Rule 56.Summary judgment

Ch. VII: Judgment · Last amended 2020 · Current through June 1, 2026 · Last verified September 9, 2026

In one sentenceRule 56 allows summary judgment where there is no genuine dispute of material fact, on a motion that may be filed until 30 days after the close of discovery.

Full Text of Rule 56

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)

(a) Motion for Summary Judgment or Partial Summary Judgment. A party may move for summary judgment, identifying each claim or defense -- or the part of each claim or defense -- on which summary judgment is sought. The Court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. The Court should state on the record the reasons for granting or denying the motion.

(b) Time to File a Motion. Unless a different time is set by the Court, a party may file a motion for summary judgment at any time until 30 days after the close of all discovery.

(1) Supporting Factual Positions. A party asserting that a fact cannot be or is genuinely disputed must support the assertion by:

(i) citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials; or

(ii) showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.

(2) Objection that a Fact is not Supported by Admissible Evidence. A party may object that the material cited to support or dispute a fact cannot be presented in a form that would be admissible in evidence.

(3) Materials Not Cited. The Court need consider only the cited materials, but it may consider other materials in the record.

(4) Affidavits or Declarations. An affidavit or declaration used to support or oppose a motion must be made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be admissible in evidence, and show that the affiant or declarant is competent to testify on the matters stated.

(d) When Facts are Unavailable to the Nonmovant. If a nonmovant shows by affidavit or declaration that, for specified reasons, it cannot present facts essential to justify its opposition, the court may:

(1) defer considering the motion or deny it;

(2) allow time to obtain affidavits or declarations or to take discovery; or

(3) issue any other appropriate order.

(e) Failing to Properly Support or Address a Fact. If a party fails to properly support an assertion of fact or fails to properly address another party's assertion of fact as required by Rule 56(c), the court may:

(1) give an opportunity to properly support or address the fact;

(2) consider the fact undisputed for purposes of the motion;

(3) grant summary judgment if the motion and supporting materials--including the facts considered undisputed--show that the movant is entitled to it; or

(4) issue any other appropriate order.

(f) Judgment Independent of the Motion. After giving notice and a reasonable time to respond, the Court may:

(1) grant summary judgment for a nonmovant;

(2) grant the motion on grounds not raised by a party; or

(3) consider summary judgment on its own after identifying for the parties material facts that may not be genuinely in dispute.

(g) Failing to Grant all the Requested Relief. If the Court does not grant all the relief requested by the motion, it may enter an order stating any material fact--including an item of damages or other relief--that is not genuinely in dispute and treating the fact as established in the case.

(h) Affidavit or Declaration Submitted in Bad Faith. If satisfied that an affidavit or declaration under this rule is submitted in bad faith or solely for delay, the Court--after notice and a reasonable time to respond--may order the submitting party to pay the other party the reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, it incurred as a result. An offending party or attorney may also be held in contempt or subjected to other appropriate sanctions.

End

Amendment History

Delaware prints each rule’s amendment history as a single “Credits” line naming every order that adopted or amended it. It is reproduced verbatim below.

[Amended effective September 1, 2020.]

Plain-English Summary

The motion. A party may move for summary judgment or partial summary judgment, identifying each claim or defence — or the part of one — on which judgment is sought. The court grants it where the movant shows there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

Timing. Unless the court sets a different time, a motion may be filed at any time until 30 days after the close of discovery.

Supporting a fact. A party asserting that a fact cannot be, or is, genuinely disputed must support the assertion — by citing particular parts of the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations; or by showing that the cited materials do not establish the presence or absence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.

That is the discipline the rule imposes on both sides: point at something in the record. An assertion that a fact is disputed, unaccompanied by anything, does not create a dispute.

The remainder of the rule deals with what the court may do when a fact is not properly supported or addressed, with affidavits made in bad faith, and with the court's power to grant judgment for a non-movant or on grounds it raises itself after notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I move for summary judgment in the Delaware Family Court?

Unless the court sets a different time, at any time until 30 days after the close of discovery.

What is the standard for summary judgment?

That there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

How do I show a fact is or is not disputed?

By citing particular parts of the record — depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations — or by showing the cited materials do not establish a dispute or that the adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence.

Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Delaware Family Court Rules of Civil Procedure (Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 56), 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: summary judgment Delaware Family Courtno genuine dispute material factFam. Ct. Civ. R. 56