TRO

Law & Legal abbreviation · Litigation

TRO stands for Temporary restraining order, a litigation abbreviation.

Emergency court order that preserves the status quo for a short time, sometimes before the other side can be heard, to prevent immediate and irreparable harm. It typically bridges the gap until the court can hold a hearing on a preliminary injunction.

Example: The judge granted a TRO barring the former employee from contacting the company's clients until next Friday's hearing.

Usage notes

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(b), a TRO issued without notice expires after no more than 14 days unless extended for good cause, and the applicant must show specific facts of immediate harm and explain its efforts to give notice. Courts weigh the same four factors as for preliminary injunctions. In family courts, "restraining order" usually means a protective order against abuse, governed by separate statutes.

Related abbreviations

More litigation abbreviations

• AAA – American Arbitration Association
• ADR – Alternative dispute resolution
• AEO – Attorneys' eyes only
• Aff. – Affidavit
• AOS – Affidavit of service
• Br. – Brief
• CMC – Case management conference
• COA – Cause of action
• Compl. – Complaint
• CPLR – Civil Practice Law and Rules
• Decl. – Declaration
• Def. – Defendant

See all 71 litigation abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.