A decree nisi ({ety|la|nisi|unless}) is a court order that does not have any force until such time that a particular condition is met, such as a subsequent petition to the court or the passage of a specified period of time. Once the condition is met, the ruling becomes decree absolute and is binding. Typically, the condition is that no new evidenc... Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decree_nisi
(from the article `interlocutory decree`) ...a judicial decision that is not final or that deals with a point other than the principal subject matter of the controversy at hand. An ... Found on http://www.britannica.com/eb/a-z/d/23
The step before declaring a Decree Absolute. The Decree Absolute is usually made six weeks later. In theory the time between the nisi and the absolute is so that another party can take action to prevent the decree being made absolute. Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/local/20550
Conditional order of divorce. A decree absolute is normally granted six weeks after the decree nisi, and from the date of the decree absolute the parties cease to be husband and wife. ... Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/local/20688
A provisional order dissolving a marriage, which does not become final until a further application is made by the petitioner (at least six weeks after the decree nisi) and a decree absolute is granted.
Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/local/20912