Decree

Decree, the judgment of a Court of Equity (the principal one now being the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice) analogous to the judgment of a court of common law. A decree as distinguished from an order is final, and is made at the hearing of the cause, whereas an order is interlocutory, and is made on motion or petition. Whenever an order may in a certain event, resulting from the direction contained in the order, lead to the termination of the suit in like manner as a decree made at the hearing, it is termed a decretal order. Decree nisi, an order made by the Divorce Court on satisfactory proof being given in support of a petition for dissolution of marriage. It remains imperfect for at least six months (which period the court may shorten to three), and then unless sufficient cause be shown, it is made absolute on motion, and the dissolution takes effect subject to appeal.