Del. Ch. Ct. R. 10 (2026)

Rule 10. Caption; Form of Filings (a) Caption. Every pleading, notice, motion, affidavit, form of order, request for or response to discovery, or other filing must have a caption with the Court’s name, the names of the parties, and the civil action number. There also must be a title for the filing. The caption of a complaint or a third-party complaint must name all the parties; the caption of other papers, after naming the first party on each side, may refer generally to other parties.

(b) Format. (1) Font. The font for a filing must use one of three conventions: (A) Times New Roman 14-point typeface with 13- point typeface in footnotes; (B) Century 12-point typeface with 11-point typeface in footnotes; or (C) Century Schoolbook 12-point typeface with 11- point typeface in footnotes. (2) Spacing. The line spacing of the text of a filing must be at least twice the point size of the typeface. The line spacing of headings, footnotes, and block quotations may be the exact point size of the typeface. (3) Margins. The margins of a filing must be at least one inch on all sides. (c) Citations. Citations and quotations must conform to the Uniform System of Citation (the Blue Book) published and distributed from time to time by the Harvard Law Review Association as modified by Delaware Uniform Citation (the Yellow Book), published and distributed from time to time by the Delaware State Bar Association. (d) Certification. By signing a filing, the signatory certifies that it complies with the requirements of this rule. The signatory may rely on a word-processing application to generate the word count. The signature block for any motion, brief, or letter must identify: (1) the word limit applicable to the filing; and (2) the number of words in the filing subject to that limit. (e) Copies. (1) In General. A party may deliver two copies of each motion, brief, or letter to the judicial officer assigned to the case, in addition to filing it electronically. (2) Method of Reproduction. (A) Copies must be reproduced by a method that yields a clear black image on white paper. The paper must be opaque, unglazed, and—for briefs, motions, letters, compendia, and appendices—measure 8½ by 11 inches. All copies may be printed double-sided.

(B) Photographs, illustrations, and tables must be reproduced by a method that results in a good copy of the original; a glossy finish is acceptable if the original is glossy. (3) Binding. Briefs, compendia, and appendices must be bound in a secure manner that does not obscure the text and permits the document to lie flat when open. All other filings may be bound or stapled. History. Amended, effective Mar. 1, 1983; effective Apr. 1, 2014; effective Sept. 25, 2023.

Rule 11. Signing Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers; Representations to the Court; Sanctions (a) Signature. Every pleading, written motion, and other paper must be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney’s name—or by a party personally if the party is unrepresented. The paper must state the signer’s address, e-mail address, and telephone number. Unless a rule or statute specifically states otherwise, a pleading need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit. The Court must strike an unsigned paper unless the omission is promptly corrected after being called to the attorney’s or party’s attention. (b) Representations to the Court. By presenting to the Court a pleading, written motion, or other paper— whether by signing, filing, submitting, or later advocating it—an attorney or unrepresented party certifies that to the best of the person’s knowledge, information, and belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances: (1) it is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation; (2) the claims, defenses, and other legal contentions are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extending, modifying, or reversing existing law or for establishing new law; (3) the factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have

evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and (4) the denials of factual contentions are warranted on the evidence or, if specifically so identified, are reasonably based on belief or a lack of information. (c) Sanctions. (1) In General. If, after notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond, the Court determines that Rule 11(b) has been violated, the Court may impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that violated the rule or is responsible for the violation. Absent exceptional circumstances, a law firm must be held jointly responsible for violations committed by its partners, associates, or employees. (2) Motion for Sanctions. A motion for sanctions must be made separately from any other motion and must describe the specific conduct that allegedly violates Rule 11(b). The motion must be served under Rule 5, but it must not be filed or be presented to the Court if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the Court sets. If warranted, the Court may award to the prevailing party the reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred for the motion. (3) On the Court’s Initiative. On its own, the Court may order an attorney, law firm, or party to show cause why conduct specifically described in the order has not violated Rule 11(b). (4) Nature of a Sanction. A sanction imposed under this rule must be limited to what suffices to deter repetition of the conduct or comparable conduct by others similarly situated. The sanction may include nonmonetary directives; an order to pay a penalty into Court; or, if imposed on motion and warranted for effective deterrence, an order directing payment to the movant of some or all of the reasonable attorney’s fees and other expenses directly resulting from the violation.

(5) Limitations on Monetary Sanctions. The Court must not impose a monetary sanction: (A) against a represented party for violating