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 Georgia, there is no mandatory 'cooling-off' period after filing for divorce that applies to all cases. However, Georgia law does require that the parties must have been separated for at least 30 days before filing for a no-fault divorce. Separation in Georgia means that the spouses have ceased sexual cohabitation and live in separate residences; it does not necessarily require a formal agreement or court order. If the spouses reconcile and resume living together, the separation period does not necessarily have to restart unless they resume marital relations. Additionally, there is a residency requirement in Georgia, where one of the spouses must have been a resident of the state for at least six months prior to filing for divorce. It's important to note that the actual time it takes to finalize a divorce can vary depending on the circumstances of the case, such as whether it is contested or uncontested.