Simple, Uncontested Divorce in Oregon, With Attorneys From $275 an Hour

You don’t need a flamethrower to light the birthday candles. If you and your spouse already agree on most of the big stuff, you don’t need a courtroom brawl to end your marriage. But you shouldn’t do it blindfolded, either.

Romano Law helps couples in Portland and across Oregon finish uncontested divorces the practical way. An attorney reviews everything, drafts it right, keeps your case out of court whenever possible, and can walk into the courtroom for you if it ever comes to that. Our associate attorneys’ rates start at $275 an hour.

4.8-star Google rating. More than 26 years of Oregon trial experience at the head of the firm. We usually return calls the same business day.

An Attorney-Led Team, Starting at $275 an Hour

You won’t be working with just one person. Your divorce is handled by a team: experienced paralegals who keep the paperwork organized and moving, and an associate attorney who reviews every document, advises you, and can go to court if it ever comes to that.

For a while, we offered simple divorces through an Oregon licensed paralegal on our staff. Her time billed at $280 an hour, and plenty of clients were well served by it. Today, our associate attorneys’ rates start at $275 an hour. That’s nearly the same number, and it comes with a full Oregon law license and a managing attorney with more than 26 years of Oregon trial experience looking over the file.

Good paralegals are a big part of why that works. They do what they do best, your attorney does what only an attorney can do, and you get both.

The Right-Sized Tool for the Job

People have told us for years that hiring a lawyer for a simple divorce feels like overkill. Sometimes they’re right.

You don’t call in the Coast Guard to get a rubber duck out of the bathtub.

You don’t need a fire truck to toast a marshmallow.

You don’t hire a marching band to wish your cat a happy birthday.

The mistake most people make with a simple divorce isn’t hiring too much lawyer. It’s hiring none at all, and finding out too late what they missed. We sit in the middle: enough oversight to get it right, without the scorched-earth litigation nobody asked for.

Three Ways to Handle a Simple Divorce in Oregon

The limits in the middle column come straight from the Oregon State Bar’s summary of what licensed paralegals can and can’t do. If your spouse has a PERS pension, for example, that piece of your divorce is outside a licensed paralegal’s scope, and you’d need a lawyer anyway.

Going It Alone Means Nobody Is Watching Your Six

Oregon lets you represent yourself, and the courts publish forms to help. Plenty of people try it. The trouble is that a divorce judgment is one of the few legal documents you’ll sign that’s very hard to fix later.

Oregon courts can modify custody, parenting time, and support when circumstances change (ORS 107.135). The division of property is a different story. Once the judgment dividing your house, retirement accounts, and debts is entered, it’s generally final.

That’s where small misses get expensive. A retirement account divided without the follow-up order the plan requires. A house awarded to one spouse with both names still on the mortgage. A support figure calculated from the wrong income. If your spouse has a lawyer and you don’t, you’re unmatched and outgunned, and nobody at the table is looking out for you. A few hours of attorney review is cheap insurance against a mistake you’d live with for decades.

What “Simple” Means to Us

Simple doesn’t mean careless. It means you and your spouse are mostly on the same page and want to keep it that way. Usually that looks like this:

• You agree, or are close to agreeing, on who keeps the house, the cars, and the accounts.
• You agree on how to split the debts.
• If you have children, you have a workable parenting plan or you’re close to one.
• Neither of you wants to spend a year and a small fortune in litigation.

If that sounds like you, the instruction we start with is simple: stay out of court if we can. We aim to finish your divorce in a reasonable amount of time, at a reasonable cost, with the due diligence you deserve. And if your spouse stops cooperating, or something turns up that changes the picture, you already have a lawyer who knows your file and can go to court for you. No handoff. No starting over.

How an Uncontested Divorce Works at Romano Law

1. Consultation. You tell us where things stand and what you and your spouse have agreed on. We tell you honestly whether your case is simple and what it’s likely to take.
2. The financial picture. We gather what we need to see: bank and retirement accounts, debts, the house, and income for support purposes.
3. The paperwork. Your attorney drafts or reviews the petition and the stipulated judgment and catches problems before a judge does.
4. The finish. We file, keep the case moving through the court, and get the judgment entered. Many uncontested Oregon divorces are finished on paper, without either spouse testifying at a hearing.

