Can an urgent motion be brought entirely in writing without a court appearance?

In some circumstances, yes — the Family Law Rules allow certain motions, including some urgent ones, to be decided based entirely on written materials, without either party needing to physically or virtually appear in court, particularly where the issue is narrow, the supporting evidence is clear, and an in-person or remote hearing isn't strictly necessary to decide it fairly. This can allow relief to be obtained somewhat faster in genuinely straightforward or clear-cut urgent situations.

Whether a specific urgent motion can proceed this way depends on the nature of the request, the complexity of the issues, and the practice of the specific courthouse or judge involved — it isn't guaranteed for every urgent motion, and more complex or contested urgent matters are more likely to require an actual appearance so the judge can ask questions and assess the situation directly. Because the option to proceed in writing depends heavily on how the motion materials are prepared and presented, anyone hoping to use this route should get legal advice on whether their situation is a good fit and how to draft the materials to support it.