How to Save Your Money in a Divorce in Oregon

Getting a divorce is often considered a lengthy and stressful process that requires a public display and the involvement of lots of people. That is an understandable assumption, as legal disputes and other unpleasant things often accompany the divorce process. However, it is possible to make the whole dissolution of marriage more affordable and less chaotic. This article provides some useful information on how to save your money and nerves in a divorce in the state of Oregon.

Understanding the Legal Process is the Key

After both partners have decided that filing for divorce is the best way to solve issues in their relationship, it is highly advisable to research all the legal factors that can affect the process. Depending on the geographical location, different Oregon courts might require different papers. The easiest way to find out is to visit the closest Oregon courthouse website.

These websites have lots of online divorce information that can significantly cut the costs of divorce. For example, it is more inexpensive to surf the web, find the appropriate courthouse website, and look for the required forms rather than to hire a lawyer.

Some Important Facts About Oregon Divorce Laws

When it comes to a divorce in Oregon, spouses can only file for a no-fault divorce, meaning that they are not able to blame each other. This is an excellent option for couples trying to avoid public disclosure of their marriage, as it is enough to state that their bond is irretrievably broken.

Furthermore, at least one of the spouses has to be a resident of the state of Oregon and live there for at least 6 months prior to filing a divorce. Unlike many other states, couples married in Oregon can proceed with the divorce process without the previously mentioned condition.

Hiring a Mediator

This option is a great alternative to avoid bringing too much attention from third parties. A mediated divorce is often a preferable option for couples who want to solve child custody and property division without disputing the case in court.

However, there are other options as well. For example, both spouses can hire their attorneys and task them with finding the most cooperating and least expensive way of deciding the terms and conditions of the divorce. Another alternative is to go with an uncontested divorce. In this case, both spouses agree on all the conflicting areas and use one attorney for the filing process.

Doing Everything Yourself

A DIY divorce is becoming more and more popular nowadays. Couples understand that they can avoid costly lawyer services and do everything themselves, thus making the whole divorce process more affordable. One of the most popular options to cut expenditures is to do divorce over the Internet.

Today, it is possible to find a service that can automatically generate divorce papers. Having such a professional company do the divorce paperwork is inexpensive in comparison to hiring a lawyer.

The petitioner has to enter all the required information regarding their particular case, and the system will automatically generate divorce forms. If the information is correct, a couple will effectively move through the divorce while avoiding additional expenditures due to paperwork.

After all the papers are provided by the internet divorce service, the petitioner is able to serve the documents to the other spouse and submit them to the court. If the receiving partner signs the “Acceptance of Service” form after getting the divorce papers, it is possible to take them directly to the local county clerk.

If the petitioner does not want to serve papers personally or does not have an opportunity to do so, they can hire a private server or a local sheriff, although this is not a free service. After that, the court looks through the documents and announces a date to finalize the divorce – it depends on the complexity of each case.

The Bottom Line

As it is possible to see, the state of Oregon is pretty strict when it comes to marriage dissolution. The process can become rather expensive and tiresome if the divorce hits a “rough” patch or attorneys are involved. However, there are ways to avoid all the fuss.

It is possible to employ a professional mediator to help resolve differences and save money. Couples can also do everything themselves. Such an option is probably the most inexpensive, as it is possible to complete the divorce process without an attorney by doing all the paperwork yourself.

All in all, the information presented above shows that filing for divorce does not have to be expensive. Yes, everything depends on the individual case. However, if both spouses are on the same page, they can work out the process without any additional costs and make it rather quick and affordable.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or the management of EconoTimes