How Long Does an Uncontested Divorce Take in Oregon

Uncontested divorces can be extremely quick in Oregon. However, there are a few steps to any divorce, no matter how simple.

When You Contact Me About an Uncontested Case

First, when doing an uncontested divorce through my office, you would start by contacting me and we would have a free telephone consultation about your situation. Once we are able to speak about your case, I can give you a quote as to exactly how much your paperwork will cost to accomplish. Typically, the person then discusses the rates and details with their spouse, and then we schedule an appointment. This process to get you into my office can take anywhere from 24-72 hours (or longer) depending on everyone’s work schedule and availability. I can almost always meet a new client within 72 hours.

Drafting the Paperwork for and Uncontested Divorce

After the initial meeting where I am hired for your uncontested divorce, my job is to draft the paperwork. I can usually have the paperwork drafted within 1-2 days for the parties to review. After the parties review the paperwork, there usually are a few tweaks we have to make to ensure everyone is satisfied with what the documents say. This doesn’t take much time at all on the divorce attorney‘s end, but sometimes parties spend a few weeks discussing the changes they want made before they are ready to sign.

If everything goes well, and no such discussions are needed, then the paperwork can be signed immediately. So at this point, from when I was first called until when you have signed the paperwork, it can take as little as 3 or 4 days, but that time depends on how quickly the parties themselves can turn around the paperwork I send. I’ve had cases where the parties spend three or four months talking about changes to the paperwork, but that is rare in an uncontested case, as typically the parties have a good idea of what they want done before they ever hire me.

Submitting Uncontested Divorce Documents in Oregon

Once I have the signed documents from the parties, I can immediately submit them to the court for a judge to sign. The amount of time this takes, form when we submit the documents until they are available is extremely unpredictable. The court system is a mess right now with their electronic filing system. Sometimes I will submit a document and it will be handled within a few days. Sometimes I will wait as long as a month for the court to process a simple uncontested order. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to their madness, which is frustrating for all involved.

When there are children and you are getting an uncontested divorce

One other factor that can delay an uncontested divorce is if there are children, both parents need to take a parent education class offered by the court before the judgment will be signed finalizing your divorce. It is best for both parents, when children are included in the paperwork, to enroll immediately in the parenting class. It can take a month or longer to get enrolled, so if you wait until the paperwork is pending before the judge to sign up, it can cause a long delay in finalizing your divorce.

Clackamas, Oregon Family Law Attorney Tom Brasier

Tom Brasier is an experienced family law attorney practicing in Oregon and Washington. He specializes in divorce, uncontested divorce, custody, and protective orders. You can contact Tom at Brasier Law by calling 1 (503) 855-4777 or by using the contact form below.

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