Oregon Divorce Frequently Asked Questions
No information below should be relied upon as formal legal advice. These answers should not be used in place of a personal consultation with a qualified lawyer.
What is joint custody in Oregon and how can I get it?
Joint custody is an award of the child’s legal custody to both parents with a specific provision made for his or her primary place of residence. It assumes that each parent has an equal say in making major decisions that impact the child’s life. The court is only allowed to order joint legal custody if both parties agree to the award.
In general, joint custody in Oregon will work only if both parents communicate and cooperate with each other. This means that the parent who is awarded sole custody (the more common award since it is so easy to opt out of joint custody) has the sole right to make vital decisions regarding a child’s education, religious training, health care, and the like. Disagreement over custody and time-sharing is guaranteed to put you right in the middle of a contested and expensive divorce.
Call one of our experienced child custody lawyers today to discuss the facts of your case.