Oregon Divorce Laws: Residency, Waiting Period, Custody and Support
Oregon divorce rules: residency requirement, grounds, waiting period, filing fee, property division, alimony, custody, child support and uncontested divorce.
Quick answers for Oregon
- Residency requirement
- If the marriage took place in Oregon and the divorce or annulment is based on a ground such as lack of capacity, force or fraud, or a void marriage, either spouse only needs to live in or be domiciled in Oregon when the case is filed. ORS 107.075
- Waiting period
- Chapter 107 does not set a general mandatory waiting period before a divorce judgment. The marriage ends when the court signs the judgment of dissolution. ORS 107.115(2)
- Dividing property
- Oregon divides property in a way that is "just and proper in all the circumstances" (equitable distribution). Retirement plans and pensions count as property, and homemaker contributions count toward acquiring marital assets. ORS 107.105(1)(f)
- Filing fee
- The statewide circuit court filing fee for a first appearance in a dissolution of marriage, annulment or separation case is $301 for each party (2026 fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026). ORS 21.155(1); Oregon Judicial Department, 2026 Circuit Court Fee Schedule
- When child support ends
- In Oregon a person reaches majority at 18. A support order may also require either or both parents to support a "child attending school": an unmarried child who is 18 or older and under 21, is making satisfactory academic progress, and carries at least half of a full-time course load. ORS 107.108; ORS 109.621
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Filing for divorce
| Residency requirement | If the marriage took place in Oregon and the divorce or annulment is based on a ground such as lack of capacity, force or fraud, or a void marriage, either spouse only needs to live in or be domiciled in Oregon when the case is filed. Otherwise (including the usual irreconcilable differences divorce, or when the marriage took place elsewhere), at least one spouse must have lived in or been domiciled in Oregon continuously for six months before filing. For a legal separation, one spouse must live in Oregon when the case is filed. Source: ORS 107.075 |
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| Grounds for divorce | Oregon is a no-fault state. A divorce (dissolution) may be granted when irreconcilable differences have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage. Dissolution or annulment may also be based on lack of legal age or understanding, or consent obtained by force or fraud, unless the marriage was later ratified. Source: ORS 107.025; ORS 107.015 |
| Waiting period | Chapter 107 does not set a general mandatory waiting period before a divorce judgment. The marriage ends when the court signs the judgment of dissolution. In contested custody matters parties must attend a mediation orientation session before the court decides custody issues, which can affect timing. Source: ORS 107.115(2) |
| Filing fee | The statewide circuit court filing fee for a first appearance in a dissolution of marriage, annulment or separation case is $301 for each party (2026 fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026). A person who cannot afford the fee may apply for a fee deferral or waiver. Fee waiver and deferral information: https://www.courts.oregon.gov/Pages/fees.aspx |
| Uncontested or simplified divorce | Oregon has a summary dissolution procedure for couples who meet all conditions: Oregon residency and grounds are met; no children together (minor, adult in school, or born before the marriage) and neither spouse is pregnant; the marriage has lasted 10 years or less; neither spouse owns any interest in real estate; debts incurred during the marriage are $15,000 or less; total personal property (excluding debts against it) is under $30,000; the petitioner waives spousal support and most temporary orders; and there are no other pending domestic relations cases about the marriage. The Oregon Judicial Department also publishes divorce form packets for petitioners and respondents with and without children. Source: ORS 107.485; ORS 107.490 |
| Divorce forms | The Oregon Judicial Department offers free statewide divorce forms through its Forms Center (Family Law, Divorce category) and through OJD iForms on Guide & File, a free interactive interview for divorce, separation and custody cases, parenting plans, and changes to family judgments. Guide & File completes the forms for you; you can print them and file in person or by mail, or file online and pay the filing fee by credit or debit card. A fee waiver or deferral can be requested. Statewide forms are accepted in all Oregon circuit courts, and local courts may have additional forms. Divorce self-help page: https://www.courts.oregon.gov/programs/family/marriage/Pages/default.aspx |
Property and alimony
| Dividing property | Oregon divides property in a way that is "just and proper in all the circumstances" (equitable distribution). Retirement plans and pensions count as property, and homemaker contributions count toward acquiring marital assets. There is a rebuttable presumption that both spouses contributed equally to property acquired during the marriage, however it is titled. Property one spouse received during the marriage by gift, inheritance or similar transfer and kept separately the whole time is not subject to that presumption. Both spouses must fully disclose all assets. Source: ORS 107.105(1)(f) |
