Interim Measures & Temporary Restraining Order: Immediate Protection When Time Is Pressing

Q: What is the temporary restraining order and how quickly is it issued?

The temporary restraining order is heard within one to two business days from the filing of the application for interim measures. Through it, the situation is regulated immediately, e.g. exercise of custody or prohibition of a change of residence. It is enforced immediately, without preliminary procedure, without an enforceable copy and without service on the opposing party, while its breach attracts the penalties for disobedience.

Q: What documents and evidence do I need to file an application?

A file is required that documents the right and the urgency. For real property: titles, topographical plans, land registry. For family disputes: certificates, income proof, medical certificates. For commercial disputes: contracts, invoices, extra-judicial notices. For digital infringements: screenshots, URLs and technical reports. The completeness of the file largely determines the outcome.

Q: What chances of success does an application for interim measures have?

The chances are determined by the urgency, the plausibility of the right and the documentation. When these are present, the outcome is generally favourable. The decision applies provisionally and does not prejudge the main case. Only interim measures of possession are subject to appeal within ten days, while the rest can be revoked under certain conditions.

In legal disputes, justice delayed is often justice denied. When there is an urgent case or imminent risk to your interests, Interim Measures are the only instrument for immediate provisional protection.

At ZIAMPARAS & ASSOCIATES, we specialise in crisis management, offering speed and strategic precision.

Why Our Intervention Makes the Difference

The success of an application for interim measures depends on the lawyer’s ability to convince the Court of the urgency of the situation within minimal time.

Legal & Technical Specialisation: As lawyers with a background in Information Technology (Engineering), we excel in interim measures concerning technical matters, such as the blocking of digital accounts (Meta/X), technical failures in real property or electricity theft.
24-Hour Readiness: We understand that risk does not wait. We prepare the pleading and the application for a temporary restraining order with maximum speed.
Strategic Approach: We do not merely seek a decision; we seek to substantively safeguard your interests until the final hearing of the case.

When Do You Need Interim Measures?

Protection of Real Property: Suspension of construction works, protection of possession, claims over real property.
Digital Protection: Immediate cessation of online infringements of personality rights (Social Media) or restoration of professional accounts.
Commercial Disputes: Freezing of bank accounts, conservatory attachment of a debtor’s assets.
Family Law: Urgent matters of custody or relocation of a spouse.

“In interim measures, the battle is decided at the Temporary Restraining Order stage. It is the moment when the Court decides whether to protect you within a few hours. We ensure that your application is incontestable.”

Act Now

Do not let time work against you. Delay can render the final vindication impossible.

In more detail:

Interim measures constitute a provisional regulation for the granting of judicial protection, heard through an expedited procedure before the competent courts. Representation before the court is mandatory through a lawyer. The decision on interim measures and the temporary restraining order may, under certain conditions, be revoked (see article Revocation of Decision on Interim Measures). The decision on interim measures applies provisionally and does not affect the main case, although it is often indicative of how the case will proceed under the regular procedure. Indeed, the judge in the decision sets a specific deadline within which the main lawsuit may be filed.

Examples of Interim Measures

Alimony – custody – visitation rights of children, relocation
Restraining order at a specific distance
Possession or detention of movable or immovable property
Registration or removal of a prenotation of mortgage
Conservatory attachment
Suspension of enforcement, etc.

(see corresponding articles at the end of the page).

Temporary Restraining Order

Following a relevant request for a temporary restraining order included in the application for interim measures, a hearing on the temporary restraining order takes place immediately after the filing of the said application, where the judge assesses whether there is a need to grant a temporary restraining order until the application is heard by the court. In this manner, immediate legal regulation of the existing situation is achieved. Specifically, within just two (2) days from the filing of the relevant application, the applicant may exercise the custody of the minor child, or evict a person from his property, prohibit the change of place of residence of his children, and so on.

If the request for the granting of a temporary restraining order is accepted, the relevant application for interim measures is scheduled for hearing within thirty days. Adjournment of the hearing is not permitted; otherwise, the temporary restraining order automatically ceases to have effect, unless extended by the court hearing the application. The temporary restraining order is enforced immediately, that is, without observance of preliminary procedure, without the issuance of an enforceable copy, without service of a copy on the opposing party, without prior service of a writ of payment, and without the lapse of any deadline. If a party has been notified of the temporary restraining order and breaches it, that party is subject to the penalties for disobedience.

