Goldberg Jones

Divorce & Family Law Blog

Family law cases, including divorce, custody, and related issues, are intensely personal and momentous events. When ending a marriage, determining custody arrangements, or planning your family’s future, it’s important to have trustworthy, honest information.

We offer in-depth insight into many common topics and frequently asked questions. These posts are based on our decades of experience in the trenches fighting for our clients.

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May 18, 2026
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Child Custody
Child Support
Featured Content
Paternity

Establishing Paternity in Oregon: What You Need To Know

Key Takeaways: Fathers do not have rights unless paternity has been established. In Oregon, if the parents are married, the law presumes the husband is ...
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May 11, 2026
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Child Custody
Featured Content

Split Custody: Will Courts Separate Siblings?

Key Takeaways: The court’s primary concern is the best interest of the children. In most cases, the authorities view keeping brothers and sisters together as ...
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May 8, 2026
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content

Does It Matter Who Files For Divorce First?

It’s a double-edged sword. Presenting your case first gives you the chance to make a convincing first impression. However, by presenting first, you reveal your ...
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May 1, 2026
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content
Finances

How Is Student Loan Debt Divided In Divorce?

For the most part, student loan debt acquired BEFORE marriage remains separate property. Student loan debt acquired DURING the marriage becomes a bit more problematic. ...
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April 20, 2026
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Divorce

What Is A Divorce Deposition?

Depositions are sworn witness statements, taken out of court, but still under oath. The court can then use written transcripts of these statements in place ...
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April 13, 2026
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content
Finances

Equitable Distribution of Property During Divorce

As opposed to community property states, where all property acquired during marriage belongs equally to both spouses, equitable distribution views the property as belonging to ...
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April 1, 2026
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content

Ways Moving Out Can Affect The Outcome Of Your Divorce

Moving out during a divorce may seem like a natural choice, but has an impact on custody, the division of property, and spousal support. ...
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March 24, 2026
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Child Custody

How is Jurisdiction Determined in Custody Disputes?

What is the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act and how determining jurisdiction impact child custody cases? ...
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March 6, 2026
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Child Support
Finances

Common Child Support Questions Answered

In Oregon, child support is often one of the biggest post-divorce expenses you encounter. With that in mind, here are some answers to the most common ...
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March 3, 2026
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Child Custody

After The Court Appoints A Guardian Ad Litem

The court may appoint a guardian ad litem during a custody case, but what does that mean and what should you expect once that happens? ...
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March 3, 2026
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content

Can You Get a Divorce If You Can’t Find Your Spouse?

You can still get divorced even if you can’t find your spouse. However, the process obviously changes if you can’t locate your significant other. ...
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February 23, 2026
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Child Custody
Featured Content

Oregon Custody: The Best Interest Of The Child

At a basic level, the best interests of the child are precisely what the phrase suggests. Where is the safest, most stable, healthiest place for ...
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January 27, 2026
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content
Finances

How is Debt Divided In Divorce In Oregon?

No matter the name on the title, credit card, mortgage, auto financing, or business loan, Oregon presumes both spouses acquired a debt. ...
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January 14, 2026
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Finances

How Much Does A Divorce Cost In Oregon?

Ending a marriage can be an expensive proposition even when uncontested. Here are the costs of divorce you should be on the lookout for. ...
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January 3, 2026
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Child Custody

Child Custody If A Parent Has a Mental Illness

Cases involving a parent with a mental illness are notoriously tricky. This umbrella term covers depression, anxiety, addiction, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, and many ...
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October 20, 2025
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content

Does Oregon Practice Common-Law Marriage?

You can’t create a common-law marriage in Oregon, but it will recognize common-law marriages from other states. Oregon does, however, have Registered Domestic Partnerships, per the Oregon ...
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October 7, 2025
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Divorce

10 Truly Scary Divorce Facts

Divorce is usually a time of great upheaval. It may absolutely be the right decision, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In a relatively short ...
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September 30, 2025
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Divorce
Featured Content

How Do You Ask For A Divorce?

Marriage isn’t always sunshine and puppy dogs. It takes a lot of work, time, effort, and struggle. And still, it doesn’t always work out. Try ...
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September 18, 2025
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Everyday Dads

5 Things Kids Can Learn From Fantasy Sports

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, we don’t mean Christmas, Thanksgiving, or even St. Patrick’s Day. We’re talking about football season. The ...
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September 9, 2025
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Child Custody
Divorce
Featured Content

Can Your Ex Stop Your Kids From Playing Sports?

You probably noticed, but kids today are busier than ever before. Cluttered with extracurricular activities, social engagements, and more, it seems like they’re always running ...
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September 4, 2025
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Child Custody
Featured Content

How Do You Find the Best Child Custody Lawyer?

How do you find the best child custody lawyer? This is a big question. Few things get us as riled up as our kids. That’s ...
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August 25, 2025
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Divorce

What is a Civil Standby in Oregon?

It’s no secret that divorces often become contentious. Conflict forms a big part of the proceedings. Depending on the circumstances, many involve the use of ...
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August 18, 2025
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Everyday Dads

Back To School Tips For Divorced Dads

Back to school time can be stressful for kids and parents, especially newly divorced dads. Here are some tips to help start the year off ...
how do writ of assistance's work
July 31, 2025
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Divorce
Divorce Process

Writ Of Assistance, Divorce, And Child Custody in Oregon

On a basic level, a writ of assistance is a written court order that instructs law enforcement, such as a sheriff or police officer, to ...
can a primary move away with your kids?
June 3, 2025
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Child Custody

Can A Custodial Parent Relocate After Divorce?