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| Alimony (spousal support) | Oregon calls alimony spousal support, and the court must name the type and make findings. There are three types: transitional support (to get education or training to re-enter or advance in the job market), compensatory support (when one spouse made a significant contribution to the other's education, training or earning capacity), and spousal maintenance (for a specified or indefinite period). Factors include the length of the marriage, ages and health, standard of living, relative income and earning capacity, job skills and work experience, financial needs and resources, tax consequences, and custodial and child support responsibilities. Unless the judgment says otherwise, support ends on the death of either party. There is no statutory formula. Source: ORS 107.105(1)(d) |
Children: custody and support
| Child custody | The court gives primary consideration to the best interests and welfare of the child, including emotional ties with family members, each party's interest in and attitude toward the child, the value of continuing an existing relationship, abuse of one parent by the other, a preference for a fit primary caregiver, and each parent's willingness to encourage the child's relationship with the other parent. No custody preference may be based solely on a parent's gender. If a parent committed abuse, there is a rebuttable presumption against giving that parent sole or joint custody. Joint custody can be ordered only if both parents agree to its terms. The custody factors in the statute do not set an age for the child's preference. Source: ORS 107.137; ORS 107.169(3) |
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| Emergency and temporary custody | A court generally may not issue a temporary custody or parenting time order without notice to the other side (ex parte). The exception: the court may issue an ex parte temporary custody or parenting time order if the requesting party appears in court with a sworn affidavit or declaration alleging the child is in immediate danger and the court finds the child is in immediate danger, meaning a present risk of physical harm, severe psychological damage, sex abuse, severe neglect or similar harm. Homelessness, illness or poverty alone is not enough. A party can also apply, by affidavit or declaration, for a temporary prejudgment status quo order that stops either parent from changing the child's residence or routine, hiding the child, or leaving the state with the child. The order must be served on the other party, who may request a hearing at any time; the court must try to hold the hearing within 14 days and must hold it within 21 days. Source: ORS 107.097 |
| Parenting class or mediation | Each circuit court may set up a parent education program about the impact of divorce or separation on children, and the court may order parties in divorce, separation, custody and parenting time cases to attend unless the court approves an exception. A certificate of completion must be filed before judgment, and providers may not turn away a person the court finds unable to pay. Separately, every judicial district must provide a mediation orientation session, and parties in cases where custody or parenting time is disputed must attend it before the court decides those issues (unless an exception applies); mediation must be available in those cases. Source: ORS 3.425; ORS 107.755 |
| Grandparents' rights | A grandparent (or other person, such as a stepparent or relative) who has a child-parent relationship or an ongoing personal relationship with a child may petition or move to intervene for custody, visitation or contact. The law presumes a legal parent acts in the child's best interest. For an ongoing personal relationship, the presumption must be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence before the court will grant visitation or contact; for a child-parent relationship, a preponderance of the evidence is required. Source: ORS 109.119 |
Child support
| Child support | Oregon's child support guidelines use the parents' combined adjusted income: the basic support amount comes from a scale based on combined income and the number of joint children, and each parent pays their percentage share of income (an income shares approach), limited by a self-support reserve. Child care and health coverage are added, and a parenting time credit may apply. The Oregon Department of Justice Child Support Program provides an online guidelines calculator that gives an estimate only. Calculator information: https://www.doj.state.or.us/child-support/calculators-laws/child-support-calculator/ |
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| How to apply for child support | The Oregon Child Support Program (Oregon Department of Justice, Division of Child Support) asks applicants to first set up an online account on its customer portal and then complete the application for services. The application can also be mailed to Oregon Child Support Program, PO Box 14680, Salem, OR 97309, or taken to a local child support office. There is a one-time $1 fee, which is deducted from the first money collected. |
