What is a divorce decree?

A divorce decree is a legal document that is issued by a court when a marriage is formally dissolved. In Washington state, a divorce decree is requested and issued by the court after the plaintiff (the spouse filing for divorce) and defendant (the spouse responding to the divorce) have submitted all the required information, filed a petition for dissolution of marriage, and received the judge’s final ruling. The divorce decree legally terminates the marriage and outlines the court’s decisions about spousal support, division of property, and parenting plans. It will also include a restraining order if needed. The divorce decree is an enforceable document, so it must be followed. The divorce decree is just one step in the process of legally ending a marriage. Once the divorce decree is issued, the couple will need to take further legal steps to divide their property and finalize their divorce. This includes changing their wills, revoking power of attorney given during the marriage, and changing the names on their bank accounts. In Washington state, a divorce decree is not the same as a divorce certificate, which is a public document that records the date and county of the divorce. To receive a divorce certificate, a copy of the divorce decree must be provided to the local county clerk.

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What is a divorce decree?

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