Unfortunately, it can often take a long time to finalize a contested divorce in Georgia. Often, there are issues that need to be addressed sooner rather than later and, in those cases, a temporary hearing is held while the divorce action is pending. Issues addressed at a temporary hearing may be custody, visitation, child support, who will live in the marital home and who will pay bills while the divorce action is pending. The temporary order issued after the temporary hearing will direct the parties how to address these issues.
It is important to remember that a temporary hearing is, by it’s very name, temporary. The order issued after a temporary hearing will be a temporary order that will last only until a new temporary order addressing the same issues, or a final order in the divorce action. Though the judge may consider the temporary order and how it has been working in issuing his/her final order in the case, all issues may be re-litigated at a final hearing.