Legal Definitions - status quo

The term status quo refers to the existing state of affairs or the current condition. In legal contexts, it often describes the situation as it stands before a dispute arises or before a court makes a final decision, and it may be ordered to be maintained temporarily.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a neighborhood where residents have always had unrestricted access to a community park. If a new property owner tries to fence off a portion of the park, other residents might seek a legal injunction to preserve the status quo. This means they want the court to ensure that the park remains open and accessible to everyone, just as it was before the new owner's actions.

• Consider a business partnership where two individuals have been sharing profits equally for years. If one partner suddenly decides to change the profit-sharing agreement without the other's consent, the second partner might argue in court that the original, equal profit-sharing arrangement represents the status quo that should be upheld until a new agreement is formally reached or a judge decides otherwise.

• In a divorce case involving children, if one parent attempts to move the children to a different state during the legal proceedings, a judge might issue an order to maintain the status quo. This would mean the children must continue living in their current home and attending their current school, preventing any significant changes to their living situation until a final custody decision is made by the court.