| If you've been served a Summons and a Petition for | | | | order, however, is typically filed as a way to determine |
| Divorce, you are being called by your wife to court for | | | | temporary child custody and support, living |
| divorce proceedings. Whether you knew it was | | | | arrangement, and other issues that should be |
| coming or it was unexpected, you need to know | | | | addressed until the divorce is made final in court. You |
| where to go from here if you plan on | | | | may then file paperwork accordingly if you want to |
| self-representation in court. Maybe you were planning | | | | contest with issues addressed on the motion. |
| on filing first but she beat you to it—even so, you can | | | | Once you have read through the divorce summons |
| still work with this in order to have it play in your | | | | and are familiar with what the case entails, you now |
| advantage. | | | | have some decisions to make. You can start |
| First, read through the paperwork thoroughly so that | | | | preparing paperwork for the Ex Parte Restraining |
| you understand exactly what she wants. Make note | | | | Order court date, and you can also start addressing |
| of any orders or motions for temporary orders. If | | | | the motion for a temporary order, in which a hearing is |
| you receive an Ex Parte Restraining Order with your | | | | also typically established to discuss. Be sure to have |
| petition for divorce, it is important that you follow this | | | | information and proof to back up anything you state in |
| specifically until you are able to be heard in front of a | | | | your court paperwork, and keep your emotions and |
| judge—this is typically an emergency order and | | | | feeelings against your wife in check and out of the |
| should not be taken lightly. A motion for a temporary | | | | courtroom. |