| When child support ends | In Oregon a person reaches majority at 18. A support order may also require either or both parents to support a "child attending school": an unmarried child who is 18 or older and under 21, is making satisfactory academic progress, and carries at least half of a full-time course load. School includes high school, community college, a four-year college or university, vocational or technical training (including Job Corps), and high school equivalency programs such as GED or home schooling. A child attending school is a party to the support case and may apply for child support services. Age of majority (ORS 109.621, formerly 109.510): https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors109.html Source: ORS 107.108; ORS 109.621 |
| Changing a child support order | Either parent can ask the Child Support Program to review an order once at least 35 months have passed since it took effect, or earlier by showing a significant change of circumstances since support was last calculated (for example a change in physical custody, the child's needs, the number of children, or either parent's income). Requests are made with the program's Request for Review – Modification or Termination packet; if the parents disagree on the new amount, an administrative law judge decides. By statute, after three years (or a shorter cycle set by Department of Justice rule) the order must be brought into substantial compliance with the guidelines formula without proof of a change in circumstances. Either party can also file a motion with the court to modify support in a divorce judgment, with service on the other party and notice to the Division of Child Support when required. Statutes: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors025.html (ORS 25.287) and https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors107.html (ORS 107.135). |
| If child support isn't paid | Support is usually paid through income withholding. If support is not paid, the Oregon Child Support Program's actions may include taking federal or state tax refunds and other federal payments; filing a lien against property in Oregon; garnishing lottery winnings, insurance settlements, inheritances and bank accounts (unless support is already being withheld); suspending recreational, driver's and occupational licenses; passport denial; reporting parents who owe a certain amount to credit reporting agencies; and bringing a contempt of court action, in which a circuit court judge may impose a jail sentence. |
| State child support agency | Oregon's child support agency is the Oregon Child Support Program, run by the Oregon Department of Justice. It helps parents enroll for services, establishes orders and parentage, locates parents, modifies orders, handles medical support, support for students ages 18 to 21 and interstate cases, and collects and distributes payments. Enroll through the program's "Enroll for Child Support Services" page or contact a local office. Payments can be made by debit or credit card, check, money order or cashier's check, electronic check, cash or automatic withdrawal, including online through the Pay Now link. Online accounts let parents view case and payment status and message their case manager. Customer Service: 800-850-0228. |
| Official child support calculator | The Oregon Department of Justice Child Support Program's Child Support Calculator helps parents estimate their monthly child support obligation under the Oregon Child Support Guidelines, which are used in all child support cases. The calculator provides an estimate and is not a guarantee of the amount that will be ordered; the administrator, administrative law judge or court has the final authority to set the amount. Parenting time is factored in (a Parenting Time Calculator is available), and an Excel guidelines workbook is offered for expert users. |
Separation, annulment, records and marriage
| Legal separation | Yes. A judgment of separation may be granted for irreconcilable differences that have caused a temporary or unlimited breakdown of the marriage. The court sets the length of the separation in the judgment, may renew or extend it, and an unlimited separation can later be converted to a divorce. One spouse must live in Oregon when the case is filed. |
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| Annulment | A marriage is void if either party already had a living spouse, or if the parties are first cousins or closer relatives (except first cousins by adoption only). A marriage is voidable, and may be annulled, if a party lacked legal age or sufficient understanding to consent, or consent was obtained by force or fraud, unless the marriage was later ratified. |
| Changing your name after divorce | In a divorce, annulment or separation judgment, the court may change either spouse's name to a name the spouse held before the marriage. Source: ORS 107.105(1)(h) |
