DE · rules
Del. Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 19
Joinder of persons needed for just adjudication
(a) Persons to be joined if feasible. A person who is subject to service of process and whose
joinder will not deprive the Court of jurisdiction over the subject matter of the action shall be
joined as a party in the action if
(1) in that person’s absence complete relief cannot be accorded among those already parties,
or
(2) that person claims an interest relating to the subject of the action and is so situated that
the disposition of the action, in the absence of that person may
(i) as a practical matter impair or impede that person’s ability to protect that interest or
(ii) leave any of the persons already parties subject to a substantial risk of incurring
double, multiple, or otherwise inconsistent obligations by reason of the claimed
interest.
If a person as described in subdivisions (a)(1)-(2) has not been so joined, the Court shall order
joinder as a party. If that person should join as a petitioner but refuses to do so, that person
may be made a respondent, or, in a proper case, an involuntary petitioner. If the joined party
objects to venue and that joinder would render the venue of the action improper, that person
shall be dismissed from the action.
(b) Determination by Court whenever joinder not feasible. If a person as described in subdivision
(a)(1)-(2) hereof cannot be made party, the Court shall determine whether in equity and good
conscience the action should proceed among the parties before it, or should be dismissed, the
absent person being thus regarded as indispensable. The factors to be considered by the Court
include:
(1) to what extent a judgment rendered in the person’s absence might be prejudicial to that
person or those already parties;
(2) the extent to which, by protective provisions in the judgment, by the shaping of relief, or
other measures, the prejudice can be lessened or avoided;
(3) whether a judgment rendered in the person’s absence will be adequate; and
(4) whether the petitioner will have an adequate remedy if the action is dismissed for
nonjoinder.
(c) Pleading reasons for nonjoinder. A pleading asserting a claim for relief shall state the names,
if known to the pleader, of any persons as described in subdivision (a)(1)-(2) hereof who are
not joined, and the reasons why they are not joined.
History
Amended July 14, 2020, effective Sept. 1, 2020.
Provenance
- Source
- courts.delaware.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-23
- Edition
- 2026-09-23
- Content hash
7ec87dc2379dad1bf7ee3555f3a9a6c0c9f0fdb22a05f1201470d463b3ebdfd8
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