Portland Divorce Attorneys and Portland Family Law Attorneys

If you live in Portland, Oregon and are considering divorce, we can help you reach your goals, no matter how complicated your case may be or how difficult your situation may seem.

Considering a Portland divorce? Where do you begin?

In contemplating divorce, it's understandable to be overwhelmed by all the complex issues you will have to face. Ending a marriage is challenging in so many ways; you may not know where to start or who to turn to for help. To make the best choices for you and your family during this emotional and stressful time, you need to be informed about the laws AND you need support. The right Portland divorce attorneys can provide you with both.

So, how do you know which Portland divorce attorneys you can trust to protect your interests and achieve your goals so you can focus on doing what's right for your family? Some questions to consider:

Experience Matters

Even in the face of challenging problems, you can trust us to handle it because we've done it all before. The lawyers at McKinley Irvin team with the most experianced attorneys and can handlePortland's most complex divorce cases efficiently and effectively.

Portland Divorce Attorney Kathy Root Senior Partner

Resources Matter

By focusing exclusively on family law, the combined knowledge and practice of McKinley Irvin's experienced divorce attorneys means we have exhaustive resources and expertise in all aspects of family law.

Success Rate Matters

With divorce attorneys that are among the best and the brightest in Portland and Oregon state, McKinley Irvin has a track record that speaks for itself.

Tactics Matter

Every case is different, and whether representing you in negotiations or in court, great family law lawyers know how to keep the odds in your favor.

Making sure your interests are protected

There are many rights and interests at stake in a family law case, especially if you have children, and many responsibilities that must be addressed. Once legal decisions have been made in a Portland divorce case, the laws make it very difficult to undo what has been done. The consequences of these decisions can continue for the duration of not only the lives of the adults involved, but also for your children. For these reasons, the assistance of qualified, top-notch Portland divorce attorneys and a well-established family law firm should be considered by any person faced with a family law action. You should consider the McKinley Irvin law firm as your advocate for your Portland divorce.

Do you know what your options are for divorce?

McKinley Irvin divorce lawyers have counseled and represented hundreds of individuals in divorce and family law matters. Portland Divorce Attorney Kathy Root has over 19 years expierance. Our attorneys can explain your rights and options within the law so you can make the best choices for you and your family. Our divorce lawyers are also highly versed in the complexities and nuances of Oregon State divorce/family laws. Do you know what your options are for divorce? McKinley Irvin divorce lawyers have counseled and represented hundreds of individuals in divorce and family law matters in Portland and Oregon State over the past 19 years. Our attorneys can explain your rights and options within the law so you can make the best choices for you and your family. Our divorce lawyers are also highly versed in the complexities and nuances of Oregon State divorce/family laws.

Grounds for divorce in Portland, Oregon.

By law, Oregon State is a 'no fault' state. This means that anyone who is a resident of Oregon State can get a divorce for any reason you only have to tell the courts that the marriage is 'irretrievably broken' to file for divorce. You don't have to prove wrong-doing on the side of either party nor provide evidence of a violation of your marital contract. Both parties, however, must agree that the marriage cannot be reconciled. If you file for divorce in Oregon State and your spouse does not agree the marriage is irretrievably broken, you and your divorce lawyers must provide reasons to the contrary and the court will decide if they are sufficient evidence for an irretrievably broken relationship. Acts of wrong-doing (such as abuse) may be of consequence in deciding other important issues like custody and division of property. Your Portland family law lawyers can advise you on how those types of issues can impact your divorce case in Oregon State.

How does the divorce process work in Oregon State?

How do I start a Portland divorce?

A divorce action begins with the filing of a Summons and a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in Superior Court in the County where you reside. I

How long does it take?

The law imposes a mandatory 90-day waiting period in Oregon State after the divorce petition has been filed. Finalizing the divorce after that can take anywhere from 90 days to over a year, depending on the complexity of your divorce case and the effectiveness of your family law attorneys. Your divorce lawyers can also have temporary orders and/or restraining orders issued at a Temporary Orders hearing to resolve issues (like child support/custody, possession of the family residence, use of the family vehicles, etc.) that need to be immediately addressed while the divorce is being finalized.

How is the divorce finalized?

After 90 days, you can finalize the divorce in one of two ways. If both parties can agree to the terms of the divorce petition, whether through agreement or mediation facilitated by the attorneys, your lawyers will present the state with a Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Decree of Dissolution to the court without needing a trial. If the parties are unable to reach an agreed resolution, then by law, the court must then decide the unresolved issues at trial, at which your divorce lawyers will represent you.

What other family law services can my divorce attorneys provide in Portland Oregon?

In addition to divorce cases, your lawyers can also help you with other family law issues, such as obtaining a Legal Separation, establishing a Parenting Plan, or obtaining a Decree of Invalidity of Marriage in the case that you were married under fraudulent or non-legal circumstances.

Resolving issues: custody, property, business, finances

Families are complicated things on their own. Between the kids, the house, the assets and investments, and perhaps a family business or other venture, the issues in family law can be just as complex. That's where our experienced Portland attorneys come in. A typical divorce case in Portland can usually involve child custody and parenting plans, child support, spousal maintenance (alimony), property valuations and asset divisions, debt distribution and even sometimes investment, tax, retirement/pension and international case issues. The lawyers at McKinley Irvin have accumulated specialties and expertise in the laws applying to all of these situations and more.

The attorney/client relationship: We work for you

Like most legal areas, the Oregon State family and divorce laws are intricate and often difficult to navigate. Your divorce lawyer should help you feel at ease, explaining the issues of your case and the facts of laws in ways that you understand, as well as being responsive to your questions and concerns. Your attorneys should also inspire confidence. The legal team you choose to represent you should be aware how critically the issues involved affect your life, and the lawyers should demonstrate a sincere interest in helping you with your case. Once you are comfortable with your attorneys, you also need to remove emotion from the equation and consider their qualifications. Are they specifically family law lawyers? Do these lawyers have experience with a case like yours? Are your attorneys professional and do they speak in a professional manner? What are their firm's resources? In trial in Portland, how often have they encountered the opposing counsel and won? Do the attorneys have a strategy to help you resolve your case to your best advantage? The firm and the lawyers you choose in Portland or Oregon State should be transparent, open, honest and meet all of the above criteria.

Kathy Root a senior partner has represented many Portland divorce clients in complex divorce actions, including divorce cases involving contested child custody and parenting plan issues, child support, property and debt distribution, and spousal maintenance.

Every divorce lawyer at McKinley Irvin has represented many clients in complex divorce actions, including divorce cases involving contested child custody and parenting plan issues, child support, property and debt distribution, and spousal maintenance.

McKinley Irvin will provide you with a lawyer that has skillfully represented Portland divorce clients in valuing and dividing community property, including multi-million dollar marital estates; cases involving moderate to substantial employment and retirement benefits, including stock options, 401k plans, and government and private sector pensions; actions requiring the valuation and distribution of real estate interests, from the family home to investment portfolios; and matters involving a myriad of financial issues, ranging from spousal maintenance and child support, to the disposition of business interests and financial investments.

Each divorce lawyer of ours has effectively represented Portland divorce clients in contested child custody and parenting plan matters. As a result of our substantial experience, we can offer clients proven strategies in negotiating and litigating these cases.