Temporary legal decision making is an interim order assigning decision making authority while the dissolution or modification case is pending before final judgment. Like all temporary orders it is designed to maintain the status quo and protect the child during the pendency, not to predict or predetermine the final outcome.

Temporary legal decision making orders are based on limited information available at the time. The court can and does revisit them at the final hearing. A trial court is not bound by its temporary orders and may revisit them entirely at the final hearing.

Under the Alec and Lydia Act when domestic violence is alleged at a temporary orders hearing the court must make specific written findings on the evidence of domestic violence even at the temporary stage. This is a significant change from prior law.