Texas Legal Glossary · Family Law

Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)

Written and reviewed by Shane M. Boasberg, founder of SMB Law, PC · Licensed in Texas since 2003 · Updated October 2026

Definition: A temporary restraining order in a Texas divorce is a short-term court order under Family Code § 6.501, often granted without notice to the other spouse, that bars conduct such as transferring property, harassment, or disrupting the children until a temporary orders hearing.

Also called: TRO, ex parte restraining order, standing order

What a temporary restraining order means in Texas

A temporary restraining order, or TRO, is an emergency order that preserves the status quo at the start of a divorce or custody case. Texas Family Code § 6.501 authorizes a court to issue a TRO ex parte, meaning without notice to the other spouse or a hearing, restraining a party from specific acts. The list includes threatening or harassing communication, destroying or hiding property, withdrawing funds beyond ordinary living expenses, changing insurance beneficiaries, and removing a child from the court’s jurisdiction. Section 105.001(b) provides a parallel ex parte power in suits involving children.

A TRO is not a protective order. A protective order under Family Code Title 4 requires a finding of family violence and can last two years or longer. A TRO requires no finding of wrongdoing and keeps assets and children in place for a matter of days.

How it works in practice

Under § 6.503 and Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 680, a TRO expires in 14 days unless extended once for another 14 days or by agreement. The court sets a hearing on temporary orders within that window. At the hearing the TRO either becomes a temporary injunction that lasts through the case or is dissolved. No bond is required for a TRO in a family case.

In Travis County, most divorces never need a separate TRO because the Travis County Standing Order applies automatically to every divorce and SAPCR filed there. The standing order, attached to each petition, prohibits both parties from disrupting the children, hiding or wasting property, harassing each other, and canceling insurance from the moment of filing. A separate TRO is sought when a spouse needs relief beyond the standing order, such as an order that a child not be removed from a particular school.

Why it matters in your case

The first days of a divorce are when money disappears and children get moved. A TRO or standing order freezes the board. Violating one is punishable by contempt and is strong evidence at the temporary orders hearing. Spouses who clear out a joint account the day after being served usually regret it in front of the associate judge two weeks later. Ordinary bills and living expenses continue; unusual transactions stop.

This entry explains Texas law in general terms and is not legal advice for any specific situation. Statutes and case law change; the date above reflects the last review.