Beaverton Portland Divorce Mediator Matthew House, J.D.: Child-Centered Divorce Without Attorneys
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  • What Mediation Can Resolve
    • Child Custody and Parenting Time
    • Child Support
    • Property Division (Asset Division) and Debt Division >
      • Homes and Other Real Estate
      • Retirement Accounts in Oregon Divorce Mediation: IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), 403(b), SEP >
        • QDRO Information
    • Spousal Support >
      • 2019 Taxation Changes
    • Tax Matters
  • About Matthew House
    • Experience
    • Qualifications
  • Matthew's Approach
  • Kids and Teens
  • How it Works
    • Consultation
    • Divorce Mediation: What to Expect
    • Marital Settlement Agreement
    • Filing Forms after Divorce Mediation
  • Location
  • Fees
  • Becoming a Client
    • Consultation
    • Accessibility
    • Information to Prepare
  • In the Media
  • Contact Matthew
  • Home
  • What Mediation Can Resolve
    • Child Custody and Parenting Time
    • Child Support
    • Property Division (Asset Division) and Debt Division >
      • Homes and Other Real Estate
      • Retirement Accounts in Oregon Divorce Mediation: IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), 403(b), SEP >
        • QDRO Information
    • Spousal Support >
      • 2019 Taxation Changes
    • Tax Matters
  • About Matthew House
    • Experience
    • Qualifications
  • Matthew's Approach
  • Kids and Teens
  • How it Works
    • Consultation
    • Divorce Mediation: What to Expect
    • Marital Settlement Agreement
    • Filing Forms after Divorce Mediation
  • Location
  • Fees
  • Becoming a Client
    • Consultation
    • Accessibility
    • Information to Prepare
  • In the Media
  • Contact Matthew

Marital Settlement Agrement (MSA)
for Stipulated Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage in Oregon

When you hire divorce mediator Matthew House to mediate part or all of your divorce, separation, or modification, there are two components to those services.  First, of course, you will have in-person mediation sessions with your spouse (or former spouse) and Matthew to resolve the outstanding issues and questions related to your divorce.  Following those mediation sessions (usually two or three meetings of two hours each, for a standard divorce mediation from start to finish), Matthew will compose a written summary of the agreements you and the other party made in mediation.  That written summary is called the Marital Settlement Agreement, or the MSA, and it is very comprehensive -- typically 20 to 40 pages of double-spaced text.

Every decision relating to child custody, parenting time, asset division, debt division, division of household goods, child support, spousal support, and all other matters discussed and agreed in mediation will be in the MSA.  Matthew will ensure that the report contains the appropriate level of detail for each decision, so that the family court judge who will review the documents to create what some would call a divorce decree (in Oregon, the proper terms you will see or hear in legal circles are "stipulated judgment" or "stipulated general judgment of dissolution of marriage") can do so without confusion or delay.

Matthew generally bills the MSA fee as a flat fee of three and one-half hours of time, and it includes the drafting time and one round of revisions.  If there are mistakes, Matthew will correct them free of charge.

The MSA becomes binding on both parties once it is signed by both parties or is included as part of a judgment or order (issued by a judge).


Beaverton/Portland family law mediator Matthew House, J.D. helps clients complete all aspects of an Oregon divorce: Asset division, debt division, child support, spousal support, child custody, parenting time, and additional issues. Matthew serves Oregon clients from Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, West Linn, Wilsonville, and all other cities in Multnomah County, Washington County, and Clackamas County. forrest collins, michael dwyer, linda scher, tonya alexander, randall poff, morra, stuart watson, kinnison, meg goldberg, divorce shoppe
(503) 643-5284   matthewmhousejd@gmail.com