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 Alabama, the law requires a mandatory waiting period for divorce proceedings. After filing for divorce, there is a 30-day 'cooling-off' period before the divorce can be finalized. This period is designed to give couples time to reconsider their decision and possibly reconcile. Alabama does not require a mandatory separation period before filing for divorce; however, if the grounds for divorce are based on a separation, the couple must have lived apart for at least two years. Additionally, before filing for divorce in Alabama, at least one spouse must meet the residency requirement, which stipulates that the filing spouse must have been a resident of the state for at least six months prior to filing.