| Divorce records | Oregon Health Authority Vital Records issues divorce (and registered domestic partnership dissolution) certificates, but access is restricted for 50 years to eligible people 18 or older, such as the named parties, their parents, children, grandchildren, siblings, legal guardians, government agencies and authorized representatives. By mail or drop box, the $25 nonrefundable search fee includes the first certificate and each additional certificate costs $25; online, phone and in-person orders cost more because of vendor, expedite or identity fees (for example $47.50 total for the first certificate online). The state certificate does not contain everything in the decree; certified and uncertified copies of the divorce decree itself are available from the county circuit court that granted the divorce. Fee table: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/birthdeathcertificates/pages/vitalrecordsfees.aspx |
Marriage and name changes
| Getting a marriage license | Get a marriage license from a county clerk by filing a written application on the state form; it includes each applicant's Social Security number (kept confidential) and basic statistical information. The clerk may accept any reasonable proof of age. The license becomes effective three days after the applicants sign the application and is valid for 60 days after that; a judge may waive the three-day wait for good and sufficient cause. By statute the county clerk charges $25 for taking the affidavit, issuing the license and registering its return, plus a separate $25 fee that goes to the Domestic Violence Fund. The ceremony needs at least two witnesses. Clerk fee: ORS 205.320, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors205.html |
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| Minimum marriage age | Both parties must be at least 18. The statute, as amended in 2025 (Oregon Laws 2025, chapter 224), contains no exception allowing a minor to marry. Source: Or. Rev. Stat. § 106.010 |
| Legal name change | Apply to the probate court (or the circuit court, where it has that jurisdiction) of the county where you live. The court must grant the change unless it finds the change is not consistent with the public interest. A participant in the state Address Confidentiality Program may ask the court to seal the record. Source: Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 33.410, 33.420 |
Adoption, guardianship and paternity
| Adoption requirements | Any person may petition the circuit court to adopt. One petitioner, the child, a parent, or another consenting person must have lived in Oregon continuously for six months before the petition, and venue lies in the county with which the child has the most significant connection (or where the licensed adoption agency is located). Written consent is required from the child's parents (or the surviving parent), or a guardian or next of kin if there is no living parent, and from the child if 14 or older. A parent's consent may be dispensed with after a hearing if, for example, the parent willfully deserted or neglected without just cause to provide proper care and maintenance for the year before filing, or has served at least three years of a prison term of three years or more and adoption is in the child's best interest. A current home study approved by the Department of Human Services or a licensed adoption agency is required, and the department files a placement report with the court. |
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| Stepparent adoption | Stepparent adoptions use the same petition. The other parent's consent is required unless the court dispenses with it, for example for willful desertion or neglect to provide care and maintenance for the year before filing (the court may disregard incidental visits, communications and contributions). The Department of Human Services may waive the home study on request when one of the child's genetic or adoptive parents keeps parental rights, and must waive the placement report in that situation (except when there is reason to know the child is an Indian child). A grandparent served with the petition may ask the court for post-adoption visitation within 30 days. |
| Guardianship of a child | Any person interested in a minor's welfare may file a petition in a protective proceeding, generally in the county where the minor lives or is present. The court may appoint a guardian if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the minor needs a guardian, that the appointment is necessary to provide continuing care and supervision, and that the nominated person is qualified, suitable and willing. The order must be no more restrictive than reasonably necessary. The Department of Human Services may be appointed if the minor has no living parents and no suitable relative or other person has petitioned. |
| Guardianship of an adult | Any person interested in the welfare of an adult may petition for a guardian, a conservator (for finances), a temporary fiduciary, or another protective order instead of a fiduciary. The petition must describe less restrictive alternatives that were considered and why they are inadequate. A guardian may be appointed only on clear and convincing evidence that the adult is incapacitated (unable to receive and evaluate information or communicate decisions to the point of lacking capacity to meet essential health and safety needs) and that the appointment is necessary for continuing care and supervision. The order must be no more restrictive than reasonably necessary, and the court considers the court visitor's report and any medical or psychological report. |
