A STAY is a pause in a legal process. It is an order from a court or other authority that temporarily halts a particular legal proceeding. A STAY can be issued for a variety of reasons, such as to allow a party to prepare for a hearing or to prevent a party from taking action that would interfere with the proceedings. In some cases, a STAY may be used to protect a party from potential harm or to preserve the status quo until a decision can be made.