Co-parenting after divorce is difficult. Custody arrangements, parenting plans, schedules, and continuing conflict between exes all impact parenting time. And circumstances often change. What if ...
how to save money on your divorce
May 22, 2025
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Divorce

How Can You Save Money on Your Divorce?

Divorce is expensive. That probably doesn’t shock anyone. Fortunately, there are strategies to cut down on expenses and save money during a divorce. The exact ...
major purchase divorce
April 25, 2025
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content
Finances

Can You Make a Major Purchase During Divorce?

The divorce process comes with many expenses. You have court costs, filing fees, an attorney to pay, and even a change in tax status. In ...
divorce tips and strategies
April 10, 2025
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Divorce

Divorce Tips and Strategies

Ending a marriage can be a chaotic, trying time. You have a lot going on. Meetings with attorneys, mediation, forms to fill out, and documents ...
do step parents have rights
March 27, 2025
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Child Custody
Featured Content

Do Step-Parents’ Have Rights in Oregon?

Just because you get a divorce, that doesn’t necessarily mean step-parents can’t have a continuing relationship with the children. This depends on the particular situation, ...
long-term marriages and divorce
March 19, 2025
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Divorce
Featured Content

Do Long-Term Marriages Complicate the Divorce Process?

Over the course of a marriage, two lives become intertwined. The longer the marriage, the more interwoven they become. Like others, long-term marriages end for ...
when can you DIY divorce
March 4, 2025
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content

Pro Se Divorce: When Is DIY The Best Option?

With the spread of online guides and resources, do-it-yourself divorce has never been more accessible. When is pro se divorce a good idea? ...
what dads can learn from cinema
February 25, 2025
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Everyday Dads

Cinematic Lessons in Fatherhood: Great Movie Dads

TV and movie fathers may be (generally) fictional, but they can still teach you about what it means to be a parent. There are those ...
how does a divorce take in oregon
February 18, 2025
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content

How Long Does Divorce Take In Oregon?

We call it the “divorce process” for good reason. It takes a while to end a marriage. But just how long does a divorce take ...
Does jurisdiction matter in divorce
February 13, 2025
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content

Jurisdiction: Does Where You File For Divorce Impact Your Case?

Jurisdiction has a huge impact. Here’s what you need to know about where you file for divorce and how it influences your case. ...
should you hire a divorce lawyer?
February 5, 2025
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Divorce
Featured Content

When Should You Hire a Divorce Attorney?

There are a lot of questions to ask in the process of ending a marriage. One is whether or not you need to hire a ...
can cannabis effect child custody rights
January 21, 2025
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Child Custody
Featured Content

Does Legal Marijuana Impact Child Custody?

Legalized weed has been a game-changer in many states, but the question remains of how marijuana impacts child custody cases. ...
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January 17, 2025
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content
Finances

How Is A Business Divided In A Divorce?

The courts view your business as a divisable asset, and that’s what the court looks at. If you start a business while married, it will ...
grounds for divorce
January 13, 2025
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content

No-Fault Divorce in Oregon: What are Grounds for Divorce?

When you read about divorce, you often see “irreconcilable differences” listed as the root cause of the separation. You hear this phrase frequently because the ...
more divorces in January than any other month
January 6, 2025
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Divorce

Is January Really Divorce Month?

Key Takeaways: January is often referred to as “Divorce Month,” but that name may be somewhat misleading. The pressures of the holidays often play a ...
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December 16, 2024
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Divorce
Divorce Process

How Does Adultery Affect Divorce in Oregon?

Adultery can and often does destroy a relationship. It’s often the reason people divorce. But how does it actually impact divorce settlements? ...
generational divorce rates
November 18, 2024
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Divorce
Featured Content

How Has the Divorce Rate Changed With Each Generation?

The common refrain is that the divorce rate in the United States hovers around the 50% mark. Except it doesn’t, and never has. The hows ...
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November 4, 2024
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Divorce
Featured Content

Prepare For Your Initial Divorce Consultation

The first meeting with a divorce attorney can be daunting, but fortunately, there are ways to prepare for your initial consultation. ...
what is the actual rate of divorce?
October 28, 2024
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Divorce
Featured Content

Is the 50% Divorce Rate a Myth?

One statistic tossed around frequently is that 50% of all marriages end in divorce. The number varies a bit, but the gist is that roughly ...
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October 14, 2024
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Everyday Dads

Awesome Dad Movies For Any Holiday

One of our favorite traditions is watching movies with the old man. Following that line of thinking, here are some of our favorites to watch ...
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September 9, 2024
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Divorce

Ways To Prepare For Divorce

Divorce is a huge undertaking. Depending on the situation, it can be a long, in-depth process full of forms, hearings, meetings, and more. While no ...
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August 26, 2024
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Child Custody

Violation Of Parenting Plans: Motion For Contempt

It’s often difficult to remain part of your child’s life after a divorce or breakup. One thing that helps ensure you’re able to do this ...
criminal charges child custody
August 19, 2024
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Child Custody
Featured Content

Can Criminal Charges Impact Child Custody?

When it comes to disputes over custody, the court places the best interests of the children above all other concerns. That’s the general rule. This ...
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August 7, 2024
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Child Custody

Oregon Parenting Evaluations

A parenting evaluation is a formal investigation to assess the parenting skills of the parties involved to determine the primary caregiver. ...
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August 1, 2024
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Divorce
Featured Content

How Substance Abuse Impacts Divorce

Countless factors contribute to the end of a marriage. Every situation unfolds differently, but drugs and alcohol too often play into divorce. Hugely detrimental to ...
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July 22, 2024
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Divorce
Divorce Process
Featured Content

How to Divorce in Oregon

Ending a marriage sounds harrowing and dramatic. It can get complicated. We often field questions from people asking how to divorce in Oregon. ...