When Does the Court Issue a Divorce Decree?
A divorce certificate is not a court document. It is a document issued by your state for record-keeping purposes. It includes the parties’ names and says when and where the divorce was granted. It does not include the myriad other personal details included in a divorce decree.
Do you have to keep a copy of the divorce decree?
The effective date of divorce will be the date entered by the court clerk, unless your state has a waiting period. After everything is over, it’s a good idea to keep a copy of your final divorce decree.