{"id":372393,"date":"2016-04-11T01:21:50","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:21:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/delaware-law\/delaware-domestic-violence-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-05-22T08:11:38","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T13:11:38","slug":"delaware-domestic-violence-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/delaware-law\/delaware-domestic-violence-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Delaware Domestic Violence Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Delaware Domestic Violence Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

It seems like domestic violence is a thing that shouldn’t exist, but it’s a sad truth that it does. The state of Delaware has protections in place<\/a> to help victims of domestic abuse<\/a> and programs designed to keep it from recurring. Even so, it remains an unfortunate reality.<\/p>\r\n

Suffering as a victim of domestic violence can feel like being unable to wake up from a nightmare. Whether you or someone you love is the target of domestic abuse or you stand accused of family violence, it’s important to have a firm understanding of Delaware’s domestic violence laws.<\/p>\r\n

This article will examine Delaware codes dealing with all aspects of domestic violence, from violations and penalties to intervention programs<\/a> designed to break the cycle of violence.<\/p>\r\n

Domestic Violence Laws in Delaware: How They Work<\/h2>\r\n

As with other states, the justice system addresses domestic violence through both the criminal courts and the family courts. An incident of domestic violence may involve investigation by the police and criminal charges. It may also lead to a petition for a protection order or the filing of a divorce in family court.<\/p>\r\n

In Delaware, there is no stand-alone statute for the crime of domestic violence. Instead, domestic violence may coincide with a number of criminal offenses. Its presence in a given criminal incident may have an impact on the investigation, prosecution, sentencing, and other aspects of a criminal case.<\/p>\r\n

Many crimes can be considered domestic violence abuse offenses when the victim is related as a family or household member. These include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\r\n