EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER

(Texas District Court – Template)

[// GUIDANCE: Prepared pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 680–693 and Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 65.001–65.045. Confirm compliance with local rules (e.g., Harris County Local Rule 3.3), Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 21, 21a (service), and any standing emergency order of the presiding judge.]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Caption ..................................................................................................................... 1
2. Application and Statement Regarding Notice ....................................................... 2
3. Memorandum of Law .............................................................................................. 4
   3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 4
   3.2 Procedural Background ............................................................................ 4
   3.3 Legal Standard (Tex. R. Civ. P. 680–682) ................................................ 5
   3.4 Argument ................................................................................................... 6
   3.4.1 Immediate and Irreparable Injury ................................................. 6
   3.4.2 Probable Right to Relief ............................................................... 7
   3.4.3 Probable, Imminent, and Irreparable Harm Outweighing Injury .. 8
   3.4.4 Public Interest Considerations .................................................... 9
   3.5 Requested Relief, Bond, and Scheduling ............................................... 10
4. Attorney Certificate Under Rule 680 ................................................................. 11
5. [Proposed] Order .................................................................................................. 13
6. Certificate of Service (Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a) ......................................................... 15

(Page references will auto-update in final formatting)

1. CAPTION

text
CAUSE NO. [Cause Number]

IN THE [___] JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
[COUNTY NAME] COUNTY, TEXAS

[PLAINTIFF NAME], )
Plaintiff, )
v. ) EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR
) TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
[DEFENDANT NAME], )
Defendant. )

2. APPLICATION AND STATEMENT REGARDING NOTICE

TO THE HONORABLE COURT:

COMES NOW [Moving Party], Plaintiff in the above-captioned cause, and files this Ex Parte Application for Temporary Restraining Order pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 680–682, and would respectfully show:

1. Emergency Relief Requested. Plaintiff seeks a temporary restraining order preventing [Describe specific conduct to be restrained] pending a hearing on a temporary injunction.
2. Immediate and Irreparable Harm. Unless restrained, Defendant will [Describe imminent harm: e.g., misappropriate confidential information, terminate critical services, transfer unique property], causing immediate and irreparable injury for which there is no adequate remedy at law.
3. Notice. On [Date] at [Time], counsel for Plaintiff [provided notice to / attempted to contact / did not contact] Defendant’s counsel/Defendant via [telephone/email/fax/personal service]. Details are set forth in the Attorney Certificate required by Rule 680. [// GUIDANCE: If seeking to dispense with notice, explain with specificity why providing notice is impracticable or would defeat the purpose of the relief.]

This Application is supported by the Verified Petition, the affidavits/declarations of [Names], the attached Memorandum of Law, the Attorney Certificate under Rule 680, and the [Proposed] Order submitted concurrently.

Respectfully submitted this [MM/DD/YYYY].

text
[LAW FIRM NAME]

By: _____
[ATTORNEY NAME]
State Bar No. [Number]
[Address]
[Telephone] | [Email]
ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF

3. MEMORANDUM OF LAW

3.1 Introduction

[// GUIDANCE: Provide a summary of the factual background, relief sought, and the urgency necessitating ex parte relief.]

3.2 Procedural Background

1. Petition Filed: [Date]
2. Service Status: [Describe service or waiver]
3. Prior Orders or Agreements: [Identify existing injunctions, TROs, or contractual provisions]
4. Events Requiring Emergency Relief: [Chronological description of urgent facts]

3.3 Legal Standard (Tex. R. Civ. P. 680–682)

A temporary restraining order may be granted without notice if it clearly appears from specific facts shown by affidavit or verified petition that immediate and irreparable injury will result before notice can be served and a hearing held. Tex. R. Civ. P. 680. The applicant must demonstrate (1) a cause of action, (2) a probable right to the relief sought, and (3) a probable, imminent, and irreparable injury in the interim. See Butnaru v. Ford Motor Co., 84 S.W.3d 198, 204 (Tex. 2002). Rule 680 also requires the applicant’s attorney to certify efforts to provide notice and reasons supporting ex parte relief. Bond is mandatory unless excused by statute. Tex. R. Civ. P. 684.

