How to Get Divorce Forms Online in Oregon

In today’s society, most services have transferred to an online platform to facilitate your needs. The same is true when it comes to getting a divorce. 

In the State of Oregon, you can choose how your divorce will proceed. You even have the option of obtaining the divorce papers online, using a web divorce company.

This article will show you the general steps to filing for divorce and how you can do it yourself if you choose to.

Requirements and Grounds

Before you apply for divorce, you will need to meet the requirements to qualify for a divorce. For the state of Oregon, these include:

• If the couple was married in the state, one spouse should currently be a resident of the state (the duration of your residency in the state does not matter). 

• If the couple was married outside of the state, one spouse should have resided in the state for at least 6 months before filing for divorce. 

• One spouse should reside in the county where the filing takes place, and the spouse filing for divorce (the petitioner) should provide a residency certificate for this. 

• There is no longer a compulsory waiting period in the state of Oregon, so your marriage can be terminated as quickly as possible after filing for divorce.  

The state of Oregon only recognizes “no-fault” based divorces, so you don’t need to give a reason as to why you wish to divorce. You simply need to state that “irreconcilable differences” exist in your marriage, and the court will end your marriage regardless of whether or not your spouse agrees. 

The only grounds for divorce needed in Oregon include: 

• One spouse was not of legal age or could not comprehend and consent to the marriage and the makings of the contract. 

• Corruption or force was used to acquire the consent of one spouse to get married. 

• “Irreconcilable differences” have caused the “irretrievable breakdown” of the marriage. 

Getting Started

To proceed with a “dissolution of marriage,” you will need to complete and file the following documents:

• Instructions
• Petition
• Summons
• Affidavit of Petitioner Supporting Judgment of Dissolution
• General Judgment of Dissolution and Money Award
• Acknowledgement 
• Affidavit of Service
• Acceptance of Service
• Recording of Dissolution of Marriage

In addition to these, please also register the following forms if you have children (whether adopted or biological):

• Supplement to Petition
• Certificate Re
• Petitioner’s Certificate of Mailing
• Record of Dissolution of Marriage, Annulment, or Registered Domestic Partnership

If you do not wish to file for a “dissolution of marriage,” you can choose to file for a “summary dissolution,” which is for a couple who does not have disagreements, allowing for a quick and inexpensive process. 

You can qualify for a summary dissolution if you must meet the following requirements:

• Your marriage has lasted no longer than 10 years.
• The couple does not have any minor children.
• Neither spouse owns property or land. 
• Personal property that belongs to either spouse (whether jointly or individually) does not exceed $30,000 after deducting money owed on it. 
• Individual and/or joint debts of the couple do not exceed $15,000.
• You relinquish your spousal support rights and your right to any temporary orders. 
• No other divorce activities are pending in another state. 

Complete and file the following documents to proceed with a summary divorce:

• Instructions
• Petition for Summary Dissolution
• Summons
• Declaration of Service
• Acceptance of Service

Notification 

After filing the divorce papers with the court, you must notify your spouse by serving them the papers. They will then have 30 days to file a response as required by the law.

Your spouse must sign the Acceptance of Service form and waive the service process to show that they have received the forms (you should then file this with the court). 

If your spouse has not signed the Acceptance of Service form, you may use another means of notification, such as via the sheriff, by using a private process server, or, if you cannot locate your spouse, by publication in the newspaper. 

Contested or Uncontested

A couple will typically proceed with a contested divorce if issues cannot be resolved and terms that cannot be agreed on, such as property division, as is often the case in the state of Oregon. 

A contested divorce is much more expensive and not as fast as an uncontested divorce because you will need to hire a lawyer to help resolve the problems at hand.

An uncontested divorce, also known as a “Summary Dissolution” or “Short Form Dissolution,” is for couples who can agree to the terms of their divorce. It can be done without an attorney, saving extra time and costs. 

Couples wanting to proceed with an uncontested divorce may partake in negotiations directed by an attorney addressing issues such as child custody and alimony.

Finalization

After the respondent spouse files an appearance, the “discovery” process occurs where both parties exchange financial information, such as income records, tax returns, bank account details, investment information, etc. 

If one spouse has withheld information or not exchanged information appropriately, the court will order a legal fee.

After the final hearing has been held, the judge will sign off on the dissolution of marriage and legally end the marriage.  

Other options

As mentioned at the outset of the article, it is possible to complete divorce online or do it yourself.

DIY divorce

This is the most affordable option. However, only if you are in a fortunate position where you and your spouse agree on all divorce matters and don’t need any outside assistance. 

To obtain the necessary documentation, you can go to Oregon’s official divorce papers website and find free downloadable copies and instructions and a video tutorial on which forms you should use and how to complete them. 

Online divorce

The state of Oregon does allow you to submit an application for divorce online.

If your case is pretty easy, but you still need some assistance in obtaining, completing, and filing the correct paperwork, you can choose divorce over the internet, which is the next most affordable method. 

After answering a few questions, the online divorce platform will provide you with all the needed paperwork and handle the more in-depth matters for you. 

For a small payment, these divorce companies enlighten you on all the information and direction you need in proceeding with your divorce and provide ongoing support throughout the process with no hidden costs. 

Note: regardless of the type of divorce process you use, you will need to pay filing fees.

Summary

To reduce the cost of divorce, use an internet divorce service that charges one initial fee and provides and prepares all the needed documentation for you.

Or you can do it yourself by downloading the correct divorce papers online and following the instructions on how to complete and file them on your own.