| Establishing paternity | The birth parent and the alleged genetic parent may establish parentage by filing a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage form, signed before a notary or hospital staff witness, with the State Registrar of the Center for Health Statistics; once effective, it equals a court adjudication. A party may rescind by filing a notarized written rescission with the state registrar within the earlier of 60 days after the acknowledgment becomes effective or the first court hearing about the child (such as a support case). After that, it can be challenged in circuit court only for fraud, duress or material mistake of fact. Parentage can also be decided in court on a case brought by a parent, the alleged genetic parent, the child, a guardian, or the child support administrator, and the court must order genetic testing on a supported sworn request. |
| Emancipation of a minor | A minor at least 16 years old who lives within the court's jurisdiction may file a written application for emancipation in juvenile court. The court holds a preliminary hearing within about 10 days and a final hearing within about 60 days, and the parents get notice. The court may grant emancipation if it serves the minor's best interests, considering whether the parent consents, whether the minor lives away from home and is substantially self-supporting, and whether the minor is mature enough to manage their own affairs. Emancipation lets the minor contract, convey property, establish a residence, sue and be sued and make a will, and treats the minor as an adult under the criminal laws; it ends the parents' duty of support but does not change age limits for buying alcohol or the requirements for a marriage license. A filing fee applies. |
Where to get help in Oregon
Divorce & Family Law FAQ
How long do you have to live in Oregon to file for divorce?
If the marriage took place in Oregon and the divorce or annulment is based on a ground such as lack of capacity, force or fraud, or a void marriage, either spouse only needs to live in or be domiciled in Oregon when the case is filed. Otherwise (including the usual irreconcilable differences divorce, or when the marriage took place elsewhere), at least one spouse must have lived in or been domiciled in Oregon continuously for six months before filing. For a legal separation, one spouse must live in Oregon when the case is filed.
Is Oregon a no-fault divorce state?
Oregon is a no-fault state. A divorce (dissolution) may be granted when irreconcilable differences have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage. Dissolution or annulment may also be based on lack of legal age or understanding, or consent obtained by force or fraud, unless the marriage was later ratified.
Is there a waiting period for divorce in Oregon?
Chapter 107 does not set a general mandatory waiting period before a divorce judgment. The marriage ends when the court signs the judgment of dissolution.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Oregon?
The statewide circuit court filing fee for a first appearance in a dissolution of marriage, annulment or separation case is $301 for each party (2026 fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026). A person who cannot afford the fee may apply for a fee deferral or waiver.
How do you get an uncontested divorce in Oregon?
Oregon has a summary dissolution procedure for couples who meet all conditions: Oregon residency and grounds are met; no children together (minor, adult in school, or born before the marriage) and neither spouse is pregnant; the marriage has lasted 10 years or less; neither spouse owns any interest in real estate; debts incurred during the marriage are $15,000 or less; total personal property (excluding debts against it) is under $30,000; the petitioner waives spousal support and most temporary orders; and there are no other pending domestic relations cases about the marriage. The Oregon Judicial Department also publishes divorce form packets for petitioners and respondents with and without children.
Is Oregon a community property state?
Oregon divides property in a way that is "just and proper in all the circumstances" (equitable distribution). Retirement plans and pensions count as property, and homemaker contributions count toward acquiring marital assets. There is a rebuttable presumption that both spouses contributed equally to property acquired during the marriage, however it is titled. Property one spouse received during the marriage by gift, inheritance or similar transfer and kept separately the whole time is not subject to that presumption. Both spouses must fully disclose all assets.
How is alimony decided in Oregon?
Oregon calls alimony spousal support, and the court must name the type and make findings. There are three types: transitional support (to get education or training to re-enter or advance in the job market), compensatory support (when one spouse made a significant contribution to the other's education, training or earning capacity), and spousal maintenance (for a specified or indefinite period). Factors include the length of the marriage, ages and health, standard of living, relative income and earning capacity, job skills and work experience, financial needs and resources, tax consequences, and custodial and child support responsibilities. Unless the judgment says otherwise, support ends on the death of either party. There is no statutory formula.
How is child custody decided in Oregon?
