TITLE 13


Domestic Relations


CHAPTER 7A. CHILD PROTECTION FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEX OFFENDERS ACT


Subchapter I. Child Protection From Domestic Violence Act


§ 701A. Title.


This subchapter shall be known as and may be cited as the "Child Protection From Domestic Violence Act".


69 Del. Laws, c. 309, § 4; 76 Del. Laws, c. 174, § 3.;


§ 702A. Purpose.


The purpose of this subchapter is to protect children from domestic violence and the harm caused by experiencing domestic
violence in their homes.


69 Del. Laws, c. 309, § 4; 76 Del. Laws, c. 174, § 3.;


§ 703A. Definitions.


(a) "Domestic violence" includes but is not limited to physical or sexual abuse or threats of physical or sexual abuse and
any other offense against the person committed by 1 parent against the other parent, against any child living in either parent's
home, or against any other adult living in the child's home. "Domestic violence" does not include reasonable acts of self-defense
by 1 parent for self-protection or in order to protect the child from abuse or threats of abuse by the other parent or other
adult living in the child's home.


(b) "Perpetrator of domestic violence" means any individual who has been convicted of committing any of the following criminal
offenses in the State, or any comparable offense in another jurisdiction, against the child at issue in a custody or visitation
proceeding, against the other parent of the child, or against any other adult or minor child living in the home:


(1) Any felony level offense;


(2) Assault in the third degree;


(3) Reckless endangering in the second degree;


(4) Reckless burning or exploding;


(5) Unlawful imprisonment in the second degree;


(6) Unlawful sexual contact in the third degree; or


(7) Criminal contempt of Family Court protective order based on an assault or other physical abuse, threat of assault or other
physical abuse or any other actions placing the petitioner in immediate risk or fear of bodily harm.


69 Del. Laws, c. 309, § 4; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 174, § 3.;


§ 704A. Fleeing from domestic violence.


For purposes of this title, it shall not be considered evidence of abandonment in any child custody or visitation proceeding
if a parent flees from domestic violence and temporarily leaves the child behind, as long as that child is not left in immediate
danger of serious physical injury.


69 Del. Laws, c. 309, § 4; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 174, § 3.;


§ 705A. Rebuttable presumption against custody or residence of minor child to perpetrator of domestic violence.


(a) Notwithstanding other provisions of this title, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that no perpetrator of domestic
violence shall be awarded sole or joint custody of any child.


(b) Notwithstanding other provisions of this title, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that no child shall primarily
reside with a perpetrator of domestic violence.


(c) The above presumptions shall be overcome if there have been no further acts of domestic violence and the perpetrator of
domestic violence has:


(1) Successfully completed a program of evaluation and counseling designed specifically for perpetrators of family violence
and conducted by a public or private agency or a certified mental health professional; and


(2) Successfully completed a program of alcohol or drug abuse counseling if the Court determines that such counseling is appropriate;
and


(3) Demonstrated that giving custodial or residential responsibilities to the perpetrator of domestic violence is in the best
interests of the child.


The presumption may otherwise be overcome only if a judicial officer finds extraordinary circumstances that warrant the rejection
of the presumption, such as evidence demonstrating that there exists no significant risk of future violence against any adult
or minor child living in the home or any other family member, including any ex-spouse.


(d) In those cases in which both parents are perpetrators of domestic violence, the case shall be referred to the Division
of Family Services of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families for investigation and presentation
of findings. Upon consideration of such presentation, and all other relevant evidence, including but not limited to, evidence
about the history of abuse between the parents and evidence regarding whether 1 parent has been the primary aggressor in the
household, the court shall decide custody and residence pursuant to the best interests of the child.


(e) Notwithstanding other provisions of this title, including the rebuttable presumption set forth in this section, where
a court has determined by at least a preponderance of the evidence, that the perpetrator of domestic violence has subjected
any child to death or near death injuries, as that term is defined in § 301 of Title 31, the court shall not award joint or
sole custody to the perpetrator of domestic violence, nor permit the perpetrator of domestic violence to exercise custodial
or residential responsibilities, nor permit any visitation between the perpetrator of domestic violence and any child, without
considering expert testimony from a certified mental health professional that such a custodial, residential or visitation
arrangement is in the child's best interests. If such a custodial, residential or visitation arrangement is determined to
be in the child's best interests, the court shall then apply the remaining factors set forth in subsection (c) of this section.


69 Del. Laws, c. 309, § 4; 76 Del. Laws, c. 174, §§ 3, 4.;


§ 706A. Evidence of domestic violence.


(a) Any evidence of a past or present act of domestic violence, whether or not committed in the presence of the child, is
a relevant factor that must be considered by the court in determining the legal custody and residential arrangements in accordance
with the best interests of the child.


(b) If sole or joint custody is awarded to, or if primary residence of a child is placed with, a party notwithstanding evidence
that the party has committed acts of domestic violence against the other parent, against the child or against any other person
living in the child's household, the court shall make specific written findings in support of the decision to award custody
or primary residence to that party.


69 Del. Laws, c. 309, § 4; 76 Del. Laws, c. 174, § 3.;


§ 707A. Counseling.


If the court awards sole or joint custody or primary residence to a parent who has a history of committing acts of domestic
violence, that parent shall be ordered to complete a program of evaluation and counseling designed specifically for perpetrators
of family violence and conducted by a public or private agency or a certified mental health professional. That parent may
also be ordered to attend alcohol or drug abuse treatment and any other counseling that may be appropriate.


69 Del. Laws, c. 309, § 4; 76 Del. Laws, c. 174, § 3.;


§ 708A. Visitation.


Notwithstanding the other provisions of this title, in all cases in which the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence
that 1 of the child's parents has committed an act of domestic violence against the child, against the other parent or against
any other person living in the child's household the court shall determine a schedule, location and conditions for visitation
that best protects the child and the victim of domestic violence from further violence.


69 Del. Laws, c. 309, § 4; 76 Del. Laws, c. 174, § 3.;


§ 709A. Modification of orders.


Notwithstanding other provisions of this title:


(1) An order concerning visitation may be modified at any time if necessary to protect the safety of the child or the child's
parent in light of acts of domestic violence that have occurred since the entry of the most recent visitation order.


(2) A custody order may be modified at any time if a parent who has sole or joint custody has committed acts of domestic violence
since the entry of the most recent custody order.


(3) In determining whether a custody award should be modified, the court shall not consider noncompliance with an existing
custody or visitation order or noncompliance with the duties and responsibilities under § 727 of this title if such noncompliance
was caused by the parent's attempt at self-protection or protection of the child from acts of domestic violence committed
since the entry of the court's most recent custody or visitation order.


69 Del. Laws, c. 309, § 4; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 174, § 3.;


§ 710A. Sexual abuse.


Repealed by 76 Del. Laws, c. 174, § 5, effective July 31, 2007.


§ 711A. Ordered mediation prohibited.


Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, Family Court mediation conferences shall be prohibited in any
child custody or visitation proceeding in which 1 of the parties has been found by a court, whether in that proceeding or
in some other proceeding, to have committed an act of domestic violence against the other party or if either party has been
ordered to stay away or have no contact with the other party, unless a victim of domestic violence who is represented by counsel
requests such mediation.


69 Del. Laws, c. 309, § 4; 76 Del. Laws, c. 174, § 3.;