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 Indiana, the state law requires a waiting period for finalizing a divorce following the filing of the divorce petition. This waiting period is typically 60 days, which serves as a 'cooling-off' period to give couples the opportunity to reconcile if possible. Indiana does not have a mandatory separation period before filing for divorce; however, if the couple has children, the court may require them to attend a 'Children Cope with Divorce' seminar or a similar program. The residency requirement in Indiana stipulates that at least one spouse must have been a resident of the state, or stationed at a U.S. military installation within the state, for a minimum of six months before filing for divorce, and a resident of the county where the petition is filed for at least three months.