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 Oregon, there is a mandatory waiting period for finalizing a divorce after the initial filing. This waiting period is 90 days. The purpose of this waiting period is to provide couples with time to reconsider their decision and possibly reconcile. Oregon does not require spouses to live apart for a specific period before filing for divorce. However, if spouses are seeking a no-fault divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences, they may need to demonstrate that they have not been cohabiting or that they have lived separately with the intention of ending the marriage. It's important to note that Oregon also has a residency requirement for divorce. At least one spouse must have been a resident of the state for six months before filing for divorce. These regulations are designed to ensure that couples have ample opportunity to reflect on their decision and that the state has proper jurisdiction over the divorce proceedings.