For a Jewish divorce to be complete, a gett must be written, given, and received according to halacha. The ceremony itself is brief, typically around an hour and a half from start to finish, and follows a prescribed formula.
The Beis Din's Role
The Beis Din's central responsibility in the gett ceremony is to make sure everything is done according to halacha. The Beis Din will sometimes also ensure that the couple already has an agreement in place, though there are differing customs when it comes to the timing of the gett. The gett itself isn't where financial or custody terms get worked out.
In general, Batei Din recognize how emotionally difficult this moment is for everyone involved, and work to create an atmosphere that's as supportive as possible, including minimizing the contact between husband and wife during the proceeding itself. In some Batei Din, the two of them do not interact at all beyond the moment the husband gives the wife the gett.
Who's in the Room
A gett ceremony typically involves three dayanim from the Beis Din, along with a sofer (scribe) and two edim (witnesses) from the Beis Din. Either spouse may also bring a friend or family member for personal support. Spouses should be mindful of how their choice of friend affects the other party. That said, the Beis Din will generally encourage and accommodate whatever support the parties want to have with them.
The Actual Gett Ceremony
The process begins with what's called chakiras shaimos (literally, recognizing the names): the Rav arranging the gett asks the husband and wife about their given formal Hebrew names and any other names they actually go by. This matters because the gett itself has to identify both parties not just by their formal names, but by the names they're actually known by.
Next, the husband reads from a script that accomplishes two things: it confirms that he is giving the gett of his own free will, and it formally authorizes the sofer to write the gett and the witnesses to sign it. From there, the sofer makes a declaration to the witnesses describing his intent in preparing and writing the gett, and then begins writing it. The writing is done in a manner similar to how a Torah scroll is written, with a quill and ink, though on paper rather than klaf (parchment). This part of the ceremony takes up most of the time.
The finished gett is a twelve-line document containing the names of both parties, the place where it was written, the date, and a formula stating that the husband is releasing the wife to remarry as a matter of Jewish law. Once it's written, the two edim sign it, and the completed document is handed to the husband.
Before the gett changes hands, the wife is asked questions to confirm that she is willing to receive it. The husband then holds the gett above the wife's cupped hands and recites a brief formula releasing her to marry anyone, before placing the gett directly into her hands. The wife closes her hands around it, raises it above her head to formally acquire it, and then tucks it under her arm or into a pocket and walks a few steps, a physical act meant to demonstrate that the gett is now in her formal possession.
She then returns the gett to the table, where the witnesses reread it to confirm that nothing was altered in the exchange and that it genuinely passed from husband to wife. At that point, the gett process is complete, and the couple is formally divorced as a matter of Jewish law. It's an intensely emotional moment for everyone in the room, and once it concludes, everyone typically goes home.
What Happens to the Gett Afterward
The gett itself is not given to the couple, and it isn't made public. Keeping the gett out of circulation protects it from being scrutinized or having its validity questioned later. Once the Beis Din is satisfied that the gett is kosher, it is cut and retained in the Beis Din's own files.
The husband and wife each receive a certificate of divorce, either at the ceremony itself or by mail afterward. The certificate simply records that the two of them completed the gett on a given date and are divorced according to halacha.
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