All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Writing a divorce or signing it is one of the metaphors of divorce by which divorce does not take place except if the husband had intended it. We have already clarified this in Fataawa 118112 and 89894. However, it is clear that the husband had intended divorce; the evidence is that he stated that this is a major irrevocable divorce and that his wife would no longer be his wife.
In addition to this, the husband had uttered the word of divorce when reading the written paper as he mentioned.
The fact that he did not send the announcement of divorce to his wife is of no effect as divorce takes place once the husband initiates it even if the wife does not know about it.
Also, saying the three divorces consecutively one after the other [in one session] takes place as three divorces, according to the view of the majority of the jurists and this is the view we adopt here at Islamweb.
Thereupon, an irrevocable divorce with major separation has taken place and the divorcee is no longer lawful for her husband until she marries another man in a valid marriage and he consummates the marriage with her and then he divorces her or dies. For more benefit on the kinds of divorce, please refer to Fatwa 82541.
As regards the second divorce notice, then it is of no effect because an irrevocable divorce with major separation had already taken place before it. The marital relationship that is taking place now after the major irrevocable divorce is forbidden. However, if there are any children born out of this relationship, then they are traced back to the father due to the doubtful marriage [i.e. due to the father believing that his marriage was still valid]. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 86301.
Finally, it should be noted that it is very serious to be lenient in regard to religious rulings and to do an act out of ignorance without consulting and asking the scholars when necessary. Allaah Says (what means): {…so ask the people of the message [i.e. former scriptures] if you do not know.}[Quran 16:43[
Allaah Knows best.