If you are searching for a Portland divorce lawyer, you are likely weighing two questions at once: what it costs and how the process works in Multnomah County. Portland divorces are filed and heard at the Multnomah County Central Courthouse at 1200 SW 1st Avenue, a 17-story building that opened in October 2020 along the downtown waterfront, a short walk from the Hawthorne Bridge and the Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The Family Law Department sits on the 2nd floor. Oregon calls divorce "dissolution of marriage," and it is a pure no-fault state under ORS § 107.025, so neither spouse has to prove wrongdoing.
Portland Divorce Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County | Multnomah County |
| Filing court | Multnomah County Circuit Court, Central Courthouse |
| Court address | 1200 SW 1st Ave, 2nd Floor (Family Law), Portland, OR 97204 |
| Filing fee | $301 (verified January 2026; fee waiver available under ORS 21.682) |
| Residency requirement | 6 months if married out of state; none if married in Oregon (ORS § 107.075) |
| Waiting period | None mandatory; uncontested cases finalize in 4 to 8 weeks |
| Property model | Equitable distribution (ORS § 107.105) |
How do I file for divorce in Portland, Oregon?
To file for divorce in Portland, submit a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage to the Multnomah County Circuit Court and pay the $301 filing fee, verified as of January 2026. You may file in person on the 2nd floor at 1200 SW 1st Ave or electronically through the Oregon Judicial Department eFiling system. After filing, you must serve your spouse with the petition and summons. If you and your spouse agree on all terms, you can file jointly as co-petitioners, which removes the service step. Oregon is a no-fault state, so you only need to state that irreconcilable differences have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage under ORS § 107.025.
Where do I file for divorce in Portland? Which courthouse?
Portland residents file for divorce at the Multnomah County Central Courthouse, located at 1200 SW 1st Avenue, Portland, OR 97204, with the Family Law Department on the 2nd floor. This downtown courthouse, opened in October 2020, replaced the historic courthouse on SW 4th Avenue and handles all dissolution cases for the county. The Family Law public counter phone is 971-274-0600, with walk-in hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Multnomah County operates four court buildings, but divorce filings go specifically to the Central Courthouse, not the Justice Center or the East County Courthouse in Gresham.
Venue is governed by ORS § 107.086: you may file in the county where either spouse lives. So if you reside in Portland neighborhoods like Hawthorne, Alberta, St. Johns, or Sellwood, Multnomah County is your court, even if your spouse has moved elsewhere.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Portland?
A Portland divorce lawyer generally charges $250 to $400 per hour, with most attorneys requiring a retainer of $3,000 to $7,500 up front. An uncontested divorce handled by a lawyer often totals $1,500 to $3,500, while a contested case with disputes over custody, support, or property commonly runs $7,000 to $15,000 or more. Several factors drive cost: whether custody is contested, the complexity of the marital estate, and how many court appearances are required. The $301 court filing fee is separate from attorney fees. If both spouses agree on terms and file as co-petitioners, total legal costs drop sharply because there is no litigation.
Many Portland attorneys offer flat-fee uncontested packages, and the Multnomah County courthouse provides self-help resources for those filing without a lawyer. To estimate your specific situation, use our divorce cost estimator.
How long does a divorce take in Portland?
A Portland divorce can finalize in as little as 4 to 8 weeks when both spouses agree on all terms, because Oregon has no mandatory post-filing waiting period. Co-petition cases where both parties sign the paperwork can sometimes be completed in days once a judge signs the General Judgment of Dissolution. Contested cases that require negotiation, discovery, mediation, or trial typically take 8 to 18 months in Multnomah County. The biggest timing variables are custody disputes and how quickly both sides exchange financial disclosures. Multnomah County requires parents of minor children to complete a parent education class before the judgment is entered, which can add scheduling time.
What are the residency requirements to file in Multnomah County?
To file for divorce in Multnomah County, at least one spouse must have lived in Oregon for six continuous months before filing if the marriage took place outside Oregon, under ORS § 107.075. If you were married in Oregon, there is no minimum residency period and you can file immediately. You must also file in the correct county: either where you live or where your spouse lives, per ORS § 107.086. Residency can be proven with an Oregon driver's license, voter registration, a Portland-area lease or mortgage, or utility bills showing a Multnomah County address.
How is property divided in a Portland divorce?
Oregon divides marital property by equitable distribution under ORS § 107.105, meaning the court splits assets and debts in a way that is "just and proper," which is not always a 50/50 split. Oregon applies a rebuttable presumption that both spouses contributed equally to property acquired during the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the title or who earned the income. Because Oregon is a pure no-fault state, marital misconduct plays no role in how a Portland judge divides a home in Irvington, a retirement account, or business interests. Separate property owned before the marriage is generally retained by its owner, though a judge retains broad equitable power. Use our property division calculator to model your estate.
What can I expect for custody and support in Portland?
Multnomah County courts decide custody based on the best interests of the child under ORS § 107.137, weighing the emotional ties between child and parents, each parent's attitude toward the child, the desirability of continuing an existing relationship, any abuse, and the primary-caregiver preference. Oregon distinguishes legal custody (decision-making) from parenting time (the schedule). Child support follows the statewide Oregon Child Support Guidelines based on both parents' incomes and overnights. Estimate your obligation with our child support calculator, and model support with our alimony estimator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Portland?
The court filing fee to start a divorce in Multnomah County is $301, verified as of January 2026. If you cannot afford it, you can request a fee waiver or deferral under ORS 21.682 on the 2nd floor of the Central Courthouse the same day you file. Applicants on SNAP, TANF, SSI, or Oregon Health Plan automatically qualify.
Do I have to live in Portland for 6 months before filing?
Not necessarily. If you were married in Oregon, there is no minimum residency period, so you can file in Multnomah County immediately under ORS § 107.075. If you married outside Oregon, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for six continuous months before filing. The six months is a residency rule, not a post-filing wait.
Is Oregon a no-fault divorce state?
Yes. Oregon is a pure no-fault state under ORS § 107.025. You only need to state that irreconcilable differences have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage. Neither spouse must prove adultery, abuse, or any wrongdoing, and marital misconduct does not affect property division or spousal support in a Portland case.
How fast can I get divorced in Portland?
Uncontested Portland divorces commonly finalize in 4 to 8 weeks because Oregon has no mandatory waiting period. Co-petition cases where both spouses sign all paperwork can move even faster once a Multnomah County judge signs the General Judgment. Contested cases involving custody or property disputes typically take 8 to 18 months from filing to final judgment.
Where exactly do I file divorce papers in Portland?
File at the Multnomah County Central Courthouse, 1200 SW 1st Avenue, Portland, OR 97204. The Family Law Department is on the 2nd floor, with walk-in hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and a public counter phone of 971-274-0600. You may also file electronically through the Oregon Judicial Department eFiling system.
Do I need a lawyer to divorce in Portland?
No, Oregon allows self-representation, and many uncontested Portland divorces are completed without a lawyer using court self-help forms. However, hiring a Portland divorce lawyer, costing $250 to $400 per hour, is strongly advised when custody, retirement accounts, real estate, or a business are in dispute. An attorney protects your rights in contested Multnomah County cases where a judge decides the terms.
Is Portland property split 50/50 in a divorce?
Not automatically. Oregon uses equitable distribution under ORS § 107.105, dividing marital property in a way that is just and proper, which is often but not always equal. The court applies a rebuttable presumption that both spouses contributed equally to assets acquired during the marriage, even a homemaker who did not earn income. Separate pre-marital property is generally retained by its owner.