No two divorces are the same. Some are amicable, while others are a little testier. Sometimes a person files for divorce after months of evaluation, other times it occurs in a quick moment of clarity.
However a couple comes to the decision to file for divorce is up to them, but sometimes the partners begin to doubt if divorce is truly the best option. If the couple is truly interested in giving the relationship another go after they’ve already filed the divorce papers, the pair can ask the court to put an “inactive status” on their case.
Inactive Divorce Status
An inactive status basically puts a freeze on the divorce case. The couple has one year from the date the case goes into inactive status to do one of the following:
- Pick up the divorce where it left off – If the couple decides it is in their best interests to part ways, they can pick up their divorce case right where they left off.
- Let the case expire – A divorce filing will automatically close if the case remains in an inactive status for more than a year. No further action is needed if the couple decides to stay together.
- Drop the case – If a couple is sure that they have worked through their differences, they can ask the court to close their inactive divorce case at any point before it reaches one year in an inactive state.
Minnesota courts allow for a case to be put in an inactive state for a number of reasons. First, it allows people who are going through an emotional time in their life to take some time to reconsider their decision before it is finalized. Also, it saves people both time and money; attorneys don’t have to waste time re-filing the same divorce motion, and clients don’t have to spend extra fees just to have their family law attorney file the same documents.
