interlocutory decree

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A non-final judgment made by a court between the time of filing and before there is a final judgment made. Interlocutory decrees are not final judgments because they do not settle all of the issues presented in the case. They are only challengeable on appeal once there is a final judgment in the case because only final judgments may be appealed.

According to some, interlocutory decrees were historically used mainly in divorce cases. The judge would set out the terms of the divorce using an interlocutory decree. This would become a final judgment only after a waiting period.

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[Last updated in June of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team]