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 Louisiana (LA), temporary orders are issued by the court during the pendency of a divorce proceeding to maintain the status quo and provide for the immediate needs of the parties and children involved. These orders can address various issues such as temporary child support, spousal support (also known as interim spousal support in Louisiana), child custody, and visitation arrangements. Louisiana law also allows for the protection of marital assets by prohibiting the sale or transfer of significant community property during the divorce process. Furthermore, if there are allegations of domestic violence, Louisiana courts can issue protective orders to ensure the safety of the parties, which may include stay-away provisions and restrictions on communication between the spouses. The specific statutes governing these temporary orders can be found in the Louisiana Civil Code and the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, which outline the procedures for obtaining such orders and the criteria that courts consider when issuing them.