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 Indiana, a divorce decree is the final court order that legally ends a marriage. It is signed by a judge and outlines all the terms of the divorce, including but not limited to the division of property and debts, spousal support (also known as maintenance), and matters concerning minor children such as custody, visitation rights, child support, health insurance, and payment for extracurricular activities. These terms are based on Indiana state statutes, which provide guidelines on how such matters should be handled. Once the divorce decree is issued, the terms are legally binding and enforceable. If either party fails to comply with the terms of the decree, the other party can take legal action to enforce the order. This may involve returning to court for enforcement proceedings, which could result in penalties for the non-compliant party, including contempt of court.