13 Del. C. § 2302 (2026)
Definitions
For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context indicates differently:
(1) “Abuse” or “abused child” is as defined in § 901 of Title 10.
(2) “Adult” means a person who has reached an 18th birthday.
(3) “Best interests” is as defined in § 722 of this title.
(4) “Child” or “children” means persons who have not reached their 18th birthday.
(5) “Court” means the Family Court.
(6) “Department” or “DSCYF” means the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families.
(7) “Dependency” or “dependent child” is as defined in § 901 of Title 10.
(8) “Division” means the Division of Family Services of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families.
(9) “Foster parent” means an individual or couple who has been approved by DSCYF or a licensed agency to provide foster care in exchange for foster care payments provided by DSCYF or a licensed agency.
(10) “Guardian” means a nonparent or an agency charged with caring for a child during the child’s minority.
(11) “Guardian ad litem” means an individual appointed by the Court to represent the best interests of a child, whether or not that reflects the wishes of the child, who by that individual’s appointment shall be a party to the child welfare proceeding.
(12) “Neglect” or “neglected child” is as defined in § 901 of Title 10.
(13) “Parent” is as defined by § 8-201 of this title.
(14) “Parental responsibilities” means the care, support and control of the child in a manner that provides for the child’s necessary physical needs, including adequate food, clothing and shelter, and that also provides for the mental and emotional health and development of such child.
(15) “Permanency” means the safe, stable, custodial environment in which a child is raised and the life-long relationship that child establishes with a nurturing caregiver.
(16) “Relative” means any sibling, grandparent, uncle, aunt, first cousin, first cousin once removed, great-grandparent, grandaunt or granduncle, half sibling, stepparent, stepsibling, stepaunt or stepuncle, or stepgrandparent of the child who is the subject of a guardianship petition.
73 Del. Laws, c. 150, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 136, §§ 9-12; 77 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 4; 79 Del. Laws, c. 246, § 1; 84 Del. Laws, c. 42, § 1; 84 Del. Laws, c. 128, § 1;