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What is this Decree and What do I do with it?

by Dorothy Ripka of Cordell & Cordell, P.C.

Your Divorce Decree, as it is called in most states, may well be the most important piece of paper you own.  To be frank it is not a piece of paper, usually it is quite the opposite, a large hulking mass of papers filled with legal terms that you are not sure even your attorney understands.  Let me first assure you that most likely your attorney did understand all of it. 

Question:

If spousal maintenance was not ordered in my final decree, how can the judge sign an income withholding order requiring me to pay for it?  Can the judge go back and order spousal maintenance if he had meant to order it but didn't?  What sort of leeway does a divorce decree have when it is issued? I always thought it had to be in writing.

Question:

Due to reasons of incompatibility, I had a non-contested divorce last year and there are no children involved. The decree lists what debt is assigned to each party and that one car is assigned to each of us. What isn't stated is any direct requirement to refinance her car under her own name.

I've moved on with my life, but my present girlfriend is obviously quite less than thrilled that I still share a debt with my ex. I have refinanced my car and plan to sell the house that is still under both our names later this year. Is there any way to compel my ex to refinance or sell the vehicle in question? Unfortunately, her credit is awful and her credit union won't give her a loan. However, I am assuming that there would be someplace that would give her a loan, even though it might be at a higher interest rate.