Family Law Blog

In family law matters, the court may make temporary orders for the safety and welfare of a child, for the protection or preservation of property, or to govern the conduct of a party. Typically, temporary orders are given at the beginning of a divorce suit or a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship. These are not automatic; they must be requested by one of the parties to the suit.

Temporary orders only last as long as the lawsuit lasts. The court has broad power to issue temporary orders on: possession and access of the children, child support, conduct of the parties, geographic restrictions, or even attorneys fees. In a divorce, the temporary orders may also include issues regarding the home, vehicles, or other property. Generally speaking, the purpose of temporary orders is to protect the children or the property for the duration of the lawsuit. Once the lawsuit it concluded, the temporary orders become superseded by the Final Order of Final Decree.