Temporary and Final Legal Orders

Legal Counsel for Temporary Orders

In family court, temporary and final legal orders may be issued. Count on The O’Neill Law Firm PLLC for trusted legal services to assist you in such matters. Call today or request an appointment online to engage our attorney's services.

The family court system allows motions for temporary relief to be heard on five business days’ notice. A shorter notice requirement is allowed in emergency circumstances.

An answer to the complaint isn’t required until 30 days after the order has been served. It can take a year or longer to prepare the case for trial and get on the court docket. Temporary orders may be issued long before a family court dispute is ready for trial or a final resolution. 

Litigants may operate under a temporary order for a year or longer until a final order is issued. A temporary order is just that – temporary. The case is not resolved. A temporary order stops the bleeding, but it isn’t a cure. 

The Issuance of Final Rulings

A final order resolves the case, either as the result of a negotiated agreement between the parties or a judge’s rendering of a decision following the presentation of testimony and evidence at trial. In reaching a final order after trial, the judge must make detailed factual findings and legal conclusions to justify the ruling. Once a final order is issued, all temporary orders issued in the case are no longer in effect. Any previous final orders are no longer valid either.