What happens when a person changes their mind about a divorce before the case is finished?

Brooklyn, NY – There are occasions where a couple starts the process to get divorced, but they later reconnect and decide not to end their marriage. If the two people truly want to remain married, they should perform certain steps to end their divorce case before it moves any further. 

National media had previously covered the divorce filing of renowned college football coach Brian Kelly [1]. However, it appears that a short time later, his lawyers had asked for the divorce petition to be dismissed [2].  

Football coach appears to change his mind about divorce and get national attention

Coach Kelly and his wife Francisca Craig Kelly had been married for approximately 28 years. There had apparently been a divorce filing, yet his children disputed that he legitimately was getting divorced, which caused some confusion. The initial reporting claimed that the couple may have reconciled in the days before the couple was supposed to start living separately. They also never made any formal announcements to the media regarding their divorce case and were photographed together around the time the divorce was apparently filed.   

Local news for the area where Kelly coaches had later reported that there was a motion to dismiss the divorce proceedings in their entirety without explanation. Part of the dismissal would include throwing out a temporary restraining order that was put into place to protect assets and property. 

Ending a divorce case that has already started

It is possible for people to have a sudden change of heart about ending their marriage. However, the legal consequences of deciding to pull back on a divorce proceeding can change based on factors such as how far the divorce case has progressed and the local laws where the case was filed. As a general rule, it will be easier to undo the early steps of a divorce case compared with one that has progressed for weeks or months where matters such as child custody and property division have already been decided. If a person finds that their marriage is not going to end, they should notify their attorney as soon as possible. The attorney will have to quickly take steps to formally withdraw any filings related to the case. 

Additional information about divorces in New York

Elliot Green Law Offices is a family law practice that works with clients in Brooklyn who need representation during their divorce case. Anyone who wants to speak with an attorney about these matters can contact the firm to schedule a meeting. 

USAttorneys.com is a service that gets people connected with lawyers in their city or state. People who are searching for the right attorney can call 800-672-3103 to get started. 

Firm contact info:

Elliot Green Law Offices

32 Court Street, Suite 404, Brooklyn, NY, 11201

718-260-8668

www.elliotgreenlaw.com

Sources:

1. https://nypost.com/2023/02/10/lsu-coach-brian-kellys-kids-call-fake-news-on-divorce/
2. https://www.wbrz.com/news/brian-kelly-formally-requests-dismissal-of-divorce-filing