Why Hire a Divorce Lawyer?
Divorce can be an emotional and complicated experience. You and your spouse
face significant changes as you make various decisions that will affect
your future. Issues that must be resolved include those involving child
custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, and property/asset
or debt division. Settling these matters can be contentious, so it is
important to have a
family law attorney guide you through the process. Even if you and your spouse or partner
agree on all or most of the issues, having quality legal counsel can ensure
that your rights are protected and that the resolutions are fair and equitable
for both parties. It can also ensure that the required documents are prepared
with the detail and accuracy you need.
What is Required to File for Divorce in Oregon?
Divorce, also called a dissolution, legally ends a marriage or registered
domestic partnership. To file for divorce, you or your spouse/partner
must submit a petition to a court in the county where you or your spouse/partner
live. In many cases, you or your spouse/partner must have been an Oregon
resident for at least 6 months before filing.
Because Oregon is a no-fault divorce state, you do not have to have a specific
reason for ending your marriage or domestic partnership. You can state
on your forms that you are seeking a dissolution because of irreconcilable
differences. Irreconcilable differences means that the marriage or partnership
has broken down, and reconciliation is not possible.
How Long Does Divorce Take in Oregon?
Generally, it takes a few months to a year to dissolve a marriage or domestic
partnership. The length of time for yours will depend on several factors.
Whether you and your spouse/partner agree on the terms of your dissolution
or a judge decides your case, once everything is settled, a judge will
sign a judgment of dissolution finalizing your divorce.
The document contains final orders on:
- Custody,
- Parenting time,
- Child support,
- Asset and debt division, and
- Spousal support.
The judgment of dissolution is also the form officially stating that your
marriage or partnership is ended.
Our divorce attorney in Bend, Oregon, can provide advice and counsel through
all stages of your dissolution. We can review your situation to ensure
that you meet residency requirements and help settle critical issues.
Our team is prepared to protect your best interests.
What’s the Difference Between Divorce and Legal Separation?
Divorce and legal separation are similar in that matters such as property
division, spousal support, and child custody are decided. The main difference
between the two is that a divorce legally ends a marriage, whereas a legal
separation does not.
If you and your spouse get a legal separation, you are still married. You
cannot remarry if you are legally separated. Later, you can change your
legal separation to a divorce.
