No matter how ready you are to be done with your marriage, a divorce can still take anywhere between a few months to a year (and sometimes more) to accomplish.
In the meantime, life doesn’t stop happening. Temporary orders are designed to address the immediate concerns and provide some stability during this time.
They’re legal directives that address the practical issues
Temporary orders are generally requested by one party or both to a divorce. Once the court decides which specific issues it must address, these orders become legal directives that provide a framework for managing:
- The use of marital assets: Who stays in the family home? Who gets the use of which car? Deciding which party has the right to use certain marital asses during the divorce process can help prevent disputes and ensure both parties have access to their shared essential resources.
- Issues of support: Is one spouse financially dependent on the other? Are there minor children in the home? Temporary orders can ensure that dependent spouses and children have their needs met while the divorce is pending. This includes making certain that they continue to have health insurance coverage.
- Custody and visitation: Where are the children going to live during this time? How much parenting time will each party get? Temporary orders are often used to establish temporary parenting plans both to prioritize the best interests of the children and to protect parent-child bonds.
If you’re launching into the divorce process soon, it pays to be as informed as possible about the steps you can take to protect your interests and preserve your financial and emotional stability.