Oregon divorce at a glance
Official source: Oregon court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in Oregon: step by step
Oregon is no-fault and, unusually, has no waiting period — a judge can sign as soon as the paperwork is complete. Here is the path to a General Judgment of Dissolution.
- Confirm you can file in Oregon
One spouse must have lived in Oregon for 6 months (unless you married here). Oregon is no-fault (irreconcilable differences) with no waiting period.Source: ORS 107.025 - Generate your forms
Prepare the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and the supporting forms.Source: Oregon dissolution forms - File with the Circuit Court
File with the Circuit Court and pay about $301, or apply for a fee waiver or deferral.Source: Oregon fee waiver/deferral - Serve your spouse (or co-petition)
Serve your spouse, or file jointly as co-petitioners.Source: ORCP 7 - Calculate child support (if children)
If you have children, use the Oregon DOJ Guidelines Calculator to produce the worksheet.Source: OAR 137-050 - Get your judgment
Because Oregon has no waiting period, the judge can sign the General Judgment of Dissolution as soon as the paperwork is complete.Source: General Judgment of Dissolution
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in Oregon?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. In Oregon you have the right to file your own divorce, and the court publishes the official forms for you to use. The large majority of uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree the marriage is over and can agree on the terms, are handled pro se every day.
Filing pro se is usually a good fit when: you both agree on the divorce, you can agree on splitting property and debts, and any parenting time and support are worked out. It’s worth talking to a lawyer when: you disagree about custody or money, one spouse hides assets or won’t cooperate, there’s a business or significant property to divide, or there has been any abuse.
LawCat prepares your Oregon pro-se divorce documents for free and walks you through every filing step — so doing it yourself never means doing it alone.
How child support is calculated in Oregon
Income-shares model; the Oregon DOJ Guidelines Calculator produces the worksheet. (OAR 137-050)
Because Oregon uses an income-shares approach, the exact number comes from an official table based on both parents’ combined income. Use your court’s official child-support calculator for a precise figure.
How long does a Oregon divorce take?
No waiting period — Oregon abolished the old 90-day wait in 2011, so a judge can sign as soon as the paperwork is complete. After that, the timeline depends on the court’s calendar and how quickly each step is completed. An uncontested, pro-se divorce is typically the fastest path — most of the wait is the statutory period, not paperwork.
Common reasons Oregon divorce filings get rejected
- Missing signatures, or forms that aren’t notarized where the court requires it.
- Skipping the financial disclosure both spouses are required to exchange.
- Filing before meeting the residency requirement.
- Mistakes serving the other spouse, or forgetting to file the proof of service.
- Not following local county rules. Low. Statewide packets are accepted everywhere; a few counties (e.g., Multnomah) add scheduling notices but not substantive forms.
LawCat’s guided questions and filing checklist are built to prevent exactly these — the errors that send self-represented filers back to the clerk’s window.
Oregon document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Oregon. In the meantime, the official Oregon court forms are linked below.
Official Oregon forms → See how it worksWhy LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
Oregon divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Oregon?
No. Oregon allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Oregon divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in Oregon to file for divorce?
6 months (unless married in Oregon)
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Oregon?
$301 per party for dissolution (respondent pays $301 to appear too). Fee waiver AND deferral available (125% FPL standard). With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.