Temporary Restraining Order

In our state, both parties in a divorce are expected to follow some basic rules of etiquette/decorum. Unfortunately, in many cases one, or both party members will behave in undignified ways. Thus, various counties in this state have passed special legislation to automatically trigger a temporary restraining order on both parties in order to attempt to prevent either party from behaving poorly. Such an automatic restraining order was triggered for both my spouse and myself when my spouse filed for divorce.

Note: These have been modified to give the basic idea without, hopefully, exposing the state or county in which this filing has taken place.

This restraining order includes the following rules:

1. Do not involve the children, in any way, to any discussions about the divorce. Do not talk negatively, in any way, about your spouse to the children. Do not involve your children. Be an adult and keep this between you and your spouse, don’t attempt to leverage your children as a weapon against your spouse.

2. Outside of situations involving the safety of the children, do not, under any other circumstance, change the living/education/home status of any of the children. The children and their life takes a priority over the differences between you and your spouse. Think of the children first.

3. Don’t modify your insurance in any way for any reason, particularly for the children. Think of the children first.

4. Don’t do anything with the finances that falls outside of normal day-to-day behavior. Do not sell any property, transfer funds, pay off loans, restrict access to accounts, tax records, invesments. Nothing more. Don’t try to financially ruin your spouse. Don’t be malicious.

5. From here on out everyone is responsible for future debts unrelated to any prior debts incurred by both parties or the actions of either or both parties.