In many states there is a waiting period for finalizing a divorce following the filing of the lawsuit for divorce. This waiting period is intended to allow the spouses to “cool-off” and reconcile if possible. And some states require the spouses to have separated and lived apart for some period of time before proceeding with the divorce. In some states that require such a separation period, if the spouses reconcile and begin living together again (cohabitating) after separating, the separation period must be restarted before the divorce process can proceed.

The waiting period or separation period is often 30-90 days but may be as long as 5-18 months in states such as Arkansas, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Vermont. These waiting periods are generally in addition to any minimum time period a spouse must have resided in the county in which the divorce is filed before filing for divorce—known as the residency requirement.

In Alaska, there is no mandatory waiting period for a divorce to be finalized after the filing of the divorce complaint. However, Alaska does require that at least one of the spouses be a resident of the state for a minimum of 30 days before filing for divorce. Unlike some states that have a 'cooling-off' period or require a period of separation before a divorce can be granted, Alaska does not impose such requirements. The state allows for a divorce to be finalized as soon as both parties have reached an agreement on all relevant issues and the court has had an opportunity to review and approve the settlement. If the case goes to trial, the time it takes to finalize the divorce will depend on the court's schedule and the complexity of the case.