1,761. The Consequences of Canceling a Get

Hilchos Geirushin 6:25

Let’s say that a man sent his wife a get but the agent returned saying that he couldn’t find the wife or that she didn’t accept the get from him. Even if the husband responds by praising God or making other statements implying that he no longer wants to divorce her and is happy that the get wasn’t delivered, the get is not canceled. If he gives it to her, divorce will still be effected. A get isn’t canceled unless the husband explicitly tells the agent not to deliver it, or otherwise cancels it explicitly.

Hilchos Geirushin 6:26

If a man sent his wife a get and then canceled it in front of two other people, or if he lodged an objection to a get, he should be given lashes for acting rebelliously. This is because he creates a situation in which children might be conceived illegitimately. Since the woman received her get, she will remarry on this assumption that it’s valid. Later, when the witnesses to the get’s cancellation or the objection appear, children from her second marriage will be found to be illegitimate.