Divorce laws in Oregon are somewhat unique in a few ways. Anyone looking to get divorced in Oregon should definitely do some reading first so that they can find out about how the courts in this state work.
Unlike many other states—which have a listing of several different grounds under which the state courts will grant divorce—Oregon has only a few:
Like many states, Oregon focuses on dividing marital property in an equitable manner. If the spouses cannot divide their property on their own, the court will step in and declare a property award. In doing so, the court does consider being a homemaker as contributing to the marital assets. Additionally, items like retirement funds and pension plans are treated as property.
The Oregon courts are, of course, concerned with the well-being of the child. They will do whatever they can to determine a custody plan that will be in the best interests and welfare of the child. The courts consider—among other factors—the following issues when thinking about custody arrangements:
Besides drawing up a custody arrangement, the courts will also work to determine a general parenting plan. A parenting plan might include holiday and birthday planning; what divorced spouses are to do on school holidays; how to share information and responsibility for each spouse; decision-making about the child; and methods for resolving disputes between spouses. Oregon courts feel that focusing on these types of parenting issues along with the custodial agreement can definitely help to lead to a more successful shared parenting situation.