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 New Hampshire (NH), there is no mandatory waiting period for finalizing a divorce after the filing of the divorce lawsuit. Once the divorce petition is filed, the court can issue a final decree of divorce without a set waiting period designed for reconciliation purposes. However, the process may still take time due to court scheduling, mandatory disclosure of financial information, and the resolution of contested issues. New Hampshire does not require spouses to live apart for a specific period before filing for divorce. The state does have a residency requirement, which mandates that at least one spouse must be a resident of New Hampshire for at least one year before filing for divorce in the state. It's important to note that while there is no statutory waiting or separation period, individual circumstances and court caseloads can affect the timeline of the divorce process.