Legal Definitions - divorce decree

A divorce decree is a final judgment in a divorce case. It is a court order that dissolves the marriage and usually resolves all matters concerning property and children. Matters concerning children can be modified in a post-divorce action if there has been a substantial change in circumstances.

For example, if a couple gets divorced and the divorce decree awards custody of their child to one parent, but later on, the other parent becomes more stable and responsible, they can go back to court and ask for a modification of the custody arrangement.

Another example is an agreed decree, which is a final judgment where the terms are agreed to by both parties. This means that the couple has come to an agreement on all matters concerning their divorce, and the court simply approves and enters the agreed decree as the final judgment.