Some people wonder what a declaratory judgment is and what role it plays in a domestic case. Declaratory judgments are provided by statutory law and are designed to settle and afford relief from uncertainty and insecurity with respect to rights, status, and other legal relations, in cases of actual controversy, and in any civil case, whether or not further relief is or could be prayed, when interested parties have adverse claims which can be finally resolved by a judgment and this is true even if the complaining party has any other adequate legal or equitable remedy. An action for declaratory judgment is an appropriate means for determining a person's rights and duties under a contract and decree of divorce. In certain cases a declaratory judgment proceeding is appropriate to have a divorce agreement or divorce judgment and decree construed. Also, the rights of 3 rdpersons in relation to married or divorced persons can be ascertained by declaratory judgment. In a domestic case sometimes a final order leaves out an important issue or does not make clear the court's intent on a issue that becomes important to the parties down the road. If the parties cannot agree to the intent of the court in the ruling or final order, the declaratory judgment action is a tool for the parties to get clarification from the judge on the court's intent. Contact a Dallas Georgia family law attorney today for help with your case.