Collaborative divorce is an innovative alternative to litigation that comes with numerous advantages for both parties. Rather than engage in a lengthy — and costly — court battle, collaborative divorce is a non-adversarial process that allows spouses to divorce amicably, privately, and efficiently. Typically, couples who participate in the coll…
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Divorce is hard enough — but the process can become even more challenging when your spouse cannot be located. Under Oregon law, a respondent spouse must be served with notice that a divorce action has been started against them. But if they cannot be found after reasonable efforts were taken to find them, a court will likely allow that person to b…
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In many homes, pets are an important part of the family — and the thought of losing a beloved companion animal when your marriage ends can be devastating. When spouses decide to part ways, the issue of who gets to keep the pet can be a particularly contentious issue. If you have a pet and are facing divorce, it’s essential to understand how cou…
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Mediation has become an increasingly common alternative to litigation. While many divorce mediation matters are handled by one mediator, co-mediation involves two trained professionals who work together with the spouses to reach a settlement agreement. Often, the use of two mediators coming from different professional backgrounds can result in a fa…
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Oregon is a no-fault divorce state. This means that a spouse does not have to prove marital misconduct to obtain a divorce. Instead, they only need to allege “irreconcilable differences.” In addition, Oregon law doesn’t require that both spouses agree to end their marriage — one party can file for divorce regardless of whether the other is…
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COVID-19 took a substantial toll on many aspects of our lives. Critically, many marriages were affected, and divorce during Covid seemed like a very real possibility for many couples, while others were strengthened. The shutdowns, stay-at-home orders, and restrictions forced couples to face marital issues that previously went ignored or unnoticed.…
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Not only is property divided during divorce, but debt is also typically split between the spouses when a marriage legally ends. Divorce and property division are frequently considered together, but often, couples do not consider what happens with divorce and debt. No matter which spouse’s name is on a credit card, a loan, or a mortgage, both shar…
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Co-parenting can be one of the most challenging aspects of your life following a divorce. It requires good communication, flexibility, and the coordination of several schedules. While co-parenting can be stressful when you are also trying to overcome the pain of your marriage ending, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, there are a number…
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Property division is often one of the most contentious issues in any divorce. For many divorcing spouses, divorce property division isn’t only a financial matter, but it can also be an emotional one. Importantly, all marital property must be distributed between the spouses in a judgment of dissolution of marriage. If the spouses cannot reach an a…
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Whether you and your spouse decide to separate or divorce, ending a marriage is never easy. It’s critical to fully understand your legal rights and options to determine if legal separation or dissolving your marriage would be best for your situation. It may seem like there is not much of a difference between separation and divorce, but they a…
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Salem attorney Sarah M. Litowich is an Oregonian through and through, with roots in rural eastern Oregon and the Willamette Valley. She is grateful for these deep Oregon roots because she learned the value of hard work and building and maintaining st… Read More