Divorce decree

A divorce decree is a court document issued by a judge, which finalizes your divorce. It will serve as your divorce record and is usually kept in the county office where your divorce was first filed.

A divorce decree terminates a marriage and summarizes the rights and responsibilities of the divorcing parties. The divorce decree covers topics like division of assets and property, alimony, child custody, visitation rights, and child support.

Your divorce decree is legally binding. If one person fails to meet the documented responsibilities, then the other party may take legal action to enforce the decree.

Why is a divorce decree important?

In addition to covering the rights and responsibilities of the divorcing parties, a divorce decree is needed to:

• Remarry
• Change your name
• Remove ex-spouse from accounts and insurance policies Future financial transactions, such as a home loan, will also require a copy of your decree to understand your finances.

Can I change my decree once it’s issued?

It is important to read your decree immediately to note any mistakes so that your lawyer can fix them quickly. A final divorce decree is legally binding, and modifications to a divorce decree are rare and costly.

Appeals based on disagreements with the judge’s decision are not common, and usually unsuccessful, as each side’s requests were discussed in the divorce proceedings. However, parties may appeal if there is incorrect information included in the decree.

The exception is when there has been a change in one party’s finances, which can warrant updates to child support or alimony payments. Mutually agreed-upon changes can also be presented to a judge for an updated decree.

What else should I know?

Divorce decrees do not cover all forms of debt incurred in a marriage. Also, some states have additional waiting periods before you can remarry.

For these sorts of details, it is important to work closely with your divorce or separation lawyer to do what is best for your particular situation.