Counter-application

If the application for interim measures is heard before the Single-Member Court of First Instance or the Magistrate’s Court, a counter-application for interim measures cannot be brought orally.

Plausibility of the Claims

In cases concerning interim measures, the plausibility of the parties’ claims suffices.

Interim Measures of Possession

For an application for interim measures of possession to be properly framed, it must include: a) an accurate description of the disputed movable or immovable property, b) the particular acts of the applicant of the possession, from which the exercise of physical control over the property and the realisation of the applicant’s intent to control the property as owner are derived, and c) whether the opposing party in the application performed, at a specific time, acts of disturbance of possession and what specifically those acts were. Interim measures of possession are the only interim measures subject to appeal within 10 days from the service of the decision.

See also article Revocation of Decision on Interim Measures
See also article Interim Measures for Real Property
See also article Interim Measures of Possession
See also article Interim Measures in Family Disputes
See also article Interim Measures Harassment – Fake Instagram/Facebook Accounts
See also article Interim Measures against Facebook/Twitter/Instagram
See also article on Interim Measures Relocation of Family Home
See also article on Interim Measures Joint Custody of Child
See also article on Interim Measures Custody and Child Abduction
See also article on Interim Measures Change of City of Minor Children

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON INTERIM MEASURES – LAWYER

1. When do I need interim measures and what protection do they offer?

Interim measures are the appropriate instrument when there is an urgent case or imminent risk that does not allow waiting for the regular procedure. They provide provisional judicial protection until the final decision on the case and are typically used in matters of child custody and alimony, spousal relocation, protection of possession over real property, conservatory attachment of a debtor’s assets, registration or removal of a prenotation of mortgage, suspension of enforcement, as well as the cessation of online infringements of personality rights.

A significant advantage is the plausibility of the claims — full proof is not required; it suffices that the judge finds the application well-founded and the existence of an urgent case plausible.

2. What is the temporary restraining order and how quickly is it issued?

The temporary restraining order is the most immediate protective tool. It is heard within one to two business days from the filing of the application for interim measures, and the judge decides whether the situation needs to be provisionally regulated until the main hearing. In this way, the applicant can immediately exercise custody of the minor child, evict a person from his property, or prohibit a change in the children’s place of residence.

The temporary restraining order is enforced immediately, without preliminary procedure, without an enforceable copy and without service on the opposing party. Anyone who is aware of its existence and breaches it is subject to the penalties for disobedience.

3. How quickly is the application heard and decided?

The hearing on the temporary restraining order takes place almost immediately after filing. When a temporary restraining order is granted, the application for interim measures is scheduled for hearing within thirty days, and adjournment is not permitted; otherwise, the temporary restraining order automatically ceases to have effect, unless extended by the court.

The final decision on the application for interim measures is generally issued within a few weeks to a few months, depending on the court’s caseload. The decision sets a deadline within which the applicant must file the main lawsuit, so as not to lose the benefits of the protection.

4. What documents and evidence do I need to file an application?

A file is required that documents both the right and the urgency. In real property cases, title deeds, topographical plans, land registry extracts and proof of physical control are needed. In family disputes, family status certificates, proof of income, medical certificates and witness statements are required. In commercial disputes, contracts, invoices, extra-judicial notices and bank statements are required.

For digital infringements, screenshots, URLs, account details and technical reports are necessary. The quality and completeness of the file largely determine the outcome, since the time the court has to study the case is limited.

5. What chances of success does an application for interim measures have?

The chances are determined by three key factors: the existence of an urgent case or imminent risk, the plausibility of the substantive right, and the documentation of the file. When all three are present, the outcome is generally favourable, particularly at the temporary restraining order stage where the decision is faster.

However, the decision applies provisionally and does not prejudge the main case, although it often serves as an indication of how the regular procedure will proceed. It should be noted that only interim measures of possession are subject to appeal, within ten days from the service of the decision, while the rest can only be revoked under certain conditions.

6. What is the lawyer’s role in interim measures?

Representation by a lawyer is mandatory. The lawyer assesses whether the case meets the conditions of urgency, drafts the application with precision as to the facts and the requests, prepares the request for a temporary restraining order, and organises the evidentiary file in order to convince the court within minimal time. The lawyer also attends the hearing, rebuts the opposing party’s claims and ensures the timely filing of the main lawsuit.

The Law Firm ZIAMPARAS D. & Associates handles interim measures cases in civil, family, commercial and digital disputes, with emphasis on the speed of preparation and the strategic safeguarding of the client’s interests.