A legal “motion” is when one person asks the court to take action on a matter. An emergency motion for parental allocation is a request to change a parenting plan immediately, often to grant one parent sole allocation. Emergency parental responsibilities are often granted on a temporary basis until the court can issue a more permanent plan.
With most motions, the issuing party must provide “notice” to the other side. For example, the spouse filing for divorce must notify the other. Emergency motions still require notice be sent to the other parent, but the process is often simpler. Instead of sending a formal letter of the motion, the issuing parent can call or send an email.
Another factor to consider is that emergency motions can be filed on an ex-parte basis, meaning the courts do not have to include the other parent in the discussion. This is common in cases of abuse, child endangerment, or abductions, where the court is acting quickly to protect the safety of a child. The parent who is filed against may be able to make their case in a court hearing down the line, but emergency parental responsibilities can be allocated to the other parent without them being present.