What ex parte means
Ex parte refers to a request made to the court by one side without the other side present. Because it bypasses the usual chance for both parties to be heard, it is generally reserved for genuine emergencies, such as an immediate risk to a child's safety. Courts treat these requests cautiously and often set only temporary relief until a full hearing can happen.
The bar is high, and it is a documentation bar: a judge asked to act without hearing the other side wants strong, specific, and recent facts. Vague fears are rarely enough. Dated, concrete documentation of what happened and when is what supports an emergency request and what a court will look for.
Example: seeking emergency relief after a specific incident is far more persuasive when you can point to a timestamped entry describing exactly what occurred, rather than a general statement that things have been getting worse.
When and how ex parte relief is available varies significantly by jurisdiction, and these situations move fast, so involve an attorney as early as you can.