How Much Does it Cost for a Divorce in Oregon?

The Cost of Divorce in Oregon

To be blunt, getting divorced in Oregon can be an expensive process. I would estimate that the average cost of a contested divorce in Oregon is about $10-15,000.

Many factors go into determining the cost of a divorce. First is whether there are children, and thus whether custody, parenting time, and child support are at issue. This can create very large costs in a case. For example, parties may need to hire an expert (such as a custody evaluator), or an attorney for the child (to help understand a recommended parenting plan schedule).

Cases may also be expensive due to discovery issues so that the parties may ascertain an appropriate division of assets and debts.

Ultimately, there are ways to reduce costs in a divorce:

• First and foremost, be reasonable in your position. In our experience, nine times out of ten, litigation arises because one (or both) of the parties is unreasonable in their position.
• Second, keep yourself organized and be responsive to your attorney. Costs can arise if an attorney has to chase down their client to get information and answers.
• Lastly, make sure that you really understand your priorities in a divorce. For example, is getting custody really a priority, or do you instead want to ensure that you are getting a fair parenting plan?

Ultimately, it’s very tough to predict an exact cost to a divorce, which is why we (and many other firms) choose not to do these cases on a flat-fee basis. But there are absolutely ways to make the process streamlined, efficient, and reduce costs. Give us a call or write us to discuss these and other issues.