and court papers you have
- Messages sent to you
- Co-parenting log: dated handoff and visit notes
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
One page, no email needed.
Coming soon to Google Play.
More for Delaware
- Child custody and parenting plans in Delaware
- How to get a copy of your divorce record in Delaware
- Protective orders for domestic violence in Delaware
- Divorce residency rules and where to file in Delaware
- Divorce document checklist: the full guide
- How child support works: all states
Neighbouring states
- How child support works in Maryland
- How child support works in New Jersey
- How child support works in Connecticut
- How child support works in District of Columbia
Questions
Where do these Delaware facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: Delaware Family Court: Child Support. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in Delaware or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for divorce prep?
A good start: Bank, retirement and debt statements; Pay stubs and tax returns; Household bills and expenses; Home, car and property papers; Agreements and court papers you have; Messages sent to you; Co-parenting log: dated handoff and visit notes. Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.