"Urteil" in a divorce decree into US English only?

English translation: judgment (of divorce)

13:23 Apr 15, 2020
German to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law (general) / Family Law
German term or phrase: "Urteil" in a divorce decree into US English only?
How would you translate "Urteil" in a divorce decree into US English only please?
BTW, it is a Swiss Court document and simply reads "Urteil" not "Scheidungsurteil" .

In GB English, the correct translation is "divorce decree" but from looking at US family law web sites, it seems that US courts use "judgment".

These are distinctions between UK and US legal terminology. For example, in UK, the 2 parties are called "Petitioner (Applicant") + "Respondent" but in the US they are "Plaintiff" and "Defendant". This is quite strange for me, so I would like to make sure that I am also translating "Urteil" correctly as "judgment".

Please only reply if you specialise in US legal terminology.
Jeanie Eldon
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:42
English translation:judgment (of divorce)
Explanation:
A divorce decree—also known as a judgment of divorce—is basically a signed court order, which declares that your marriage is dissolved. It also incorporates the other terms of your divorce, regarding the topics either you or your spouse raised during the course of the divorce proceedings. https://www.lawyers.com/legal-info/family-law/divorce/what-w...
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Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 05:42
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Summary of answers provided
3 +3judgment (of divorce)
Kim Metzger
4 +1(AmE) Decree (CanE & ScotEng) Order
Adrian MM.
3Decision
Michael Martin, MA


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Decision


Explanation:
Often found at the top of the document. Wil post sources later

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 07:42
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 364
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Michael. I shall look out for the sources

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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
judgment (of divorce)


Explanation:
A divorce decree—also known as a judgment of divorce—is basically a signed court order, which declares that your marriage is dissolved. It also incorporates the other terms of your divorce, regarding the topics either you or your spouse raised during the course of the divorce proceedings. https://www.lawyers.com/legal-info/family-law/divorce/what-w...

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 05:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 1244
Grading comment
First validated answer (validated by peer agreement)
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Kim. This is what I have found on all the US family law sites and it seemed odd to me, so I just wanted to have this confirmed. Indeed in UK we only use "decree"


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway
10 mins

agree  Chris Pr
12 mins

agree  Katarina Peters
40 mins

neutral  Kent Hyde: The term will vary from state to state. Here in South Dakota, it is called a "divorce decree," not a judgment
5 hrs
  -> Thanks.
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
(AmE) Decree (CanE & ScotEng) Order


Explanation:
Decree is strictly issued by a Court of Equity in the USA (Barron's US Law Dictionary) but, otherwise, I agree with Phil G. as usual!

However, it does depend on the US Fed. State concerned. Relatives of mine have obtained such a divorce decree in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Otherwise, we ought to be wary of conflating Scotland with the UK, the petition North of the Border being called an *action for divorce* to which the parties are Pursuer and Defender. - and which others ought to have picked up on. The decree obtained there is also called an Order of Divorce.

Example sentence(s):
  • USA: n most states the period from original filing for divorce, serving the petition on the other party and final judgment, or *decree*, takes several months to allow for a chance of reconciliation.
  • Scots law: If you're applying for the divorce you're called the pursuer. Your ex-partner is the defender.

    Reference: http://www.hg.org/divorce-law-center.html
    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce_in_Scotland
Adrian MM.
Austria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 115

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  AllegroTrans: "decree" is so widely-used in the EN spkg world that I fail to see how it could be misunderstood
2 days 8 hrs
  -> Thx. As Kent Hyde points out, the term of judgment vs- decree varies from one US Fed. State to another, plus my (British) relatives in Nevada def. obtained a 'decree of divorce'- http://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/forms/divorce-forms
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