Temporary Relief Under the Texas Family Code

In Austin, Texas parties to a divorce proceeding or suitdifference between the temporary restraining order
affecting the parent-child relationship are going to haveand a temporary injunction is that a temporary
three kinds of relief in family law cases: temporaryinjunction requires notice and a hearing before the
restraining orders, or "TRO's", temporary injunctionsTexas court can grant relief. As I said, generally, the
and temporary orders.temporary injunction is going to remain in effect until
Temporary restraining orders are used to maintain thethere is a final judgment. However, the temporary
"status quo." Under the Texas Family Code, ainjunction may be lifted by another order by the court.
temporary restraining order may be granted ex-parteTypically, a temporary injunction is used to extend an
without notice to the other party for a period of 14already existing temporary restraining order.
days. (Ex-parte refers to a situation where only oneTemporary orders are regarded differently than
party appears before the judge.) The petition or motiontemporary restraining orders and temporary injunctions.
must "state what relief the court is being asked toTemporary orders are regarded as "non-injunctive" in
grant." Furthermore, the petition or motion must statenature. While, temporary orders are regarded as
the statutory grounds on which the request is based."non-injunctive" they may have some mandatory or
By preserving the "status quo," the temporaryprohibitory effects. For example, if one of the parties
restraining order may stop a party from doing some(either husband or wife)to a suit-affecting the
act. For example: a husband and wife own a house inparent-child relationship wants possession and access
Austin, which is located in Travis County, Texas. Theto a child that constitutes a departure from Standard
husband is filing for divorce, but is afraid that his wife isPossession Order that party must present evidence to
going to reduce the value of the house or otherthe court to justify this variation. One factor to be
household property. The husband may ask the Travisconsidered by the court is the child's age. If a child is
County Court for relief by asking the court tounder the age of 3 then the court may deviate from
temporarily restrain his wife from intentionally,the Standard Possession Order. That being said, the
knowingly, or recklessly destroying, removing,best interest of the child standard is going to be the
concealing, encumbering, transferring, or otherwisecourts chief concern when determining
harming or reducing the value of the property of theconservatorship, possession or access to the child.
parties, etc. In Texas, a temporary restraining orderFurthermore, the parties to a suit affecting the
may be employed in combination with a suit forparent-child relationship may request the court to grant
dissolution of a marriage, (a.k.a. divorce) or in a suitan order that echo's an agreement entered into by the
affecting the parent-child relationship. A temporaryparties.
restraining order may be employed to protect a child'sDisclaimer: This site and any information contained
safety and welfare, the preservation of property, or towithin this site is intended for informational purposes
protect one of the parties.only and should not be construed as legal advice. The
While a temporary restraining order generally refers toexcerpts taken from the Texas Penal and Family
an ex-parte request to maintain the "status quo" for aCode, and other Texas Codes are not all-inclusive.
short duration of time, a temporary injunction is used toFurthermore, due to the rapidly shifting nature of the
maintain the "status quo" until the case is resolved. Inlaw, we make no warranty or guarantee concerning
other words, a temporary injunction is used to stop athe accuracy or reliability of the content at this site. Do
party, (either husband or wife) from doing somenot attempt to interpret the law. You should consult an
"specified activity" until the case is resolved. A majorattorney for advice on any legal matter.