Inputs you need for Structured Settlement in Delaware
5 min read
Published April 15, 2026 • By DocketMath Team
Inputs you will need
If you’re preparing for a structured settlement in Delaware, DocketMath’s Structured Settlement calculator requires a focused set of inputs. Think of these as the “building blocks” that let DocketMath produce a payment schedule based on the structure you choose.
Use this checklist to gather what the tool asks for—then you’ll be ready to run an accurate calculation.
Not required for the math, but helpful to keep outputs tied to the correct matter.
Examples: claimant name (or ID), incident date, court/arbitration reference.
The overall number you intend to allocate into periodic payments and/or an upfront amount.
How you want the settlement to be paid (e.g., monthly/annual payments).
Whether you want a partial lump sum plus remaining periodic payments.
For example: payments over 5 years, 10 years, or until a set maturity date.
When the first structured payment is expected to begin.
Many structured-settlement calculations depend on an assumed rate (or input-driven assumptions).
If you don’t have a rate yet, you can still run the tool using a chosen assumption to compare alternatives.
Whether payments are treated as made at the beginning vs. end of each period (only use this if DocketMath exposes the option in the calculator).
Examples: cost-of-living increases, step-ups, or other adjustments—only if the tool supports those fields.
Delaware’s general statute of limitations is 2 years under Title 11, §205(b)(3).
Delaware does not appear to provide a claim-type-specific sub-rule in the information available here, so treat the 2-year period as the general/default baseline for planning around deadlines. It is not a guarantee that every dispute follows the same path.
Gentle disclaimer: DocketMath’s structured-settlement math can be precise, but “when you can file” (or other legal timing rules) still depend on case facts. The 2-year general period in 11 Del. C. §205(b)(3) is a planning baseline, not a substitute for reviewing your specific scenario.
Where to find each input
To keep this practical, here’s where you typically get each input—and what changes in your results when you update it.
| Input | Where to find it in your materials | What changes when you update it |
|---|---|---|
| Settlement amount (total gross) | Settlement draft, term sheet, demand/offer figures | A higher total can increase periodic payment capacity (and/or the amount available for any upfront component) under the calculator’s assumptions |
| Payment structure choice | Proposed settlement terms (lump sum vs. annuity-like payments) | Changes payment frequency and duration assumptions, which affects the computed payment sizing |
| Number of installments / end date | Term sheet or settlement framework | Extending duration generally reduces each periodic payment (to fit within the same total) |
| Start date | Proposed first payment timing in the settlement outline | Shifts the schedule timeline; may affect present-value alignment if the tool uses discounting |
| Discount / interest assumptions | Carrier proposals, broker quotes, internal assumptions | Higher assumed rate can reduce required periodic amounts; lower rate can increase them (depending on the tool’s method) |
| Timing convention (beginning/end of period) | DocketMath setting or settlement convention | May slightly shift computed equivalence and payment sizing |
| Special payment terms | Settlement draft language | Can materially change payment amounts over time (e.g., step-ups) |
| Delaware timing context (planning) | Delaware limitation reference for baseline deadlines | Helps you sequence negotiation/documentation and internal readiness around a deadline baseline—not to compute payment amounts |
For the Delaware timing context, anchor the baseline to:
- General SOL Period: 2 years
- General Statute: **Title 11, §205(b)(3)
Because you’re using this as a planning overlay, it’s helpful to track it alongside settlement milestones (agreement date, documentation, funding steps), even though the calculator primarily focuses on structure math.
Run it
Once you’ve gathered the inputs above, you’re ready to run DocketMath’s Structured Settlement calculator.
Open the tool
- Go to: ** /tools/structured-settlement
Enter the settlement amount
- Use the total gross settlement figure you want structured (as expected by the calculator).
Choose the payment structure settings
- Set payment frequency and decide whether there’s an upfront amount.
Set the payment timing
- Add the payment start date.
- Add either the end date or the number of installments, depending on what the calculator requests.
Apply your assumptions
- Enter the discount/interest assumption if prompted.
- Confirm the timing convention (beginning vs. end of period) if the tool provides it.
Review outputs
- Look for:
- The computed periodic payment amount(s)
- The scheduled timeline
- Any reconciliation showing the structure matches the total under the tool’s assumptions
Run comparison scenarios
- Test “what if” options to understand tradeoffs:
- Scenario A: longer duration → typically smaller periodic payments
- Scenario B: shorter duration → typically larger periodic payments
- Scenario C: different discount/interest assumption → payment sizing can change
Pitfall to avoid: don’t unknowingly mix net settlement numbers with a calculator that expects a gross settlement (or vice versa). If your draft includes deductions, fees, or offsets, confirm whether the structured amount should be entered as the gross figure or the allocated figure the tool is designed to match.
Finally, keep Delaware’s limitation period in the background for planning. The general/default period is 2 years under 11 Del. C. §205(b)(3), and the available information here does not identify a claim-type-specific sub-rule—so treat it as the baseline timing assumption, not a guarantee of how every case will proceed.