Divorce Decree
A divorce decree is a court document that is a final judgment from divorce court. It contains information about your case, including spousal support, child support, custody, visitation, property division, and other information. Most divorce decrees are thorough and contain all of the agreed-upon information in your case, such as who is responsible for getting life and health insurance, if the wife can take her maiden name again, and how you will divide your debt.
Only a court can issue a divorce decree. You receive it at the end of your case. If your case went to trial, your divorce decree will indicate the terms of the judge’s decision and will act as a judgment that both parties must obey.
If you didn’t go to trial but settled your case instead, the divorce decree will contain the terms of the settlement. The decree still acts as a final judgment, but you and your former spouse have decided upon the terms of your own divorce without the court’s input. Settling your case takes the decision out of the hands of the judge so long as the decision is not outrageous or one-sided. If it’s one-sided, the judge will usually intervene to help you work out the terms of your settlement.
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