Best Custody & Visitation in Delaware — 10 resources

About Custody & Visitation for Women

Custody and visitation cases for women are handled in state and county family courts under each state's 'best interest of the child' standard. Mothers seeking sole, joint, or primary physical custody can use free self-help centers inside most courthouses to file petitions, parenting plans, and modification requests without an attorney. The ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence and the Women's Law Project track state-by-state custody trends, and organizations like the Battered Mothers Custody Conference advocate where abuse intersects with custody. This directory combines official state court self-help portals, county family law facilitators, women-focused family law firms, and maternal advocacy organizations.

Custody & Visitation in Delaware

Delaware Family Court handles custody, visitation, and child support statewide through three county courthouses (New Castle, Kent, Sussex). The Division of Child Support Services operates under DSS. Wilmington and Dover are the population centers. Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI), Legal Services Corporation of Delaware, and the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence support women.

10 Resources

1. Legal Services Corporation of Delaware — Custody Help — Free

LSCD's Wilmington office at 100 W 10th St handles custody petitions, visitation modifications, and paternity actions for income-eligible mothers across all three Delaware counties. Staff attorneys file in Family Court and can negotiate parenting plans without going to trial when both parents agree. Phone intake is at 302-575-0408 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; bring birth certificates, prior orders, and pay stubs to your first meeting.

302-575-0408 · 100 W 10th St Suite 203, Wilmington, DE 19801 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website

2. Delaware Office of the Child Advocate — Free

An independent state office that appoints attorneys and CASA volunteers to represent children in dependency, abuse, and contested custody cases statewide. Mothers can request OCA involvement when DSCYF is investigating or when a Family Court judge needs a child's voice heard separately from either parent. Reach the Wilmington office at 302-255-1730 during weekday business hours; representation is free.

302-255-1730 · 900 King St Suite 210, Wilmington, DE 19801 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website

3. WomensLaw.org — Custody Information — Free

Plain-language state guides written by attorneys explain how Delaware custody, visitation, and relocation cases actually work, with sample petitions and step-by-step filing instructions. The site is searchable by state and topic and is especially useful for mothers preparing pro se filings or evaluating whether they have a viable modification case. Available 24/7 at no cost.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

4. ABA Family Law Section — Find a Lawyer — Free

The American Bar Association's Family Law Section maintains a public-facing directory of member family attorneys plus free articles on custody, joint parenting, and interstate UCCJEA disputes. Useful for Delaware mothers weighing whether to retain private counsel after a legal-aid denial or when an out-of-state move is in play.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

5. Federal Office of Child Support Services — Free

OCSS is the federal agency that funds and oversees every state child support program, including Delaware's. The site lists each state agency's contact info and explains how interstate UIFSA cases work when a noncustodial parent lives out of state — critical for mothers chasing support across the Mid-Atlantic.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. USA.gov — Child Custody and Support — Free

The federal portal links directly to every state's custody and support agency and answers common cross-state questions about enforcement, modification, and tax-refund intercept. A practical starting point for mothers whose ex has moved out of Delaware or whose Delaware order needs to be registered elsewhere.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. ChildWelfare.gov — Custody Resources — Free

Run by HHS, this gateway compiles state-by-state law summaries on kinship care, guardianship, and relative placement — useful when a Delaware mother is being asked to take custody of a grandchild or niece. Includes downloadable factsheets and links to local DSCYF kinship support.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges — Free

NCJFCJ publishes the bench guides Delaware Family Court judges actually use on DV-informed custody decisions and trauma-aware parenting plans. Mothers can cite these standards in pro se filings or share them with their attorney to push for safety-conscious orders.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. Cornell Legal Information Institute — Family Law — Free

Cornell Law School's free legal encyclopedia provides clean, citation-backed definitions of joint legal custody, sole physical custody, best-interest factors, and other terms that appear in Delaware Family Court orders. Useful when reading a draft order before signing.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. FindLaw — Child Custody — Free

FindLaw's consumer custody library covers modification standards, relocation, parenting plan templates, and what to bring to a custody hearing. Good for Delaware mothers preparing for a Family Court appearance without an attorney or building a record before mediation.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many custody & visitation resources are in Delaware?
Women's Corner tracks 10 custody & visitation resources for women in Delaware.
Are custody & visitation resources in Delaware free?
10 of the 10 listed custody & visitation resources in Delaware are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Delaware have custody & visitation resources?
Listings span cities including Wilmington.
What are some examples of custody & visitation resources in Delaware?
Featured entries include Legal Services Corporation of Delaware — Custody Help, Delaware Office of the Child Advocate, WomensLaw.org — Custody Information, ABA Family Law Section — Find a Lawyer, Federal Office of Child Support Services.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
2 of 10 Delaware custody & visitation listings include phone numbers.
Do I need a lawyer to file for custody?
No — you can file pro se using forms from your county's Family Court Self-Help Center or Family Law Facilitator at no cost. A lawyer is strongly recommended if your ex is contesting custody, there's a history of abuse, or you need to relocate. Legal aid organizations cover custody cases for income-qualifying mothers.
How does the court decide who gets custody?
Judges apply the 'best interest of the child' standard, weighing each parent's caregiving history, stability, work schedule, the child's bond with each parent, any abuse or substance use, and (for older children) the child's preference. Being the primary caregiver — the parent who handles school, doctor visits, and daily routines — carries significant weight.
What if my ex won't follow the parenting plan?
Document every missed exchange, denied visit, or violation with dates, screenshots, and witnesses, then file a Motion for Contempt or Motion to Enforce with the court that issued your order. Courts can order make-up time, fines, or even change custody for repeated violations. Don't withhold the child in retaliation — that can hurt your case.
Can I get sole custody?
Yes, but courts presume joint custody is best unless you can show the other parent is unfit — documented abuse, untreated addiction, abandonment, or serious mental illness that endangers the child. Bring police reports, medical records, CPS findings, and witness statements. A guardian ad litem may be appointed to investigate.