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 Kentucky, 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 issued. Kentucky courts can order temporary child support and spousal support, establish temporary child custody and visitation arrangements, and may restrict the sale or transfer of significant marital assets. The state's family law statutes, which can be found in the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS), specifically in chapters related to domestic relations and dissolution of marriage, provide the legal framework for these orders. Additionally, if there are allegations of domestic violence or abuse, Kentucky courts can issue protective orders to ensure the safety of the parties involved, limiting contact and proximity between the spouses. These temporary orders are crucial in preventing harm and financial disruption during the divorce process.