With the new development under the law of same-sex marriage becoming widely recognized, the inevitable question arises of how this will impact same-sex couples when their relationship needs to end. What will some of the changes be in ending a domestic partnership versus a legal marriage in Oregon … Read More
The recent changes to laws in both Oregon and Washington relating to legality of recreational marijuana are likely to have an indirect impact on some custody cases in these jurisdictions. I realize that people in Oregon and Washington are still learning the ins and outs of the new laws pertaining … Read More
Finding the right attorney to help with your custody or divorce case is one of the most critical decisions you can make. Divorces and custody cases last for only a few months in Oregon and Washington, but the fallout from the decisions that are reached last a lifetime. There are … Read More
On a recent episode of the popular TV drama "Grey's Anatomy," the character "Catherine" confronts "April" her new on-screen daughter-in-law. Catherine is furious over her son and April's surprise wedding. Believing that her son made an awful mistake, Catherine thrusts a document in front of April … Read More
5 Ways an Uncontested Divorce Can Save You Thousands To start, let me explain what I mean when I say “uncontested divorce”. I use this term, but you could call it an amicable divorce, peaceful divorce, or even a simple divorce. Essentially what I am referring to is a situation where you and your … Read More
In the case of In re Marriage of Stuart and Ely, the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed an order granting transitional spousal support to the wife, who was a professional engineer with a PhD degree in environmental engineering, since there was no evidence that she would be needing or receiving any … Read More
When parties sign up for a collaborative divorce, they essentially are both emotionally and financially committing to never go to court. You certainly have the option of backing out of the collaborative agreement and hiring a new lawyer, but it almost always seems a better choice to try "one more … Read More
What is Collaborative Law? Before we get into the list, it is helpful to summarize briefly what collaborative law is. Essentially, when a couple going through a divorce or other family law dispute decides to use the process of "Collaborative Law", they sign a contract with their respective … Read More
Many divorcing couples consider collaborative law, where they sign a contract with their respective attorneys saying that their attorneys are forbidden from settle the case in court. But if you choose your attorney carefully the collaborative process is unnecessary. If you are already in … Read More
More grandparents across the country are raising grandkids. The reasons are varied. Economic circumstances to metal illness could affect a child's parenting ability. Often the grandparent does not have formal custodial rights. Grandparent rights in these "grandfamilies" may allow for custody or … Read More