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 Pennsylvania (PA), the state law requires a waiting period for no-fault divorces, which is intended to provide a 'cooling-off' period that might allow for reconciliation. As of the knowledge cutoff in 2023, for no-fault divorces where both parties consent, there is a mandatory 90-day waiting period after the divorce complaint has been served before the court may grant the divorce. If one party does not consent, the waiting period can extend to one year from the date of separation before a divorce can be finalized. Additionally, Pennsylvania requires spouses to have lived separate and apart for at least one year before a no-fault divorce can be granted without mutual consent. It's important to note that if spouses resume cohabitation during the separation period, it may reset the clock on the required separation period. Furthermore, Pennsylvania has a residency requirement, which mandates that at least one spouse must have lived in the state for a minimum of six months before filing for divorce.