The court gives primary consideration to the best interests and welfare of the child, including emotional ties with family members, each party's interest in and attitude toward the child, the value of continuing an existing relationship, abuse of one parent by the other, a preference for a fit primary caregiver, and each parent's willingness to encourage the child's relationship with the other parent. No custody preference may be based solely on a parent's gender. If a parent committed abuse, there is a rebuttable presumption against giving that parent sole or joint custody. Joint custody can be ordered only if both parents agree to its terms. The custody factors in the statute do not set an age for the child's preference.
How is child support calculated in Oregon?
Oregon's child support guidelines use the parents' combined adjusted income: the basic support amount comes from a scale based on combined income and the number of joint children, and each parent pays their percentage share of income (an income shares approach), limited by a self-support reserve. Child care and health coverage are added, and a parenting time credit may apply. The Oregon Department of Justice Child Support Program provides an online guidelines calculator that gives an estimate only.
Do you have to take a parenting class to divorce in Oregon?
Each circuit court may set up a parent education program about the impact of divorce or separation on children, and the court may order parties in divorce, separation, custody and parenting time cases to attend unless the court approves an exception. A certificate of completion must be filed before judgment, and providers may not turn away a person the court finds unable to pay. Separately, every judicial district must provide a mediation orientation session, and parties in cases where custody or parenting time is disputed must attend it before the court decides those issues (unless an exception applies); mediation must be available in those cases.
Can you get a legal separation in Oregon?
Yes. A judgment of separation may be granted for irreconcilable differences that have caused a temporary or unlimited breakdown of the marriage. The court sets the length of the separation in the judgment, may renew or extend it, and an unlimited separation can later be converted to a divorce. One spouse must live in Oregon when the case is filed.
What are the grounds for annulment in Oregon?
A marriage is void if either party already had a living spouse, or if the parties are first cousins or closer relatives (except first cousins by adoption only). A marriage is voidable, and may be annulled, if a party lacked legal age or sufficient understanding to consent, or consent was obtained by force or fraud, unless the marriage was later ratified.
Do grandparents have visitation rights in Oregon?
A grandparent (or other person, such as a stepparent or relative) who has a child-parent relationship or an ongoing personal relationship with a child may petition or move to intervene for custody, visitation or contact. The law presumes a legal parent acts in the child's best interest. For an ongoing personal relationship, the presumption must be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence before the court will grant visitation or contact; for a child-parent relationship, a preponderance of the evidence is required.
How do you change your name back after a divorce in Oregon?
In a divorce, annulment or separation judgment, the court may change either spouse's name to a name the spouse held before the marriage.
At what age does child support end in Oregon?
In Oregon a person reaches majority at 18. A support order may also require either or both parents to support a "child attending school": an unmarried child who is 18 or older and under 21, is making satisfactory academic progress, and carries at least half of a full-time course load. School includes high school, community college, a four-year college or university, vocational or technical training (including Job Corps), and high school equivalency programs such as GED or home schooling. A child attending school is a party to the support case and may apply for child support services.
How do I file for child support in Oregon?
The Oregon Child Support Program (Oregon Department of Justice, Division of Child Support) asks applicants to first set up an online account on its customer portal and then complete the application for services. The application can also be mailed to Oregon Child Support Program, PO Box 14680, Salem, OR 97309, or taken to a local child support office. There is a one-time $1 fee, which is deducted from the first money collected.
What happens if you don't pay child support in Oregon?
Support is usually paid through income withholding. If support is not paid, the Oregon Child Support Program's actions may include taking federal or state tax refunds and other federal payments; filing a lien against property in Oregon; garnishing lottery winnings, insurance settlements, inheritances and bank accounts (unless support is already being withheld); suspending recreational, driver's and occupational licenses; passport denial; reporting parents who owe a certain amount to credit reporting agencies; and bringing a contempt of court action, in which a circuit court judge may impose a jail sentence.
How do you modify child support in Oregon?
