How Long Can A Divorce Be Put On Hold? Guide (2026)

Can You Pause a Divorce After Filing?

Understanding whether you can halt a divorce once it’s been filed will depend on whether you were the one to serve the petition for dissolution of marriage, also called the petitioner. If you served your spouse with divorce papers, then you have a right to pause the proceedings as long as your spouse hasn’t responded with a counter-petition.

If your spouse has already responded, you can still pause the divorce, but both parties will have to agree to do so. But what if you’re the person who was served the divorce papers? In that case, you may not be allowed to stop the process without your spouse’s approval. Keep in mind that different states could have varying rules on this.

In some instances, people decide to withdraw the divorce filing altogether. To do so, you will need to ask for a Request for Dismissal form at the courthouse where you filed the divorce petition. Once you stop the divorce proceedings, you will have to start over if you choose to pursue this option again.

That can significantly slow the process down, not to mention cost you more, so it can be in your best interests to pause the divorce but not completely stop it. You can place your divorce in inactive status, which keeps the case as-is for a designated amount of time.

How Long Can a Divorce Be Put on Hold?

A divorce can be put on hold for periods of varying lengths. Your lawyer can file a motion for continuance, which asks the court to consider pausing the proceedings. If the court agrees, then you typically have about 30 days, though it’s possible to get longer periods.

There is no limit to the number of times you can ask to put the divorce on hold, but you will need to have a good reason for doing so each time. You can state you and your spouse are working on reconciliation, or if your spouse has changed their mind on an important aspect of the divorce, you can claim a change in case status.

Other reasons that will allow you to continue putting the divorce on hold include illness or a family death, as well as financial issues. It’s important to remember that a divorce filing will usually be deemed closed if it remains inactive for more than a year.

Common Delay Tactics a Spouse May Use

Something you may not realize when you begin looking at how to get a divorce is that there are numerous delay tactics your spouse may use to avoid getting to the divorce decree.

For instance, they may change lawyers in the middle of the process, which will immediately trigger the need for more time so that their attorney can become acquainted with the case.

You may also notice that they consistently reschedule meetings or have their lawyers file unnecessary motions. In some cases, they may even refuse to sign vital paperwork, forcing you to chase them down. It’s possible that they could attempt to accuse you of fraud or other issues related to assets to slow the process further.

One of the most effective ways to deal with these delays is to request a definite trial date from the court. You will, however, have to give your spouse time to prepare for the trial. Typically, this means alerting them 45 days before trial. Although this can seem like a long time to wait, having a trial date is a significant step forward.

Other Factors That Can Delay a Divorce

Some delays may be inevitable. There could be state-mandated waiting periods. In Texas, for example, there is a 60-day waiting period after you file for divorce, while in Florida, you typically only have to wait 20 days.

Court schedules can delay the process, too, as can paperwork or clerical errors. You can expect more complex cases to take longer, especially if there are custody issues or financial disputes, including those related to joint businesses.

All of these delays are not stalling tactics on anyone’s part but are problems that have to be waited out. They can be frustrating but will likely not impact your divorce’s outcome.

How a Family Law Attorney Can Help in Complex Divorce Proceedings

No matter what the reasons for divorce are, whether you’re the petitioner or not, or how smoothly you may think the whole process is going, you should hire a divorce lawyer. Your spouse may try to delay proceedings by putting the divorce on hold in the hopes that you’ll capitulate and grant them what they want in terms of alimony or child custody.

With a lawyer helping you, you can take steps to prevent delay tactics or, if your spouse is genuinely looking for a way to reconcile, decide whether a delay or dismissal of the divorce filing is the most appropriate option.

Vitally, if you and your spouse would like to put the divorce on hold, your lawyer can present a strong case so that the court will grant you the time you need.

Work With Trusted Lawyers in Your Area

Whether you know how to file for divorce “pauses” or not, you need to have an attorney by your side helping you through each step. Nothing in a divorce is easy, and presenting your reasons for halting the filing can have its own challenges.

Your lawyer will help you understand what your options are and will prepare the evidence the court will need to make the case inactive.

At ConsumerShield, we can connect you with leading family lawyers in your area. We carefully vet each option so that we can help our clients receive the assistance they need. You don’t have to go through divorce proceedings on your own. Contact us at ConsumerShield to get access to attorneys you can count on in your area.