Your spouse has just moved out, taken the children for the weekend, and stopped sending money for the mortgage and groceries. The case is only a few weeks old, and you are being told that a divorce can take many months. In the middle of all of this, you may feel like there are no rules, just whoever is louder or more aggressive.
California family courts do not wait until the end of a case to set ground rules. Judges use temporary orders to decide where the children will live, when each parent will see them, who stays in the family home, and who pays which bills while the case moves forward. These orders can affect everything from school drop-offs in Palmdale to whether you can afford your rent next month.
At Law Offices of John C. Bigler, we have spent decades guiding families in Palmdale and across Los Angeles County through this early and stressful stage. Attorney Bigler is a certified family law attorney who regularly appears in local family courts and understands how judges approach temporary custody and support. We will walk through what temporary orders really are, how they are decided, and how to protect yourself and your children while your case is pending.
Contact our trusted family lawyer in Palmdale at (661) 368-1181 to schedule a confidential consultation.
What Temporary Orders Are in California Family Law
Temporary orders are court orders that control key issues in your case while you wait for a final judgment. In a divorce, legal separation, or custody case, the court can issue temporary orders about child custody, parenting schedules, child support, legal separation, child custody, parenting schedules, child support, spousal support, and use of property such as the family home. These orders apply from the time the judge signs them until they are changed or replaced by later orders.
Temporary orders are different from the final judgment that ends your case. A final judgment wraps up all issues and usually sets long-term arrangements for custody, support, and division of property. Temporary orders are meant to stabilize things in the short term, but in practice, they often influence the final result. Judges tend to look at what has worked during the case and may keep that structure unless there is a strong reason to change it.
In California, you typically receive temporary orders after someone files a Request for Order and the court holds a hearing. They are not automatically issued just because a case is filed. That means the spouse or parent who takes the initiative to ask the court for temporary orders, and who prepares their paperwork carefully, often has a significant advantage at the beginning of the case.
Our firm has more than 30 years of experience in the legal field, focusing on family law, and we have seen how powerful these early decisions can be. We help clients understand that temporary orders are not a side issue; they are the framework that controls daily life in Palmdale and beyond until the case is resolved.
Common Types of Temporary Orders Judges Issue
Temporary orders can reach into almost every part of your daily routine. For parents, the most urgent questions usually involve where the children will live and what time each parent will have with them. Judges can order temporary legal custody, which is decision-making authority, and physical custody, which is where the children live, along with a specific visitation schedule. This might mean alternating weekends, a roughly equal schedule, or another pattern built around school and work schedules.
Money is the next major area. The court can make temporary child support and spousal support orders based on each party’s income and the parenting schedule. California courts often use guideline software to calculate child support, so accurate income information is critical. For spousal support, judges commonly look at pay stubs, tax returns, and living expenses to set an amount that helps keep both households functioning while the case is pending.
The judge can also decide who stays in the family home and who drives which vehicles. These temporary use and possession orders do not decide who will ultimately own the home or the cars, but they control who can live there and who has to move, at least for now. Courts may also order one party to pay certain bills, such as the mortgage, rent, or health insurance, to prevent utilities from being cut off or insurance from lapsing.
In some situations, temporary restraining orders are part of the picture. This can include domestic violence restraining orders to protect a person or children, or orders that restrict one spouse from draining bank accounts or running up community credit cards. All of these fall under the temporary order umbrella because they shape how you live while the case moves forward.
Because each family’s needs are different, we take a hands-on approach when we ask for these orders. Direct communication with Attorney Bigler allows you to explain your children’s schedules, your work hours, and your financial realities, so the temporary orders we request match your real life in Palmdale, not a one-size-fits-all pattern.
How Temporary Orders Are Requested & Decided in Los Angeles County
Temporary orders usually start with a document called a Request for Order, sometimes shortened to RFO. One party files the RFO with the court, asking for specific temporary orders, such as primary custody, guideline child support, or exclusive use of the home. The RFO is supported by written declarations, which are signed statements under penalty of perjury that explain your situation and why you are asking for those orders.
