Portland, Oregon Divorce Mediation: The Short Version
The divorce mediation process is simple, straightforward, and amicable. You will have a one-hour consultation with Matthew at his Beaverton, Oregon office. The divorce mediation consultation is an opportunity, at a discounted fee, to learn about how a mediated divorce will meet your needs and and ask general questions of the divorce mediator about divorce in Oregon. Following the consultation, you will typically have two to four full divorce mediation sessions of two hours each -- usually two (occasionally three) sessions for those without minor children, and usually three (occasionally four) sessions for those with minor children. Those estimates are accurate in at least 95% of Matthew's cases, but, in rare instances, cases may take longer.
During the sessions as your divorce mediator, Matthew will walk you through all of the decisions you will make, and he will provide you with examples and guidance. Ultimately, the decisions are yours, and Matthew will not coerce you, take sides, or make the decisions for you. His role is to give you options you may not have considered and to provide you with the benefits of his law degree and 14 years of experience providing divorce mediation services to hundreds of divorcing couples in Metro Portland.
Please understand that although Matthew's role is that of a neutral facilitator, he does honor his professional obligation to correct clients' misunderstandings about the divorce process or redirect ideas that are either impractical or would not be allowed by law. Honoring that ethical responsibility may make it appear, from time to time, that Matthew is "siding" with one party or the other, but the reality is just the opposite: Ensuring that people are using proper information to make their decisions is an integral component of Matthew's services.
Once all of the decisions are made, Matthew will write the Mediation Report that contains all of those decisions. You will read the Mediation Report, and Matthew will revise it at no cost. After you have approved it, it will go to Matthew's contracted paralegal to be added to the divorce forms required by the county. Then, you'll take (or mail) the forms to the courthouse in the county in which at least one of you resides. Although you are not required to use Matthew's contracted paralegal or any paralegal or attorney, Matthew's clients consistently find that having his paralegal complete the forms gives them added peace of mind compared to the task of preparing those forms on their own.
Meanwhile, you may want to consider signing up for the Parenting Education Class mandated by the State of Oregon for all divorcing couples who have children age 16 or younger. Matthew can assist you in seeking a waiver, but it is not guaranteed. You may end up taking the course anyway -- one class in Multnomah County and Clackamas County, and four classes in Washington County. Please note that while some judges allow the divorce to proceed even without both parents taking the class, you should assume that you will be required to take the course, and you should plan accordingly. This is particularly true in Washington County, where the course is a series of four classes and costs $280 per parent for the four-session course. That fee is for the entire course, not per class, but each parent must pay the fee individually. The classes in the other counties are approximately $80 or less, and they typically consist of one class of two to three hours to meet the state requirement.
Within about one month, but often more quickly, your divorce will be finalized by the court. Except in the rarest circumstances, neither you nor your spouse will have to appear before a judge. By choosing divorce mediation with Matthew, you could be finished with your divorce in the time it would take in a lawyer-facilitated divorce for one spouse to file a petition and the other to respond. Mediation gives you the same result -- a divorce -- but with money left in your bank, energy left in your brain, and civility left in your relationship with your former spouse. Even more importantly, Matthew emphasizes the well-being of your children and teenagers, so no members of the family are left out of the process or the benefits of mediation.
Matthew looks forward to your call or email to begin the divorce mediation process. He offers a free 10-minute consultation by phone, but most people want a more comprehensive consultation. Matthew provides a one-hour consultation (the option most people choose as a starting point) for a discounted fee to discuss the specifics of your family situation and your goals and concerns.
During the sessions as your divorce mediator, Matthew will walk you through all of the decisions you will make, and he will provide you with examples and guidance. Ultimately, the decisions are yours, and Matthew will not coerce you, take sides, or make the decisions for you. His role is to give you options you may not have considered and to provide you with the benefits of his law degree and 14 years of experience providing divorce mediation services to hundreds of divorcing couples in Metro Portland.
Please understand that although Matthew's role is that of a neutral facilitator, he does honor his professional obligation to correct clients' misunderstandings about the divorce process or redirect ideas that are either impractical or would not be allowed by law. Honoring that ethical responsibility may make it appear, from time to time, that Matthew is "siding" with one party or the other, but the reality is just the opposite: Ensuring that people are using proper information to make their decisions is an integral component of Matthew's services.
Once all of the decisions are made, Matthew will write the Mediation Report that contains all of those decisions. You will read the Mediation Report, and Matthew will revise it at no cost. After you have approved it, it will go to Matthew's contracted paralegal to be added to the divorce forms required by the county. Then, you'll take (or mail) the forms to the courthouse in the county in which at least one of you resides. Although you are not required to use Matthew's contracted paralegal or any paralegal or attorney, Matthew's clients consistently find that having his paralegal complete the forms gives them added peace of mind compared to the task of preparing those forms on their own.
Meanwhile, you may want to consider signing up for the Parenting Education Class mandated by the State of Oregon for all divorcing couples who have children age 16 or younger. Matthew can assist you in seeking a waiver, but it is not guaranteed. You may end up taking the course anyway -- one class in Multnomah County and Clackamas County, and four classes in Washington County. Please note that while some judges allow the divorce to proceed even without both parents taking the class, you should assume that you will be required to take the course, and you should plan accordingly. This is particularly true in Washington County, where the course is a series of four classes and costs $280 per parent for the four-session course. That fee is for the entire course, not per class, but each parent must pay the fee individually. The classes in the other counties are approximately $80 or less, and they typically consist of one class of two to three hours to meet the state requirement.
Within about one month, but often more quickly, your divorce will be finalized by the court. Except in the rarest circumstances, neither you nor your spouse will have to appear before a judge. By choosing divorce mediation with Matthew, you could be finished with your divorce in the time it would take in a lawyer-facilitated divorce for one spouse to file a petition and the other to respond. Mediation gives you the same result -- a divorce -- but with money left in your bank, energy left in your brain, and civility left in your relationship with your former spouse. Even more importantly, Matthew emphasizes the well-being of your children and teenagers, so no members of the family are left out of the process or the benefits of mediation.
Matthew looks forward to your call or email to begin the divorce mediation process. He offers a free 10-minute consultation by phone, but most people want a more comprehensive consultation. Matthew provides a one-hour consultation (the option most people choose as a starting point) for a discounted fee to discuss the specifics of your family situation and your goals and concerns.