How Do I File For Divorce in Portland?

When one or both spouses decides to end their marriage, they must file for divorce. Divorce is the legal termination of the marriage and all of the rights and responsibilities attached to each spouse during the marriage. In Portland, a spouse who wants to file for divorce must file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and Summons, which begins the divorce process. To file for divorce in Portland, the petition and summons must be filed in the county where either the filing spouse or the other spouse resides. The filing spouse must give the other spouse a copy of the petition and summons as notice of the divorce filing.

If a suit for divorce involves children, the petition must be sent through the Administrator of the Division of Child Support of the Department of Justice or the county's local branch office where the divorce case was filed. After filing and serving the petition and summons, the filing spouse may file for temporary orders with the court. A court may order temporary orders for issues such as child support, child custody, spousal support and restraining orders.