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The Daily Insight

Are divorce decrees mailed?

Author

Mia Ramsey

Published Mar 28, 2026

In most situations, the court clerk or your attorney will mail you a copy of your final decree. If this doesn’t happen, or you need an extra copy, request the document (either in-person or in writing) directly from your county clerk’s office.

How do I get a copy of a divorce decree in South Africa?

Obtaining a divorce decree in South Africa You will need to make an application at the High Court and obtain an original copy from them. The minimum information needed to obtain a divorce decree quickly is the divorce case number and the court in which it took place.

What to do if you can’t pay off a divorce decree?

This is the case even when the divorce decree assigns responsibility for payment to only one party. If your financial situation is such that you cannot afford to pay off the debts assigned to you in the divorce judgment, you can return to court and request that the judge take your current income into account and modify the existing order.

What happens if I do not pay child support in a divorce?

Thus, your failure to keep up with debts the court ordered you to pay could damage not only your credit but your former spouse’s credit. If the court ordered you to make child support payments or spousal support payments in the divorce decree, and you do not do so, your ex-spouse can return to court and request an enforcement order.

What happens when a judge approves a divorce decree?

If it’s approved by the judge, a court order (judgment) will be issued outlining the details of the divorce, including the case number, names of the parties, the settlement agreement, and the specifics of support and child custody.

When do alimony payments have to be made after a divorce?

The court executed the divorce decree after December 31, 2018; therefore, alimony payments made in June 2020 through December 2020 under the divorce decree are neither includible in the recipient’s income nor deductible from the payer’s income.