Either parent can ask the Child Support Program to review an order once at least 35 months have passed since it took effect, or earlier by showing a significant change of circumstances since support was last calculated (for example a change in physical custody, the child's needs, the number of children, or either parent's income). Requests are made with the program's Request for Review – Modification or Termination packet; if the parents disagree on the new amount, an administrative law judge decides. By statute, after three years (or a shorter cycle set by Department of Justice rule) the order must be brought into substantial compliance with the guidelines formula without proof of a change in circumstances. Either party can also file a motion with the court to modify support in a divorce judgment, with service on the other party and notice to the Division of Child Support when required.
How do you get emergency custody in Oregon?
A court generally may not issue a temporary custody or parenting time order without notice to the other side (ex parte). The exception: the court may issue an ex parte temporary custody or parenting time order if the requesting party appears in court with a sworn affidavit or declaration alleging the child is in immediate danger and the court finds the child is in immediate danger, meaning a present risk of physical harm, severe psychological damage, sex abuse, severe neglect or similar harm. Homelessness, illness or poverty alone is not enough. A party can also apply, by affidavit or declaration, for a temporary prejudgment status quo order that stops either parent from changing the child's residence or routine, hiding the child, or leaving the state with the child. The order must be served on the other party, who may request a hearing at any time; the court must try to hold the hearing within 14 days and must hold it within 21 days.
Are divorce records public in Oregon, and how do I get a copy?
Oregon Health Authority Vital Records issues divorce (and registered domestic partnership dissolution) certificates, but access is restricted for 50 years to eligible people 18 or older, such as the named parties, their parents, children, grandchildren, siblings, legal guardians, government agencies and authorized representatives. By mail or drop box, the $25 nonrefundable search fee includes the first certificate and each additional certificate costs $25; online, phone and in-person orders cost more because of vendor, expedite or identity fees (for example $47.50 total for the first certificate online). The state certificate does not contain everything in the decree; certified and uncertified copies of the divorce decree itself are available from the county circuit court that granted the divorce.
How do you get a marriage license in Oregon?
Get a marriage license from a county clerk by filing a written application on the state form; it includes each applicant's Social Security number (kept confidential) and basic statistical information. The clerk may accept any reasonable proof of age. The license becomes effective three days after the applicants sign the application and is valid for 60 days after that; a judge may waive the three-day wait for good and sufficient cause. By statute the county clerk charges $25 for taking the affidavit, issuing the license and registering its return, plus a separate $25 fee that goes to the Domestic Violence Fund. The ceremony needs at least two witnesses.
What is the legal age to get married in Oregon?
Both parties must be at least 18. The statute, as amended in 2025 (Oregon Laws 2025, chapter 224), contains no exception allowing a minor to marry.
What are the requirements to adopt a child in Oregon?
Any person may petition the circuit court to adopt. One petitioner, the child, a parent, or another consenting person must have lived in Oregon continuously for six months before the petition, and venue lies in the county with which the child has the most significant connection (or where the licensed adoption agency is located). Written consent is required from the child's parents (or the surviving parent), or a guardian or next of kin if there is no living parent, and from the child if 14 or older. A parent's consent may be dispensed with after a hearing if, for example, the parent willfully deserted or neglected without just cause to provide proper care and maintenance for the year before filing, or has served at least three years of a prison term of three years or more and adoption is in the child's best interest. A current home study approved by the Department of Human Services or a licensed adoption agency is required, and the department files a placement report with the court.
How does stepparent adoption work in Oregon?
Stepparent adoptions use the same petition. The other parent's consent is required unless the court dispenses with it, for example for willful desertion or neglect to provide care and maintenance for the year before filing (the court may disregard incidental visits, communications and contributions). The Department of Human Services may waive the home study on request when one of the child's genetic or adoptive parents keeps parental rights, and must waive the placement report in that situation (except when there is reason to know the child is an Indian child). A grandparent served with the petition may ask the court for post-adoption visitation within 30 days.
How do you get guardianship of a child in Oregon?
