Which term describes a court’s decree that will take effect unless reason is shown otherwise?

The term "nisi" specifically refers to a court decree that is provisional in nature and will take effect unless a party affected by the decree demonstrates a valid reason to prevent its enforcement. This concept is commonly used in legal contexts such as family law, where the court issues a decree nisi for divorces, which will become absolute unless one party presents a reason why the divorce should not be finalized.

In contrast, the other terms listed have distinct meanings that do not relate to a court decree taking effect conditionally. "Nolo contendere" refers to a plea in a criminal case where the defendant does not contest the charges. "Noelle prosequi" is an indication by a prosecutor that they will not pursue a case further. "Obligee" refers to an individual or entity to whom a duty or obligation is owed, which is also unrelated to the concept of a decree that takes effect unless contradicted. Thus, "nisi" stands out as the appropriate choice for a court decree with conditional enforcement.