No divorce, separate maintenance or annulment case shall be heard on its merits until the petition shall have been on file for at least ten (10) days if there are no minor children of the parties or at least thirty (30) days if there are minor children of the parties, except in the case of an emergency duly shown by application setting forth good cause, in the opinion of the trial court, for an earlier hearing. All entries of appearance and waivers must be in writing, must be duly signed and witnessed or acknowledged at least one (1) day after the filing of the petition, and must be filed in the action. When an entry of appearance and waiver is filed as provided herein, the court shall not grant greater relief than is requested in the petition unless the defendant consents in writing filed in the action.