Temporary orders are the orders a court may make effective from the time a lawsuit for divorce is filed until it is resolved and the divorce decree is signed by the court. These orders are generally designed to preserve the status quo (current status) of the spouses’ marital property, finances, and children, and may include obligations to pay temporary child support, pay temporary spousal support, and provide for child custody and visitation arrangements. Temporary orders may also prohibit the spouses from selling or transferring significant marital or community property assets. If there are any allegations of family or domestic violence or abuse, the court may issue a stay-away order of protection restricting the spouses’ physical proximity to each other and the nature and means of their communications with each other.

Laws regarding the subjects and processes for temporary orders vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s statutes—often in the family code or domestic relations code.

In Washington State, temporary orders are legal directives issued by a court during the pendency of a divorce proceeding. These orders are designed to maintain the status quo regarding marital property, finances, and child-related matters until the final divorce decree is entered. They can include provisions for temporary child support, spousal support (alimony), child custody, and visitation schedules. Additionally, temporary orders can prevent either spouse from selling or transferring significant assets to ensure the preservation of marital property. In cases where there are concerns about family or domestic violence, the court may issue protective orders to limit contact between the parties. The specifics of these orders and the process for obtaining them are governed by Washington's family law statutes, which provide the legal framework for addressing these interim issues during a divorce.