Ch. IV: Parties · Current through June 1, 2026 · Last verified September 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 20 lets people sue or be sued together where their claims arise from the same transaction and share a common question, and lets the court separate them if that becomes unfair.
(a)Permissive Joinder. All persons may join in one action as petitioners if they assert any right to relief jointly, severally, or in the alternative in respect of or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences and if any question of law or fact common to all these persons will arise in the action. All persons may be joined in one action as respondents if there is asserted against them jointly, severally, or in the alternative, any right to relief in respect of or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences and if any question of law or fact common to all respondents will arise in the action. A petitioner or respondent need not be interested in obtaining or defending against all the relief demanded. Judgment may be given for one or more of the petitioners according to their respective rights to relief, and against one or more respondents according to their respective liabilities.
(b)Separate Trials. The Court may make such orders as will prevent one party from being embarrassed, delayed, or put to expense by the inclusion of an additional party against whom the original party asserts no claim and who asserts no claim against the original party, and may order separate trials or make other orders to prevent delay or prejudice.
End
Plain-English Summary
Joining. All persons may join in one action as petitioners if they assert a right to relief jointly, severally or in the alternative arising out of the same transaction, occurrence or series of transactions or occurrences, and if a question of law or fact common to them all will arise. The mirror rule applies to joining respondents.
Two conditions, and both must hold: a shared transaction and a shared question. Either alone is not enough.
Separating. The court may make orders preventing a party from being embarrassed, delayed or put to expense by the inclusion of another party against whom they assert no claim and who asserts none against them — including ordering separate trials. Joinder is permissive, so the safeguard against it being abused is the court's power to undo it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can several people bring one Delaware Family Court action together?
Yes, where they assert a right to relief arising out of the same transaction, occurrence or series of them, and a question of law or fact common to all of them will arise.
What if I am dragged into a case that has nothing to do with me?
The court may make orders to prevent a party being embarrassed, delayed or put to expense by the inclusion of a party against whom they assert no claim, including ordering separate trials.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Delaware Family Court Rules of Civil Procedure (Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 20), and every rule has been checked word for word against the Delaware Family Court’s own published edition of these rules. Current through June 1, 2026. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:permissive joinder Delawarejoining parties Delaware Family CourtFam. Ct. Civ. R. 20