A divorce decree is a legal document signed by the judge that officially terminates the marriage. The divorce decree typically includes the judge’s ruling on all matters related to the marriage and any minor children—including division of marital or community property, payment of marital or community debts, spousal support, child custody, child visitation, child support, any obligation to provide health insurance for minor children, and the payment of extracurricular expenses for minor children.

These determinations or rulings set forth in the divorce decree become legally enforceable obligations when the judge signs the divorce decree—and may be enforced by further legal action in the court if one or both of the former spouses fail to comply with the terms of the divorce decree.

In Washington State, a divorce decree is the final legal document that formally ends a marriage. It is issued by a judge and includes the court's decisions on various aspects of the dissolution of the marriage. This encompasses the division of marital or community property, allocation of debts, spousal maintenance (alimony), and if applicable, matters concerning minor children such as custody, visitation rights, child support, health insurance provisions, and payment for extracurricular activities. Washington is a community property state, meaning that all property and debts acquired during the marriage are generally divided equally. The terms outlined in the divorce decree are legally binding and enforceable. If either party fails to comply with the decree, the other party can take legal action to enforce the order, which may involve returning to court for enforcement proceedings.