After the RFO is filed in a Los Angeles County family court, it must be properly served on the other party. The court then sets a hearing date. How far out that date is can depend on the court’s calendar and whether the issues are routine or involve an emergency. For true emergencies, such as immediate safety risks or a complete cutoff of money for rent and basic needs, an emergency or ex parte request may be possible, although judges apply a high standard to those requests.
At the temporary order hearing, judges in Los Angeles County typically rely heavily on the written declarations and attachments that were filed ahead of time. There is usually a limited time for live testimony. The judge will have reviewed the file, may ask a few questions of each side, and then will announce temporary orders. This is why preparation of the paperwork, including clear facts, timelines, and financial information, often matters more than what is said in the few minutes in front of the bench.
Our experience across Los Angeles County courthouses helps us set realistic expectations about these hearings. We know that some departments review files on the morning of the hearing, that clerks and judicial assistants manage crowded calendars, and that concise, well-organized declarations stand out. Over more than 30 years in family law, we have learned how to present a client’s situation so that a judge can quickly see what is at stake and what orders will keep the case stable.
Why Temporary Orders Can Shape Your Final Custody & Support Outcome
Many people assume that whatever the court orders at the first hearing is just a placeholder that will be easily changed later. In reality, temporary orders often create a new routine for your children and your finances that judges hesitate to disrupt. Once a schedule is in place and children appear to be doing well in school and daily life, courts commonly treat that arrangement as the default unless there is a strong reason to change it.
For custody and visitation, this shows up as the concept of status quo and stability. If, for example, one parent receives temporary primary physical custody and the other parent has alternate weekends and one midweek visit, that pattern can become the child’s normal life over the months it takes the case to move forward. When the time comes to decide final orders, the judge will look at how the children have done under that schedule and may be reluctant to make a major shift that could disrupt their routines.
Support works similarly. Once a temporary child support or spousal support order is set, both parties adjust their budgets and expectations around those numbers. Guideline child support calculations can be revisited if incomes change, but the initial guideline number often anchors negotiations. For spousal support, a temporary amount can influence how both sides view fairness, which has a direct impact on settlement discussions and long-term planning.
Because of this, we treat temporary hearings as a key strategic moment, not a minor stop along the way. As a certified family law attorney, Attorney Bigler understands how judges in Palmdale and throughout Los Angeles County weigh stability against change. We work with clients early to shape reasonable temporary orders that protect their relationship with their children and keep them financially afloat, knowing that these early choices can echo all the way into the final judgment.
What Judges Look For When Ruling on Temporary Custody & Support
When judges decide temporary custody, they are guided by the best interest of the child, even at this early stage. In practical terms, that means looking at who has been handling school drop-offs and pickups in Palmdale, who schedules and attends doctor and dentist visits, who helps with homework, and which parent can provide a stable daily routine. Judges also consider each parent’s work schedule, the distance between homes, and whether there are any safety concerns such as substance abuse or domestic violence.
Court decisions at temporary custody hearings are usually based on specific, factual information rather than broad accusations. A declaration that explains, for example, that you have taken the child to school every day for the past three years, lists activities you attend, and describes the child’s ties to their current neighborhood carries more weight than simply saying the other parent is never around. Judges also pay attention to whether each parent appears willing to support the child’s relationship with the other parent, unless there is a genuine safety risk.
For temporary support, judges look at both parties’ income and expenses. This often includes recent pay stubs, tax returns, and a California Income and Expense Declaration. California courts commonly use guideline software to calculate child support using each parent’s income, certain deductions, and the parenting time each has under the temporary custody plan. For spousal support, especially at the temporary stage, many judges follow local practices that use income figures and general need to set an amount that prevents either party from being left without basic living resources.
Credibility is critical in both custody and support. Judges remember who provided detailed, accurate information at the first hearing and who made claims that did not match the documents. We help clients prepare declarations that stick to clear facts, attach key records, and lay out parenting history and finances in a way that a busy judge can follow. This attention to detail at the temporary order stage can influence how the court views you throughout the rest of your case.