Any person interested in a minor's welfare may file a petition in a protective proceeding, generally in the county where the minor lives or is present. The court may appoint a guardian if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the minor needs a guardian, that the appointment is necessary to provide continuing care and supervision, and that the nominated person is qualified, suitable and willing. The order must be no more restrictive than reasonably necessary. The Department of Human Services may be appointed if the minor has no living parents and no suitable relative or other person has petitioned.
How do you get guardianship of an adult in Oregon?
Any person interested in the welfare of an adult may petition for a guardian, a conservator (for finances), a temporary fiduciary, or another protective order instead of a fiduciary. The petition must describe less restrictive alternatives that were considered and why they are inadequate. A guardian may be appointed only on clear and convincing evidence that the adult is incapacitated (unable to receive and evaluate information or communicate decisions to the point of lacking capacity to meet essential health and safety needs) and that the appointment is necessary for continuing care and supervision. The order must be no more restrictive than reasonably necessary, and the court considers the court visitor's report and any medical or psychological report.
How do you establish paternity in Oregon?
The birth parent and the alleged genetic parent may establish parentage by filing a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage form, signed before a notary or hospital staff witness, with the State Registrar of the Center for Health Statistics; once effective, it equals a court adjudication. A party may rescind by filing a notarized written rescission with the state registrar within the earlier of 60 days after the acknowledgment becomes effective or the first court hearing about the child (such as a support case). After that, it can be challenged in circuit court only for fraud, duress or material mistake of fact. Parentage can also be decided in court on a case brought by a parent, the alleged genetic parent, the child, a guardian, or the child support administrator, and the court must order genetic testing on a supported sworn request.
How do you legally change your name in Oregon?
Apply to the probate court (or the circuit court, where it has that jurisdiction) of the county where you live. The court must grant the change unless it finds the change is not consistent with the public interest. A participant in the state Address Confidentiality Program may ask the court to seal the record.
How does a minor get emancipated in Oregon?
A minor at least 16 years old who lives within the court's jurisdiction may file a written application for emancipation in juvenile court. The court holds a preliminary hearing within about 10 days and a final hearing within about 60 days, and the parents get notice. The court may grant emancipation if it serves the minor's best interests, considering whether the parent consents, whether the minor lives away from home and is substantially self-supporting, and whether the minor is mature enough to manage their own affairs. Emancipation lets the minor contract, convey property, establish a residence, sue and be sued and make a will, and treats the minor as an adult under the criminal laws; it ends the parents' duty of support but does not change age limits for buying alcohol or the requirements for a marriage license. A filing fee applies.
Where can I get divorce papers and forms in Oregon?
The Oregon Judicial Department offers free statewide divorce forms through its Forms Center (Family Law, Divorce category) and through OJD iForms on Guide & File, a free interactive interview for divorce, separation and custody cases, parenting plans, and changes to family judgments. Guide & File completes the forms for you; you can print them and file in person or by mail, or file online and pay the filing fee by credit or debit card. A fee waiver or deferral can be requested. Statewide forms are accepted in all Oregon circuit courts, and local courts may have additional forms.
Who handles child support in Oregon, and how do I contact them?
Oregon's child support agency is the Oregon Child Support Program, run by the Oregon Department of Justice. It helps parents enroll for services, establishes orders and parentage, locates parents, modifies orders, handles medical support, support for students ages 18 to 21 and interstate cases, and collects and distributes payments. Enroll through the program's "Enroll for Child Support Services" page or contact a local office. Payments can be made by debit or credit card, check, money order or cashier's check, electronic check, cash or automatic withdrawal, including online through the Pay Now link. Online accounts let parents view case and payment status and message their case manager. Customer Service: 800-850-0228.
Is there an official child support calculator in Oregon?
The Oregon Department of Justice Child Support Program's Child Support Calculator helps parents estimate their monthly child support obligation under the Oregon Child Support Guidelines, which are used in all child support cases. The calculator provides an estimate and is not a guarantee of the amount that will be ordered; the administrator, administrative law judge or court has the final authority to set the amount. Parenting time is factored in (a Parenting Time Calculator is available), and an Excel guidelines workbook is offered for expert users.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.