Oregon Child Custody Laws

There are many unknowns in a divorce, especially for the children involved. The laws for child custody in Oregon are designed to help a child through the situation and also make it very clear to each parent what the responsibilities and expectations are.

Custodial Parent

The parent who is given primary custody will be chosen first based on which parent prefers to take full custody and the general attitudes and emotional bond between the child and each parent.

Custody Considerations

A parent who has been abusive to either the child or the other parent will not be considered for custody. In addition, any parent who has been declared "unfit" will not receive custody but may receive visitation rights.

Clear Plans

The court encourages, although does not require, parents to file a schedule with the court for according to how holiday, vacation, weekend, birthday, major decisions and any other important aspects will be decided and divided up.

Non-Custodial Parent

The non-custodial parent still has rights in the life of the child. This includes access to school, medical, psychological and legal records, as well as the right to make medical decisions when the custodial parent is unavailable.

Moving

Neither parent can move more than sixty miles from the original residence without filing the move with the court and devising a new plan for weekends and holidays.

Resources

• Oregon Laws on Custody