Final Divorce Decree

A Final Divorce Decree is the court's order terminating the marriage. In an uncontested divorce, an attorney would write a Final Divorce Decree based upon the Marital Settlement Agreement that both spouses have signed. In an Marital Settlement Agreement, both spouses lay out a plan to divide assets, debts and custody of child(ren). In a contested divorce, the judge issues a judgment and the judgment has legal effect when the judge signs the Final Divorce Decree.