A split decoder apparatus in a communication system provides reliable transfer of a transmitted message from a source to a destination. A channel encoder encodes the transmitted message into a transmitted codeword from a channel code and transmits the transmitted codeword over a channel. The channel produces a channel output in response to the transmitted codeword. In the split decoder apparatus, a decode client receives the channel output and generates a compressed error information, and a decode server receives the compressed error information and generates a compressed error estimate. The decode client receives the compressed error estimate and generates a message estimate. Communication complexity between the decode client and the decode server is reduced. The split decoder apparatus optionally generates a no-errors signal from the channel output, where the decode server is not activated if the no-errors signal indicates that the hard decisions correspond to a valid transmitted codeword.