Divorce in Oregon

What are the grounds for divorce in Oregon?
Oregon is a purely “no-fault” divorce state, meaning that you can’t allege that your spouse’s wrongdoing was the cause of the divorce. Instead, most divorces are based on the grounds that the parties have irreconcilable differences that have led to the breakdown of the marriage. However, fault may be considered by the court as a factor in dividing property or awarding alimony.

What is the residency requirement for divorce in Oregon?
At least one spouse must be a resident of Oregon for six months or 180 days before filing for divorce.

How is property divided at divorce in Oregon?
Oregon is an equitable division state. In an equitable division state, each spouse owns the income he or she earns during the marriage, and also has the right to manage any property that’s in his or her name alone. But at divorce, whose name is on what property isn’t the only deciding factor. Instead, the judge will divide marital property in a way that the judge considers fair, but won’t necessarily be exactly equal.

What are the rules about child custody in Oregon?
Like all states, Oregon courts begin with a presumption that it’s best for a child to have frequent and continuing contact with both parents after a divorce. If possible, judges want to support joint custody arrangements. However, the exact nature of the time-share will be determined by the children’s best interests.

What are the rules about child support in Oregon?
Like all states, Oregon requires both parents to support their children, even after a divorce. The amount of child support depends primarily on each parent’s income and other resources, and how much time each parent spends with the children. In addition, sometimes the courts will “impute” income to a parent who has the capacity to earn more than he or she actually is earning.

Does Oregon have resources for do-it-yourself divorce?
Yes. You can usually get fill-in-the-blank forms at your local courthouse or the local law library. And you can go to this online resource for Oregon, where you’ll find extensive information about do-it-yourself divorce, along with court forms (in some states).

If questions still remain, talk to an attorney in your area specializing in divorce law.