The Real Cost and Timeline of Temporary Orders in Complex North Texas Divorces

In our complex divorce files from Prosper, Frisco, and Sherman clients, a contested temporary orders hearing is typically set 4–8 weeks after filing and addresses the issues that drive the rest of the case—exclusive use of the residence, interim support, and temporary custody.

What is decided at temporary orders usually includes exclusive use of the marital residence, temporary child support and spousal maintenance, temporary conservatorship and possession, and sometimes interim attorney’s fees. Valuation of closely held businesses, final property characterization, and long-term support amounts are almost always deferred.

Attorney time for a fully prepared temporary orders hearing in a complex case commonly falls in the 15–30 hour range, depending on the number of witnesses and the volume of financial documents. The three issues that most often determine whether the case later settles are: (1) who remains in the residence, (2) the temporary support amount relative to actual cash flow, and (3) the temporary possession schedule.

Cases in which temporary orders create a workable, child-focused status quo are substantially more likely to resolve by mediation than cases in which one party leaves the hearing feeling the interim arrangement is unsustainable.