3.4 Argument

3.4.1 Immediate and Irreparable Injury

[// GUIDANCE: Detail the imminent harm, citing sworn statements and exhibits. Explain why damages cannot compensate for the injury and why delay would be fatal.]

3.4.2 Probable Right to Relief

[// GUIDANCE: Analyze the underlying cause(s) of action (e.g., breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 134A.003, tortious interference). Highlight key evidence establishing a probable right.]

3.4.3 Probable, Imminent, and Irreparable Harm Outweighing Injury

[// GUIDANCE: Compare harms to both parties, demonstrating that the balance favors Plaintiff and that the relief preserves the status quo.]

3.4.4 Public Interest Considerations

[// GUIDANCE: Address any public interest factors (e.g., enforcement of valid contracts, protection of consumers, compliance with regulatory obligations).]

3.5 Requested Relief, Bond, and Scheduling

[// GUIDANCE: Specify the terms of the TRO, request setting a temporary injunction hearing within 14 days per Rule 680, and propose a bond amount or cite grounds for waiver under Rule 684 and applicable statutes.]

4. ATTORNEY CERTIFICATE UNDER RULE 680

I, [Counsel Name], counsel for [Moving Party], certify pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 680 that:

1. On [Date] at [Time], I provided notice of this Application to [Opposing Counsel/Party] via [method].
2. The response received was [describe response/no response].
3. If notice was not provided, I made the following diligent efforts: [Detail efforts]. Notice should be excused because [Explain why notice is impracticable or would cause irreparable harm, citing specific facts].
4. A hearing on the Application is requested for [Hearing Date] at [Time].

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on [MM/DD/YYYY] at [City, State].

text

[COUNSEL NAME]
State Bar No. [Number]

5. [PROPOSED] ORDER

text
CAUSE NO. [Cause Number]

IN THE [___] JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
[COUNTY NAME] COUNTY, TEXAS

[CAPTION SAME AS ABOVE]

[PROPOSED] TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AND ORDER SETTING HEARING

On this day, the Court considered Plaintiff’s Ex Parte Application for Temporary Restraining Order. Based on the verified pleadings, affidavits, and counsel’s certification, the Court FINDS that specific, immediate, and irreparable injury will result to Plaintiff before Defendant can be heard, and that the relief requested is necessary to preserve the status quo. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that:

1. The Application is GRANTED pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 680.
2. Defendant, and all persons acting in concert with Defendant, are immediately enjoined from:
   a. [Describe prohibited acts];
   b. [Describe additional restraints];
   c. [Include mandatory directives if applicable].
3. Defendant shall appear on [Date] at [Time] in the courtroom of the Honorable [Judge Name], [Courthouse Address], to show cause why a temporary injunction should not issue.
4. Plaintiff shall post a bond in the amount of $[Amount] pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 684 on or before [Date/Time].
5. Plaintiff shall serve this Order, the Application, and all supporting papers upon Defendant by [method] on or before [Date], and promptly file proof of service.
6. This Order shall remain in effect until [Expiration Date/Time], unless extended as permitted by Tex. R. Civ. P. 680 or by agreement of the parties.

SIGNED on __, 20.

Honorable [JUDGE NAME]
Presiding Judge

6. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE (Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a)

text
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on [Date], I served the foregoing EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER on the following counsel/parties:

[Service List: Name, Firm, Address, Email]

☐ Electronic Service via File & Serve Texas (Rule 21(f))
☐ E-Mail (Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a)
☐ Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested
☐ Overnight Delivery
☐ Personal Service by [Process Server]

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Date: [Date]

[NAME OF DECLARANT]

[// GUIDANCE: Attach supporting affidavits, exhibits, and any county-specific emergency motion cover sheets required by local rules.]