Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)

An emergency court order that temporarily prohibits someone from doing something, issued quickly and lasting only until a full hearing can be held.

A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is a short-term emergency order from a court. It tells someone to stop doing something right away. A TRO is meant to prevent harm while the court has time to look at the full picture and decide what should happen next.

What makes a TRO different from other court orders is speed. A judge can grant a TRO without the other side being present or even knowing about it. Lawyers call this “ex parte,” which means “from one side only.” The court does this because sometimes the situation is so urgent that waiting could cause serious, lasting harm. In Minnesota, under Rule 65 of the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure, a TRO typically lasts 10 to 14 days.

After the TRO is in place, the court schedules a hearing where both sides can tell their story. At that hearing, the judge decides whether to issue a longer-term order called a temporary injunction, which stays in effect until the case is fully resolved. The TRO is just the first step: it buys time so the court can make a fair decision after hearing from everyone.

Why it matters: If you are facing an emergency where someone’s actions could cause immediate and serious harm, a TRO may be your fastest path to protection. It is also important to know that if someone files a TRO against you, it is temporary, and you will get a chance to be heard at the follow-up hearing.

Example: A former business partner begins contacting your clients and sharing your trade secrets with a competitor. You go to court and ask for a TRO to stop the former partner from contacting your clients or sharing confidential information. The judge grants it that same day. Two weeks later, both sides appear at a hearing, and the judge decides whether to extend the order.

Where this comes up

• Orders for Protection (OFP) in Minnesota
• Harassment Restraining Orders in Minnesota