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 Utah, there is a mandatory waiting period for finalizing a divorce after the filing of the divorce petition. This waiting period is 30 days from the date the petition is filed. The purpose of this waiting period is to provide couples with time to reconsider their decision and possibly reconcile. However, in certain circumstances, the court may waive this waiting period if there is a good cause. Additionally, Utah does not require spouses to live apart for any specific period before filing for divorce. The residency requirement in Utah mandates that at least one of the spouses must have lived in the state for a minimum of three months before filing for divorce in the state.