To finalize a divorce, what document must be issued?

To finalize a divorce, the essential document that must be issued is a certificate of divorce. This certificate serves as the formal legal record that a marriage has been dissolved, marking the end of the marital relationship. It is typically issued by the court after all legal proceedings are completed, which includes the necessary filings and any required waiting periods.

The certificate is crucial as it allows the individuals involved to legally remarry and provides proof of the divorce for personal and legal matters, such as changing marital status on official documents, updating beneficiary designations, or addressing issues related to child custody or property division.

In this context, a decree nisi, while it is a step in the divorce process indicating that a court has decided to grant a divorce, does not finalize the process; hence it does not serve the same purpose as a certificate of divorce. Other documents, such as a prenup agreement or a marital property deed, are not directly related to the finalization of the divorce itself but rather concern the terms of the marriage or the division of property.