Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts42. Interim orders
(1) On an application to the Court for an order for the adoption of a child, the Court, having received the Minister's report referred to in section 41, may postpone the determination of the application and make an interim order for the custody of the child in favour of the applicant or applicants for the order for adoption who are thereby entitled to the care and custody of the child during the period the interim order remains in force.
(2) An interim order may be subject to such terms and conditions relating to the maintenance, education and welfare of the child as the Court thinks fit.
(3) Subject to this section, an interim order remains in force for such period, not exceeding one year, as the Court specifies in the order and may be extended for such further periods, if any, as the Court from time to time orders, but shall not be continuously in force for periods the aggregate of which is more than 2 years.
(4) An interim order ceases to have effect upon the making of an order for the adoption of the child, whether made in the Territory or in a State or another Territory of the Commonwealth.
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (3), the Court may, at any time, make an order discharging an interim order and make such order, subject to terms and conditions, for the care and custody and guardianship of the child as it thinks fit.