A temporary restraining order (TRO) is a court order requiring the parties to whom it is addressed not to engage in certain activity, or to continue to engage in certain activity, and is usually designed to maintain the current state of things (the status quo) until the court has the opportunity to hear a more complete presentation of the evidence—usually during an application for a temporary injunction that will remain in place while the lawsuit is pending.

In Delaware, a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is a legal measure used to provide immediate protection to an individual or entity by ordering another party to cease certain activities or to maintain certain behaviors temporarily. It is often used in situations where there is an immediate threat of harm, and waiting for a full court hearing could result in irreparable damage or injury. The TRO is designed to preserve the status quo until a more formal hearing can be conducted for a preliminary injunction, which may last for the duration of a lawsuit. To obtain a TRO in Delaware, the requesting party must file a motion with the court, typically demonstrating that there is a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of the case and that they will suffer immediate and irreparable harm without the TRO. The court may issue a TRO without notice to the opposing party if it deems that giving notice would result in harm, but such orders are generally of very short duration, often just days, until a hearing with both parties present can be arranged.