Which legal process signifies the formal end of a marriage?

The legal process that signifies the formal end of a marriage is divorce. Divorce is a legal dissolution of a marriage, meaning that the marriage is officially terminated by a court order. It requires the filing of a petition or complaint in court, and it typically involves the division of marital assets, custody arrangements for children, and other related legal matters.

In contrast, annulment is a legal declaration that a marriage was never valid or did not exist in the first place, which is different from ending a marriage that was considered valid. A decree might refer to any formal decision by a court, but it does not specifically denote the end of a marriage. Separation, on the other hand, refers to a situation where spouses live apart while still legally married, and it does not dissolve the marriage itself. Thus, divorce is the process that conclusively resolves the marital relationship.