Rule 5.18.Injunctive relief and reservation of jurisdiction

Division 1. Family Rules · Chapter 2. Parties and Joinder of Parties · Article 1. Parties to Proceedings · Adopted 2013 · no amendments on record · Last verified September 10, 2026

In one sentenceRule 5.18 lets the family court grant injunctive relief involving non-parties when a party requests a court order, and reserve jurisdiction over an issue it cannot resolve in the family case.

Full Text of Rule 5.18

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) Injunctive relief

When a party in a family law case applies for a court order under rule 5.92, the court may grant injunctive or other relief against or for the following persons to protect the rights of either or both parties:

(1) A person who has or claims an interest in the case;

(2) A person who would be a necessary party to a complete disposition of the issues in the case, but is not permitted to be a party under rule 5.16; or

(3) A person who is acting as a trustee, agent, custodian, or similar fiduciary with respect to any property subject to disposition by the court in the proceeding, or other matter subject to the jurisdiction of the court in the proceeding.

(b) Reservation of jurisdiction

If the court is unable to resolve the issue in the proceeding under the Family Code, the court may reserve jurisdiction over the particular issue until such time as the rights of such person and the parties to the proceeding under the Family Code have been determined in a separate action or proceeding.

End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 5.17 keeps foreign claims out; this rule makes sure that limit does not leave the court powerless when someone outside the case is holding the property or affecting the rights at issue. When a party applies for an order under rule 5.92, the court may grant injunctive or other relief for or against three kinds of people: someone who has or claims an interest in the case; someone who would be a necessary party to a complete disposition but is not permitted to be one under rule 5.16; and someone acting as a trustee, agent, custodian, or similar fiduciary over property or another matter within the court’s jurisdiction in the proceeding.

Subdivision (b) handles what the court cannot reach. If an issue cannot be resolved in the Family Code proceeding, the court may reserve jurisdiction over it until the rights of that person and of the parties are determined in a separate action — the issue is parked rather than lost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the family court order a non-party to do something?

It can grant injunctive or other relief against a person who has or claims an interest in the case, who would be a necessary party but cannot be one under rule 5.16, or who holds property as a trustee, agent, custodian, or similar fiduciary. The request is made under rule 5.92.

What does reserving jurisdiction accomplish?

It keeps the issue alive. Where the court cannot resolve a question inside the Family Code proceeding, it may hold jurisdiction over that question until the separate action determining those rights is decided.

Amendment History

Rule 5.18 adopted effective January 1, 2013.

Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California. Last verified September 10, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: injunctive relief family law third partyreservation of jurisdiction family courtrestraining property held by trustee divorce