United States · State guide
Divorce inOregon.
Family law is state law. Here is how it works in Oregon: the property rules, support, how to file, what it costs, who enforces it, and every FairWell guide and tool set up for Oregon.
Official source: www.courts.oregon.gov
Property division
Equitable distribution state: marital property is divided fairly, which usually means roughly equally but the court can adjust based on statutory factors; separate property stays with the owner.
Residency and waiting period
Court: Circuit Court6 months residency before filing, unless the marriage took place in Oregon and one spouse lives there at filing (ORS 107.075); no set waiting period.
Child support
Guideline calculator based on both incomes.
Retirement accounts
Workplace retirement plans are divided by a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) prepared after the decree; IRAs are divided by the decree itself. A former spouse married ten years or more may claim Social Security on the ex's record.
Enforcement
Child support is enforced by Oregon Child Support Program under the federal Title IV-D program: income withholding, tax refund intercepts, license suspension and passport denial for arrears.
Health insurance
Divorce ends a former spouse's eligibility on an employer plan. COBRA continuation is available for up to 36 months at full cost; the ACA marketplace opens a special enrollment period.
Official guidelines and tools
The government and court sources for child support, spousal support, the family law statute and self-help. Use these to check any estimate, including ours.
Common questions
How is property divided in an Oregon divorce?
Equitable distribution state: marital property is divided fairly, which usually means roughly equally but the court can adjust based on statutory factors; separate property stays with the owner.
How do I file for divorce in Oregon?
6 months residency before filing, unless the marriage took place in Oregon and one spouse lives there at filing (ORS 107.075); no set waiting period. File in the Circuit Court.
When does child support end in Oregon?
Child support usually ends at 18, but can continue to 21 for an unmarried child attending school at least half-time, including college or vocational training, if the requirements are met. Parents also have a duty to support adult children who cannot work to support themselves.
What happens to property when unmarried couples separate in Oregon?
Oregon does not allow couples to form a common-law marriage, so unmarried partners who separate are not covered by the state's divorce property-division rules. Instead, under Beal v. Beal (1978), courts divide property acquired while living together based on what the partners expressly or impliedly intended.
How long do you need to live in Oregon to file for divorce?
In almost all cases, you or your spouse must have lived in Oregon for six months before filing (if you married in Oregon, one of you only needs to live there now). You file in the circuit court of a county where either spouse lives.
Official help: Oregon Judicial Department Family Law Self-Help FAQs. Rules change, so confirm with a family lawyer in Oregon before you rely on them.
Read next
Guides for Oregon
Filing for an uncontested divorce in the US
GuideWhat divorce costs in the US
GuideQDROs and retirement accounts
GuideDivorce and US taxes
GuideHealth insurance after divorce
GuideRelocation with children
GuideThe complete parenting plan guide
GuideYour separation date controls everything
GuideHidden assets: warning signs
GuideJoint debt at separation
GuideWhen your ex won't pay
GuideSeparating when there is abuse
Professionals
Family lawyers, mediators and coaches in Oregon
Family lawyers
Listings marked Verified have been checked against the state bar directory. Each lawyer sets their own fees.
DirectoryMediators
Family mediators for parenting and financial issues. Listings marked Verified have been checked against their association.
DirectoryDivorce coaches and counselors
Decision support, communication and co-parenting help. What a coach does.
Are you a professional in Oregon? List your practice.
Oregon
Get organized in Oregon
Guided questions for separation agreements, parenting plans and financial disclosure, linked to the official sources on this page and organized into a plain-language summary for a local family lawyer, who prepares the agreement and advises you.
Sources and further reading
This page is legal information, not legal advice. It summarizes how the process works in Oregon so you can plan; the official sources above are where current fees, forms and deadlines live, and they are the final word if anything here differs. When you're ready, the assessment and FairWell's guided questions link to the rules for Oregon; a local lawyer prepares any agreement and advises you before you sign.