Decree Nisi

A decree nisi is a conditional court order. It says the marriage will be dissolved unless a reason is shown why it should not be.

Under Section 61 of Act 164, every divorce order is first a decree nisi. It cannot be made absolute (final) until three months after it is granted, unless the court fixes a shorter period.

Why it matters: the decree nisi is not the end of the marriage. You are still married until the decree absolute.