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 Connecticut (CT), there is a mandatory waiting period, often referred to as the 'cooling-off' period, for finalizing a divorce after the filing of the divorce complaint. This period is intended to give the spouses time to reconsider their decision and possibly reconcile. In Connecticut, the waiting period is 90 days from the return date, which is the date by which the divorce papers must be formally delivered to the other spouse. This return date is typically a couple of weeks after the divorce complaint is filed. Connecticut does not require spouses to live apart for a specific period before filing for divorce. However, if the spouses are claiming a 'no-fault' ground based on the breakdown of the marriage, they must attest that their marriage has been irretrievably broken for at least 12 months. The residency requirement in Connecticut mandates that at least one spouse must have been a resident of the state for a minimum of 12 months before filing for divorce or at the time the court makes its decision.