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 Ohio, there is no mandatory waiting period for finalizing a divorce after the filing of the lawsuit for divorce. However, Ohio does require at least one spouse to have been a resident of the state for a minimum of six months before filing for divorce, which is the residency requirement. Additionally, while there is no statutory 'cooling-off' period, the divorce process can take time due to mandatory exchange of financial information, negotiation of terms, and court scheduling. If the divorce is uncontested, it may be finalized more quickly, but contested divorces can take significantly longer. Ohio does not have a statutory requirement for spouses to live apart for a specific period before filing for divorce, but living separately can be a factor in the court's decisions regarding the dissolution of the marriage.