Interim orders: a court order for now
An interim order is a temporary court order used while the family case is still continuing. It can give everyone rules to follow until the issue is settled, tried, changed or replaced by another order.
Interim does not mean unimportant
It may be temporary, but it is still a court order and must be followed unless it is changed, suspended or replaced.
Why would a judge make an interim order?
A family case can take time. Children still need schedules, bills still need to be paid and people may need clear rules while the larger dispute continues. Provincial Court Family Rules allow interim orders at a Family Management Conference to address needs until the family-law matters are resolved.
Parenting
A temporary parenting schedule, parenting time, contact or other parenting arrangement while the larger case continues.
Support
Temporary child or spousal support while the court waits for more evidence or a later hearing.
Case management
Directions about documents, disclosure, service, evidence or what must happen before the next court date.
Urgent temporary relief
If something cannot reasonably wait, the court may deal with a focused issue before the whole case is ready for trial.
What can an interim hearing look like?
Often it is simply the judge, the two parties and any lawyers. The judge hears what each side is asking for and considers the evidence that is allowed for that hearing. The exact procedure depends on what kind of application is being heard.
If I have a lawyer, do they talk for me?
Usually, yes. Your lawyer presents the legal argument, refers the judge to the documents and responds to the other side. If you are required to testify, you answer questions yourself.
What does the judge do at the end?
The judge may make an interim order immediately, reserve the decision, make only part of the requested order, or give directions for what must happen next. Once made, the order applies until it expires, is changed, is replaced by another order, or the issue is finally resolved.
Interim is not the same as final
An interim order is meant to manage the situation while the case continues. A final order is the court's final decision on an issue at that stage of the case, often after agreement or trial. Some final family orders can still later be changed if the law allows and circumstances justify it.