This question is best answered in two parts.
- Can a husband dictate what his wife “must do” to reconcile with him? Obviously he cannot. Reconciliation is a mutual decision. Even if a wife is willing to anything to stay married to her husband, then in a sense the husband could “set the conditions” (*i.e.*, dictate the terms) for reconciling, it’s still an agreement between the two spouses. This applies equally if the tables are turned and its the wife trying to dictate the terms of reconciliation.
- Can a couple reconcile (*i.e.*, get back together) even after a divorce action has been filed? Yes. All they would need to do is agree to dismiss the divorce action and then have the court dismiss the divorce action. Merely filing for divorce (*i.e.*, filing a divorce action) does not end a marriage. A divorce action does not result in a divorce unless and until a decree of divorce is issued by the judge in the divorce action. It is the court’s order (the decree of divorce) that dissolves (terminates) the marriage.
Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277