Divorce Mediation Process in Portland, Oregon
Mediation is often ordered in divorce proceedings to allow spouses to reach their own agreements on issues such as custody and division of property. In Oregon, mediation is almost always mandatory unless there is a safety concern because of abuse allegations.
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Mediation
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Mediation is a series of meetings that allow spouses to communicate with each other regarding any outstanding issues in their divorce proceeding. The sessions are beneficial because they are confidential, save money by avoiding a drawn out court battle and allow for communication and cooperation, which is especially important when children are involved.
Early Sessions
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The length of the mediation period depends on what issues need to be addressed and how willing the spouses are to negotiate. The earliest sessions involve identifying all the issues, gathering any necessary information and documentation and the actual negotiation on issues of property, custody and child support. These sessions can last for approximately three to 12 weeks.
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The Agreement
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Once all issues are settled, the next one to eight weeks may be spent drafting the mediation agreement. Spouses can review the agreement with their attorneys and when the agreement is final, they must both sign.
The Final Stage
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The final period of mediation may involve filing for divorce if the spouses entered into mediation before preparing divorce papers. If mediation was court-ordered, spouses must submit the mediation agreement to the judge for approval. The judge can then issue a judgment for divorce. There is a 90-day waiting period from filing, but spouses can file a Motion to Waive the waiting period if 90 days has not yet passed.
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