Uncontested Divorce in Portland and Across Oregon

Oregon is a no-fault state. The only ground for dissolution is irreconcilable differences (ORS 107.025), so nobody has to prove who did what. If you were married outside Oregon, at least one spouse generally needs six months of Oregon residency before filing. If you were married here, current residency is enough (ORS 107.075).

Even in an agreed case, the judge still has to sign off. The court divides property under ORS 107.105, and when children are involved, the court reviews the parenting plan with the child’s best interests in mind (ORS 107.137). Most Oregon counties also require divorcing parents to complete a parenting education class. An agreement that ignores these rules can get kicked back, which costs you time.

We handle uncontested divorces in Multnomah County, Washington County, Oregon, and Clackamas County, and in other counties around the state. If your case has a real fight in it, our Portland divorce lawyers handle contested cases too, including clients on the west side who work with our divorce attorneys serving Beaverton. You can also read more about how divorce works in Oregon.

Who You’ll Work With

Your case will be led by one of our associate attorneys, Ashlee Henry (Lewis & Clark Law School) or Madison Perdue (University of Oregon School of Law), both licensed by the Oregon State Bar, with our paralegals keeping your file organized and moving between attorney reviews. The whole team works under the supervision of managing attorney Michael G. Romano. Michael has practiced law in Oregon since 2000, started his career as a prosecutor, and has spent more than two decades trying cases in Oregon courtrooms. That experience is exactly why we know most simple divorces never need to see the inside of one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Oregon?

It depends mostly on how much you and your spouse have already agreed on and how complicated your finances are. At Romano Law, attorney rates for uncontested divorces start at $275 an hour, plus the circuit court’s filing fee. Retirement accounts, real estate, and parenting plans add time. We’ll give you a realistic estimate at your consultation.

Is a licensed paralegal cheaper than a lawyer for an Oregon divorce?

Not necessarily. Licensed paralegal rates vary from provider to provider. When our firm had a licensed paralegal on staff, her time billed at $280 an hour, and our associate attorneys now start at $275. At similar rates, an attorney can also handle pensions, restraining order issues, and a contested trial, all of which fall outside a licensed paralegal’s scope.

Can a licensed paralegal go to court for me in Oregon?

Only in a limited way. Under the Oregon State Bar’s rules, a licensed paralegal can prepare you for court, attend with you to help on procedural matters, and represent you in mediation. A licensed paralegal can’t argue your case at a contested trial, and some matters, including defined benefit pensions and Family Abuse Prevention Act cases, are outside the license entirely.

How long does an uncontested divorce take in Oregon?

Oregon has no mandatory waiting period, so the timeline depends mainly on how quickly the paperwork comes together and how busy the county court is. Cases where both spouses agree on everything often finish within a few months of filing. If you married outside Oregon, one of you generally needs six months of Oregon residency before filing (ORS 107.075).

Do I have to go to court for an uncontested divorce in Oregon?

Often, no. When spouses agree on every issue, many Oregon divorces are finalized on a stipulated judgment that the judge signs without a hearing. Parents usually need to complete a parenting education class first, and some counties have additional requirements. If a hearing is required, your attorney goes with you.

What happens if my uncontested divorce becomes contested?

Your attorney stays with you. Our goal from the first day is to keep your case out of court, but if your spouse stops cooperating or hires a lawyer to fight, you already have an Oregon attorney who knows your file and can take the case to a hearing or trial. No handoff, and no starting over with someone new.

Talk to a Portland Uncontested Divorce Attorney

Tell us where things stand, and we’ll tell you honestly whether your divorce is as simple as you hope and what it will take to finish it right. Consultations are usually available within one business day. Call 503-208-5529 or send us the form below.

This page provides general information about Oregon law, not legal advice for your situation. Hourly rates are subject to change, and the rate for your case will be stated in your written fee agreement.

Last updated: September 23, 2026 | Reviewed by Michael G. Romano, Managing Attorney