the modern woman's divorce guide

Strangely enough, divorce can often lead to reconciliations where husbands and wives recommit to their marriages. If this has happened to you and you would like to stop your legal divorce, dissolution or legal separation, you may be able to dismiss your case unilaterally (without your husband’s consent) or jointly with your husband’s agreement, as long as the termination of your marriage has not been legally adjudicated by the court.

Generally speaking, this is how it works:

If you filed a Petition or Complaint for Divorce, Dissolution or Legal Separation and your husband has not yet responded by filing legal documents or by making an appearance in court, you can fill out the appropriate court forms and have your cased dismissed.

If you filed a Petition or Complaint for Divorce, Dissolution or Legal Separation and your husband has responded by filing legal documents or by making an appearance in court, you must both stipulate or agree that your case should be dismissed and you must both sign the request for dismissal that is submitted to the court.

If you filed a Petition or Complaint for Divorce, Dissolution or Legal Separation, your husband responded by filing legal documents or by making an appearance in court, and a Judgment of Divorce or Dissolution has already been entered, you are probably already divorced and unable to dismiss your case. In this instance, if you would like to recommit to your now ex-husband, you may do so by re-marrying him, but If this is something you are considering, please take your time before walking down the aisle again to make sure the second go round will be better.

If you would like to try and dismiss or withdraw your divorce, dissolution or legal separation action, read your state’s divorce laws or your court’s local rules to find out which court forms you must file and the steps that must be taken to put your divorce, dissolution or legal separation behind you.