{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-920","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 16-920","heading":"Effective date of decree or judgment for annulment or absolute divorce.","body":"A decree or judgment annulling or dissolving a marriage, granting an absolute divorce, or terminating a domestic partnership, shall become effective to dissolve the bonds of matrimony or domestic partnership 30 days after the docketing of the decree or judgment unless either party applies for a stay with the Superior Court of the District of Columbia or the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. If the application for a stay is denied, the judgment will become final upon entry of the court’s order denying the stay. If the application for a stay is granted, the stay shall continue in effect until the conclusion of the appeal. If the parties desire immediate finality, they may file a joint waiver of the right to appeal, which will make the decree or judgment final upon docketing of the joint waiver.","path":["Title 16. Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters. [Enacted title]","Chapter 9. Divorce, Annulment, Separation, Support, Etc."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/16-920","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"5059fdb6aad53f9775f3d8f182d8c1fff647d11d46bb968663954e071925c4ea","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-919","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-921"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}