interim order

Interim orders are provisional or temporary orders by judges or administrative agencies, typically while a court decision is pending. Interim orders are used as a temporary ruling, often requiring a type of action by parties, while awaiting a hearing, trial, final judgment, or other court decision. As the name describes, this order is only temporary and will change as the case progresses (possibly into a permanent injunction or a cancellation of the order).

Interim orders are usually sought by one of the parties in the legal proceeding through a motion. The judge presiding over the case will then review the motion and hear from both parties before determining whether to grant the interim order or not. In emergency situations, the judge may grant an ex parte interim order without hearing from the nonmoving party.

Interim orders are typically used to maintain the status quo pending the final decision of the case. For example, an interim order that asks parties to continue or stop doing an act until the final decision in the case is reached. Temporary injunctions are the most common types of interim orders. For example, a judge can grant a temporary restraining order during initial legal proceedings, effectively preventing the restrained party from coming in contact with the affected party while the court proceedings take place. This is a type of interim order that asks a party to stop an action while the case proceeds and may either become permanent or end upon the case’s conclusion. 

[Last reviewed in November of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]

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