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 Kentucky, the state requires a waiting period for finalizing a divorce, which serves as a 'cooling-off' period to give couples a chance to reconcile. Specifically, Kentucky mandates a 60-day waiting period from the date of filing the divorce petition before the court can finalize the divorce. This waiting period applies when at least one of the spouses has confirmed under oath that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Additionally, Kentucky law requires that the spouses live apart for at least 60 days before the divorce can be finalized, including cases where there are minor children involved. This separation period includes any time during which the spouses have lived apart before filing for divorce. It's important to note that Kentucky does not require the spouses to file for legal separation before initiating a divorce. As for residency requirements, in Kentucky, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for a minimum of 180 days prior to filing for divorce.