Oregon
Divorce, lawyers, and free legal help in Oregon — verified against official sources.
How divorce filing works in Oregon
The Oregon Judicial Department runs Family Law Self-Help pages — forms and guides for divorce, custody, and related family cases. Start there before anything else.
Oregon Judicial Department — Family Law Self-Help
The official starting point: family-law forms and guides from the Oregon courts.
courts.oregon.gov — family law self-help →Find a divorce lawyer
Oregon State Bar — Legal Referral
Matching tool for a 30-minute consult (max $50), or call 1-800-452-7636.
referral.osbar.org →New to hiring a lawyer? Read Start Here first — it covers what to ask and what to bring.
Free or low-cost legal help
Oregon Law Help
Civil legal information written by Oregon attorneys, connecting you with help.
oregonlawhelp.org →Report Child Abuse or Neglect
Call 855-503-SAFE (855-503-7233) — Oregon Dept. of Human Services, 24/7/365, confidential.
oregon.gov — how to report abuse →Oregon — Foreclosure Avoidance Program
Oregon Housing and Community Services runs a free structured “resolution conference” with your lender before foreclosure, plus free certified housing counselors. Mediation case manager: 855-658-6733.
oregon.gov — foreclosure avoidance →Call 211
Free, confidential referrals to local help. Dial 211 from any phone.
211.org →Oregon Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Interactive “Find Help” map of about 50 member programs statewide; 503-230-1951.
ocadsv.org →Unpaid wages in Oregon
Your boss owes you pay and won't hand it over? Here's where to file and how long you have in Oregon.
Where to go
Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI)
Time limit to file
6 years for regular/minimum wages; 2 years for overtime
What the floor is
$15.05 standard / $16.30 Portland metro / $14.05 nonurban (regional rates)
Changing your name in Oregon
Whether it's marriage, divorce, or just time for a fresh start — here's the process in Oregon.
How it works
petition the circuit court in the county where you live
Typical court fee
~$124
Newspaper notice required?
no
Small claims court in Oregon
Suing someone without a lawyer, for smaller amounts, in a simpler court. Here's how it works in Oregon.
Maximum claim
$10,000
Filing fee
$57–$102 depending on claim size
Can you bring one?
generally no — only with the judge's approval
Clearing your criminal record in Oregon
Expungement or sealing can hide eligible arrests and convictions from background checks. Here's where Oregon stands.
Can records be cleared?
yes — set aside (sealing)
What qualifies
most misdemeanors and eligible felonies (no Class A, violent, or sex offenses)
Waiting period
1–7 years depending on offense class
Child support in Oregon
How child support gets calculated — and when it ends — in Oregon.
How it's figured
income shares Oregon Department of Justice child support calculator; guidelines in OAR 137-050-0700 through 0765
When it ends
age 18, or up to age 21 if attending school
Lemon law in Oregon
Bought a new car that's constantly in the shop? Oregon's lemon law may get you a refund or a replacement.
Which vehicles qualify
new motor vehicles (and new travel trailers) purchased or leased in Oregon; not used vehicles
When it's legally a lemon
3+ repair attempts, 30+ calendar days out of service, or 1 repair attempt on a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, within 2 years or 24,000 miles
What you get
replacement with a new motor vehicle or full refund of purchase or lease price (less a use allowance)
Tenant rights in Oregon
Renting comes with rights most people never hear about until something goes wrong. Here are the key ones in Oregon.
Notice before eviction
72-hour notice to pay for nonpayment (144 hours if served earlier); 30 days to end month-to-month (60 days after 1 year)
Deposit limits & return
No statewide maximum; return within 31 days with written accounting
When the landlord won't fix things
May repair and deduct up to $300 for minor habitability defects after 7-day written notice (ORS 90.368)
DUI / DWI in Oregon
Driving under the influence carries some of the stiffest penalties in everyday law. Here's how Oregon handles it.
Blood alcohol (BAC) limit
0.08; enhanced penalties at 0.15
Typical penalties
48 hours-1 year jail; $1,000-$6,250 fine; 1-year license suspension
How far back DUIs count
Lifetime (priors count regardless of age; felony threshold uses 10-year window)
Gun laws in Oregon
Gun laws vary a lot from state to state — what's perfectly legal in one state can be a crime in another. Here's the big picture for this state. Laws change often, so double-check anything before you act.
Carrying a concealed handgun
Permit required; shall-issue; minimum age 21
Carrying openly
Allowed with restrictions (cities/counties may ban loaded firearms in public)
Background checks & waiting periods
Private sales: Universal background checks required (through a licensed dealer; statutory exemptions) No waiting period.
Extreme risk protection
Yes. Courts can temporarily order firearms removed from someone found to be a danger.
Reciprocity
Does not honor any out-of-state concealed carry permits.
Filming the police: your rights in Oregon
Federal appeals courts across the country have recognized a First Amendment right to photograph and record police officers performing their official duties in public. The U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled on it directly. The right does not protect interfering with officers, trespassing, or breaking other laws while you record.
Mixed recording rules
hybrid (one-party for phone/radio calls; all participants must be informed for in-person conversations) (ORS 165.540(1)(a), (1)(c); ORS 165.540(5)(b))
No buffer-zone law
Oregon has no law setting a minimum distance for filming police. You still must not interfere with officers doing their jobs.
Oregon law expressly allows recording an on-duty officer performing official duties, openly and where you may lawfully be (ORS 165.540(5)(b)); the all-parties-must-be-informed rule for other conversations was upheld by the 9th Circuit en banc in Project Veritas v. Schmidt (2025). The 9th Circuit recognized a right to film police in public in Fordyce v. City of Seattle (1995).
Drug & alcohol addiction help in Oregon
Addiction is a health issue, and help is out there — including court programs that can send people to treatment instead of jail. No insurance needed to call.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential referrals to treatment — call 1-800-662-4357 (English & Spanish).
Human trafficking victims in Oregon
If you or someone you know is being forced to work or forced into sex against their will, you are a victim of a crime and help is available — immigration status does not matter.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 — free, confidential, for victims and anyone who suspects trafficking.
Bullying in Oregon
Every state has an anti-bullying law, and every school must have a plan. If your child is being bullied, document what happens and report it in writing to the school — and know what your state’s law requires.
Homelessness help in Oregon
If you are homeless or at risk of losing your housing, help is close by. Shelters, food, health care, and long-term housing programs exist in every community.
211 homeless services
Dial 211 and press 6 for homeless services in your area.
VA homeless veterans
Homeless veterans: call the VA National Call Center at 1-877-424-3838 (877-4AID-VET), 24/7.
Deed fraud & squatters in Oregon
Thieves can forge a deed to steal your home’s title — many counties offer free recording alerts that notify you if anything is filed against your property. And if someone is living in your property without permission, your state has specific rules for removing them: you generally cannot just change the locks.
FBI: protect your property from deed fraud
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center alert on parcel-owner impersonation →