How to Respond If You Are Served With a Request for Temporary Orders
Being served with a Request for Order can feel like being hit with a tidal wave of demands and deadlines. Your first step is to read the papers carefully and note the hearing date and what the other party is asking the court to do. Ignoring the RFO is not an option because the judge can still make temporary orders at the hearing even if you do not appear or file a response.
In most cases, you will need to file a written response along with your own declarations and documents. This is your chance to tell the court your side of the story, explain your involvement with the children, and provide accurate income information. For custody issues, it helps to quickly gather calendars, school records, and messages that show your parenting history. For support issues, you should collect pay stubs, tax returns, and details about your monthly expenses.
Showing up at the hearing without having filed a response or without supporting documents leaves you at a serious disadvantage. Judges will rely heavily on whatever is in the court file, which may then reflect only the other party’s version of events. A rushed, emotional declaration is not much better because it often fails to give the judge concrete facts they can use to make balanced orders.
Our firm is built around direct, hands-on representation, which is especially important when time is short. When someone in Palmdale calls us with an upcoming temporary order hearing, they talk directly with Attorney Bigler. We help prioritize what must be filed, what evidence will matter most, and how to present a reasonable alternative proposal rather than just saying no to every request. This focused preparation can make a meaningful difference in the orders the court issues at that first hearing.
Changing or Enforcing Temporary Orders During Your Case
Temporary orders are meant to manage your situation as it exists at the time of the hearing, but life does not stand still while a case is pending. If there is a significant change in circumstances, you may be able to ask the court to modify temporary custody or support. Examples include a job loss or major change in income, a new work schedule that affects your ability to follow the existing parenting plan, or new information that raises safety concerns for the children.
To seek a change, you typically file a new Request for Order explaining what has changed and why the current orders no longer work. Judges look for genuine, substantial shifts, not minor disagreements. For example, a parent who was given limited visitation because of unstable housing might ask for more time after securing a stable home and maintaining sobriety. A parent who has begun working nights might ask to adjust exchanges so the children are not constantly shuffled during late hours.
Enforcement is a different issue. If the other party is not following the temporary orders, such as regularly denying court-ordered visitation or refusing to pay support that was ordered, you should document each violation carefully. Keeping a log of missed visits, messages about cancellations, and records of unpaid amounts can help the court see a pattern. Bringing the issue back to court is usually better than trying to fix it yourself by withholding the children or stopping payments, which can backfire.
In some situations, negotiating a change or using mediation can be more efficient than repeated contested hearings. Parents sometimes find that their original temporary schedule is not working for the children once school or activities change, and they can agree on a revised plan that better fits everyone’s lives. Attorney Bigler’s background in mediation and arbitration training allows us to pursue these solutions when appropriate, aiming for adjustments that reduce conflict while still protecting your rights.
When to Talk With a Palmdale Divorce Lawyer About Temporary Orders
Some situations call for fast legal advice rather than waiting to see what happens. If you have been cut off from joint accounts, cannot pay rent or the mortgage, or are suddenly told you cannot see your children, you may need to pursue temporary orders right away. Concerns about domestic violence or threats to take the children out of the area also require immediate attention, because early court action can prevent long-term harm.
Planning for temporary orders early often saves stress and creates better options later. When we speak with clients at the very start of a case, we look at what temporary custody and support orders would keep children stable in their Palmdale schools, keep bills current, and reduce the chance of crises. That planning helps avoid rushed decisions and weak filings that can lock in an arrangement that does not truly work for your family.
At Law Offices of John C. Bigler, you work directly with a certified family law attorney who has handled complex divorce and custody cases across Los Angeles County for decades. We focus on making the temporary order phase as steady and predictable as possible, so you can focus on your children and your future instead of constant emergencies. If you are facing temporary order issues or see them on the horizon, we encourage you to reach out and discuss your options.
Contact us at (661) 368-1181 to start your path toward a secure, confident, and positive resolution for everyone involved.