Once a divorce case is filed, there may be legitimate reasons to put the case on hold or suspend the filing for a period of time. This can be done depending on the circumstances.

To begin with, there are two different waiting periods for divorce cases in Michigan.  If you do not have children, or the children are adults, there is a 60 day waiting period for a divorce.  If you have minor children, there is a 180 day (six month) waiting period.

With a 180 day waiting period, there is some delay built in automatically, because the case can take some time before the court will allow the divorce to be completed.  So in a divorce with minor children, you have up to 90 days to have your wife served with papers once you have had your attorney file.

If you think there may be a possibility of saving the marriage and reconciling, as long as you and your wife agree to delay things a bit, most courts are willing to allow you to postpone for good reason.  The timing of a divorce can be complex, and so can the process.  Your best bet is to get advice early on in the process from an experienced divorce attorney.