The period between filing for divorce and obtaining a final decree can span many months — and during that time, families need legal structure for living arrangements, financial support, and child custody. Nevada law provides for temporary orders (also called pendente lite orders, meaning “pending litigation”) that establish interim parenting arrangements, spousal support, child support, and exclusive use of the family home while the divorce proceeds. These temporary orders are critical: they set the status quo that the final decree often mirrors, they determine which spouse controls the marital residence during proceedings, and they establish whether one spouse will receive financial support during the divorce process. Hauser Family Law files and litigates temporary order motions in Clark County Family Court, protecting clients’ financial positions and parenting time from the earliest stages of Nevada divorce proceedings.
Clark County Temporary Order Process — Motions, Hearings, and ATRO Protections
When a Nevada divorce is filed, the court automatically issues an Automatic Temporary Restraining Order (ATRO) that restrains both spouses from: disposing of community property without the other spouse’s written consent or court order; canceling or changing health insurance coverage for either spouse or the children; removing minor children from Nevada without written consent or court order; and taking other actions that would change the financial status quo. The ATRO is self-executing and requires no separate motion — it binds both spouses from the date of service. For additional temporary relief, the requesting party must file a Motion for Temporary Orders with supporting declarations and financial documentation. Temporary support motions under NRS 125.040 allow a financially dependent spouse to request interim spousal support during the divorce; temporary child support follows the NRS 125B.070 guidelines. Exclusive use of the family home — the right to remain in the marital residence while the divorce proceeds, with the other spouse required to vacate — requires a showing that shared occupancy creates practical difficulties or conflict. Clark County Family Court schedules temporary order hearings typically within 30 to 60 days of the motion filing, with emergency hearings available on shorter notice when children’s safety or immediate financial harm is at stake. Temporary orders remain in effect until superseded by a subsequent court order or the final decree. Because temporary orders often set the tone and status quo for the entire proceeding, the quality of the initial motion papers and hearing presentation significantly affects the final outcome. Hauser Family Law prepares comprehensive temporary order motions backed by financial documentation that establishes the client’s position from day one of the Nevada divorce case.