2. the determination of a cause in courts of admiralty and probate. It is accurate to use the word judgment for a decision of a court of law, and decree from a court of equity, although the former term now includes both.
DECREE NISI in English law, a provisional decree of divorce, which becomes absolute only after a specified interval, usually six months, during which parties have the opportunity to show cause why the decree should not become absolute.
FINAL DECREE one that ultimately disposes of every matter of contention between the parties and constitutes a bar to another action on the same subject matter between the same parties.
INTERLOCUTORY DECREE one made upon some point arising during the progress of the suit that does not determine finally the merits of the entire suit.
