Legal Definitions - standing order

A standing order is a legal directive or instruction issued by a court or an administrative body that remains in effect indefinitely or until it is specifically modified, superseded, or revoked. Unlike a temporary order that addresses a specific, immediate issue, a standing order establishes a continuing rule, procedure, or obligation that applies over an extended period or to a class of cases.

• Example 1: Child Support Payments

  After a divorce, a court issues an order requiring one parent to pay a specific amount of child support to the other parent on a monthly basis. This is a standing order because it establishes an ongoing financial obligation that continues until the child reaches adulthood, or until a court modifies the amount due to a significant change in circumstances (like a job loss or a substantial increase in income for one parent). It doesn't need to be reissued each month; it remains in force automatically.

• Example 2: Environmental Compliance Directive

  An environmental protection agency issues a standing order to a manufacturing plant, requiring it to continuously monitor and report its wastewater discharge levels to ensure compliance with pollution standards. This order is not for a one-time event but mandates ongoing behavior and reporting. The plant must adhere to this directive indefinitely, or until the agency issues a new order or revokes the existing one, demonstrating its continuous nature.

• Example 3: Courtroom Decorum Rules

  A judge might issue a standing order for all cases heard in their courtroom, dictating specific rules of conduct, such as prohibiting cell phone use, requiring all parties to stand when the judge enters or exits, or setting deadlines for submitting certain types of motions. These rules apply to every case and every participant in that courtroom without needing to be re-stated for each individual hearing, serving as a permanent procedural guideline for that particular judicial setting.