Del. C. » Title 13 — · CHAPTER 15. Divorce and Annulment · Domestic Relations
Delaware Code

13 Del. C. § 1508 (2026)

Obtaining jurisdiction over respondent

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) After the filing of the petition, jurisdiction may be acquired over respondent in any of the following ways:

(1) By issuance of summons by the Clerk of the Family Court, and service thereof by the sheriff upon respondent, by delivering a copy of the summons, petition and any affidavit to respondent personally or by delivering copies thereof to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process;

(2) By appearance of respondent, either personally or by executing and filing an appearance document in a form approved by the Court, with or without issuance of summons;

(3) By appearance of counsel for respondent, with or without issuance of summons;

(4) Under a court rule not inconsistent with this section.

(b) If the petition avers that it is unlikely that jurisdiction can be acquired over respondent except by mailing and publication, or by publication only, whether respondent is a resident or a nonresident of this State, jurisdiction may be acquired over respondent by mailing and publication, or by publication only, under subsection (d) of this section.

(c) If an effort has been made unsuccessfully to obtain jurisdiction over respondent as provided in subsection (a) of this section, then jurisdiction may be acquired over respondent by mailing and publication, or by publication only, under subsection (d) of this section.

(d) (1) When service is to be made upon respondent by mailing and publication, the Clerk of the Family Court shall do all of the following:

a. Send a copy of the summons, petition, and any affidavit to respondent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address that petitioner had averred it is most likely that mail will be received by respondent.

b. Cause a notice in the form that the Court approves to be published on a legal notices website established by the Court or once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the action is pending.

(2) If petitioner has averred that such petitioner knows of no address where it is most likely that mail will be received by respondent there shall be no mailing.

(3) No further notice shall be required unless the Court, deeming the circumstances exceptional, requires further notice.

(e) [Repealed.]

(f) When the petition avers that respondent is a resident of this State, the summons shall be delivered to an officer for service in the county where it appears most likely that service can be effected on respondent.

(g) The expense of mailing and publication shall be taxed as part of the costs of the case.

(h) Original process, whether an original, alias or pluries writ, is returnable 20 days after the issuance of the writ, except that the Court by rule, or by order after application for cause shown, may provide that the writ be returnable sooner or later.

24 Del. Laws, c. 221, §  10;  Code 1915, §  3013;  Code 1935, §  3506;  43 Del. Laws, c. 205, §  1;  13 Del. C. 1953, §  1512;  58 Del. Laws, c. 349, §  10;  59 Del. Laws, c. 350, §  1;  60 Del. Laws, c. 297, §§  6-9;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  83 Del. Laws, c. 96, § 3;  84 Del. Laws, c. 42, § 1; 
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 1975–2018 · leading case: Wife M v. Husband M, 346 A.2d 521 (Del. 1975).
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Wife M v. Husband M, 346 A.2d 521 (Del. 1975). “The motion was based on the ground that the Court had not acquired jurisdiction over defendant under 13 Del.C. § 1508 because the residence requirements for jurisdiction, 13 Del.”
Daskin v. Knowles (Del. 2018). · cites it 4× “In addition, she argued that the husband has 4 been properly served under 13 Del. C. § 1508(b). She also argued that she had attempted and was continuing to attempt to serve the husband personally at his Greek residence in accordance with Greek law, but he was refusing to answer…”
Marriage of E. A. S. v. E. J. S., 415 A.2d 792 (Del. Fm. Ct. 1980). “13 Del.C. § 1508(d)(1) states that: When service is to be made upon respondent by mailing and publication, the clerk of the Family Court shall: (1) Send a copy of the summons, petition and any affidavit to respondent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to…”
13 Del. C. § 1508(b): 1 case
Daskin v. Knowles (Del. 2018). “In addition, she argued that the husband has 4 been properly served under 13 Del. C. § 1508(b). She also argued that she had attempted and was continuing to attempt to serve the husband personally at his Greek residence in accordance with Greek law, but he was refusing to answer…”
13 Del. C. § 1508(d): 1 case
Daskin v. Knowles (Del. 2018). “In addition, she argued that the husband has 4 been properly served under 13 Del. C. § 1508(b). She also argued that she had attempted and was continuing to attempt to serve the husband personally at his Greek residence in accordance with Greek law, but he was refusing to answer…”
13 Del. C. § 1508(d)(1): 1 case
Marriage of E. A. S. v. E. J. S., 415 A.2d 792 (Del. Fm. Ct. 1980). “13 Del.C. § 1508(d)(1) states that: When service is to be made upon respondent by mailing and publication, the clerk of the Family Court shall: (1) Send a copy of the summons, petition and any affidavit to respondent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to…”
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