The court process for many Texas divorce cases begins with the Temporary Orders hearing. This is when you will ask the courts to issue orders that will need to be in place up until the agreements or trial of your divorce are finalized. It allows you to quickly receive a ruling from the judge, without having to wait until your divorce case is through, as that can take months and in some cases, even years.
When Are Temporary Orders Appropriate?
A spouse who is a victim of domestic violence or abuse often needs a temporary restraining order against the other spouse. Another example would be when the spouse who was the primary breadwinner leaves the home, and the other spouse has difficulty providing for the children. Sometimes these orders are necessary simply because the parties cannot agree on a temporary visitation schedule or how the family bills will get paid.
You may ask for orders such as:
- For spousal support and/or child support payments
- For child custody and visitation rights
- To allow each spouse access to his or her personal property
- To a spouse from selling marital property
These hearings are typically more informal than a final trial, and most courts in Denton and Collin counties only allow for 20 or 30 minutes per side, but you still should take care to bring all of the necessary information to supplement your position.
These are some of the documents to consider bringing with you to the hearing:
- Financial statements
- W-2 or 1099 from the past 2 years
- Tax return statements
- Your pay stubs
- Witnesses
- A statement of your temporary requests
You can choose to talk with your spouse about your plans for sharing child custody or other goals, although discussing some situations amicably can be nearly impossible, especially for the most contentious divorce cases. That is when it becomes necessary to ask the courts to decide on matters for you.
Have Questions? Talk to an Attorney!
At Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers, we believe in providing sound legal counsel and trusted guidance through any divorce and family law matter. We have been helping families since 1998. We know that you will have many questions with regards to your particular situation, so do not hesitate to reach out to us to see how we can help!
We are proud to serve Collin County and Denton County. Schedule an appointment with Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers.