State Citation Guide

Delaware Bluebook Citation Guide

Format Bluebook citations for Delaware Supreme Court, Court of Chancery, and Superior Court decisions.

Overview

Delaware cases are reported in the Atlantic Reporter series (A., A.2d, A.3d). Delaware discontinued its official reporter — Delaware Reports (Del.) — in 1966. Under Bluebook Table T1, cite Delaware cases to the Atlantic Reporter.

Delaware is especially important in corporate law because of the Delaware Court of Chancery, which has exclusive jurisdiction over many business disputes. The Court of Chancery is abbreviated "Del. Ch." in Bluebook citations. The Supreme Court of Delaware is abbreviated "Del." and the Superior Court is "Del. Super. Ct."

Delaware Court Hierarchy

CourtBluebook AbbreviationReporter
Supreme Court of DelawareDel.A.3d (A.2d)
Court of ChanceryDel. Ch.A.3d
Superior CourtDel. Super. Ct.A.3d

Delaware Citation Rules

  • Cite to A.3d (or A.2d for older cases) — Delaware discontinued its official reporter in 1966.
  • Use "Del." for Supreme Court, "Del. Ch." for Court of Chancery, and "Del. Super. Ct." for Superior Court.
  • Court of Chancery opinions are frequently cited in corporate law — ensure the abbreviation is correct.
  • Include the year of the decision in the parenthetical.

Example Citations

Delaware Supreme Court

Revlon, Inc. v. MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, Inc., 506 A.2d 173 (Del. 1986)

Court of Chancery

In re Walt Disney Co. Derivative Litig., 907 A.2d 693 (Del. Ch. 2005)

Supreme Court (Modern)

Corwin v. KKR Fin. Holdings LLC, 125 A.3d 304 (Del. 2015)

Frequently Asked Questions

What reporter do I cite for Delaware cases?

Cite to the Atlantic Reporter (A.3d for recent cases). Delaware discontinued its official reporter in 1966.

How do I cite a Delaware Court of Chancery opinion?

Use "Del. Ch." in the date parenthetical, e.g., (Del. Ch. 2005).

Why are Delaware cases so important in corporate law?

Most large U.S. corporations are incorporated in Delaware, giving the Court of Chancery and Supreme Court significant influence over corporate governance law.

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Disclaimer: While this guide follows Bluebook 21st edition rules, always verify citations with official Bluebook resources or your institution's requirements. This content is for educational assistance only.

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