1,808. Can a Woman with a Get Bateil Marry a Kohein?

Hilchos Geirushin 9:41

The previous halacha applies when a man isn’t in the same city as his wife or if he’s divorcing her after betrothal. After full marriage, however, we are concerned that he may have appeased her. Accordingly, the agent should not appoint a replacement within the 30 days unless the husband states that he takes his wife’s word that he hasn’t appeased her. After the 30 days have passed, the agent then delivers the get. We are, however, concerned unless the husband says that he takes his wife’s word that he didn’t appease her.

Hilchos Geirushin 10:1

When the Rambam says that a get is invalid (bateil) or that divorce has not been effected, the meaning is that it’s not an effective divorce under Biblical law and the woman is still married to her husband. If she marries someone else, she must leave that person and any children they may have had are illegitimate. If a man who gives such an invalid get is a kohein, his wife isn’t prohibited to him as a divorcee with one exception: a man who divorces his wife telling her that she’s divorced from him but still not permitted to anyone else. While such a divorce is not effective, such a woman is not permitted to marry a kohein by rabbinic enactment. This is based on Leviticus 21:7, “a woman divorced from her husband.” The Sages understood this include even a woman who is divorced from her husband but not permitted to anyone else. This small aspect of a get disqualifies a woman from marrying a kohein under rabbinic law.