| A divorce decree is a ruling that summarizes the | | | | this has already been set up during the separation |
| rights and responsibilities of the divorced parties. It | | | | and prior to the divorce, the divorce decree may |
| is the final judgment of divorce. The divorce | | | | mention the existence of this arrangement. |
| decree is a document that states the basic | | | | A divorce decree is generally not issued until all |
| information regarding the divorce, case number, | | | | the terms of the divorce have been resolved. |
| the names of the parties, date of divorce, and | | | | Occasionally, the divorce decree is in conflict with |
| the terms the parties have agreed upon or the | | | | government action, such as the Internal Revenue |
| court's decision. The divorce decree is usually only | | | | Service's collection of taxes in the United States. |
| a few pages long. | | | | The IRS retains the right to collect back-owed |
| The divorce decree is the final step in the divorce | | | | taxes from one spouse, even if a divorce decree |
| process. Though several documents are likely to | | | | states that the tax bill is the responsibility of the |
| have been generated through the process, the | | | | other spouse. In that and similar situations, the |
| divorce decree is the most important. It gives the | | | | wronged spouse has the option of returning to |
| pertinent details of the settlement between the | | | | divorce court to recoup the lost funds. They may |
| parties. The divorce decree outlines the financial | | | | also have the ability to take their ex-spouse to |
| responsibilities of each party. It dictates the | | | | court to try to recover the money. |
| division of property of the parties to the divorce. | | | | Once a divorce decree is filed and issued, the |
| The divorce decree will name the responsible | | | | parties to the divorce are free to remarry. Some |
| parties to the debts the couple has incurred during | | | | states have laws that require a waiting period |
| the marriage. | | | | after the divorce decree before the parties are |
| It will often give details as to the decisions | | | | free to remarry. The divorce decree is legally |
| regarding child support, custody, and visitation. The | | | | binding. If either party to the divorce fails to meet |
| divorce decree will state which parent receives | | | | their obligations as set forth in the divorce decree, |
| custody and what the visitation rights are of the | | | | the other party has the right to take legal action |
| non-custodial parent. Sometimes, a couple will use | | | | to rectify the situation. The wronged party could |
| a separate state social services agency to handle | | | | take the other party back to divorce court or to |
| the collection and disbursement of child support. If | | | | small claims court. |