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 Wisconsin, a divorce decree is the final legal document that marks the end of a marriage, issued after the court has heard and decided on all matters pertaining to the divorce. This includes the division of marital property, allocation of debts, spousal support (also known as alimony or maintenance), and issues related to minor children such as custody, placement, visitation, and support. Wisconsin is a 'no-fault' divorce state, meaning that a spouse does not need to prove wrongdoing by the other party to obtain a divorce; instead, one must simply assert that the marriage is irretrievably broken. The state follows the principle of 'equitable distribution' for property division, which means the court divides marital property in a way that is fair but not necessarily equal. Once the judge signs the divorce decree, the terms become legally binding and enforceable. If either party fails to comply with the decree, the other party can seek enforcement through the court, which may involve contempt proceedings or other legal remedies.