Services

• Seminars and Divorce Classes
• Individual Consultation - Dissolution of Marriage and other Family Matters
• One-Party Non-Contested Dissolution of Marriage and other Family Matters
• Limited Legal Services - Dissolution of Marriage and other Family Matters
• Directed Mediation Services
• Mutually-Agreed Binding Arbitration/Settlement Conferences
• Traditional Legal Service - Dissolution of Marriage and other Family Matters

Seminars and Divorce Classes

Bend Family Law offers informational classes and seminars for those contemplating and/or in the process of a dissolution of marriage or other family issues such as unmarried custody issues, third-party or grandparent issues, post-judgment modification issues and others. These classes are not intended to address individual issues, but are informational only. Some of the seminars are free and there is a nominal cost for others. For dates, times, locations and cost, please download the latest brochure in PDF.

Information received in the seminars and classes IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE SPECIFIC TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S PARTICULAR SITUATION AND AN ATTENDEE SHOULD NOT ACT ON ANY INFORMATION GIVEN WITHOUT SEEKING PROFESSIONAL LEGAL ADVICE ABOUT THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATION. Attendees MAY NOT ask questions about their specific situations. The seminars and classes are designed primarily for those who want to "do-it-yourself" (pro se) dissolutions and/or work with collaborative dissolution professionals. Assistance with pro se forms WILL NOT be given and child support calculations WILL NOT be performed for attendees. If individualized information is necessary, please call or e-mail to make an appointment for an individual consultation with a Bend Family Law attorney.

While general topic areas may change at the teaching attorney's discretion, the classes will provide information on the following areas:

General Family Law in Oregon

• No Fault Divorce
• Legal Separation
• Annulment
• Property Division
• Child Custody and Parenting Time
• Child Support
• Spousal Support
• Debt Division
• Estate Planning Issues
• Third-Party and Grandparent Rights
• Rights of Unmarried Parents
• Family Abuse Prevention Act
• Name Change
• Post-Judgment Modifications of Custody, Parenting Time and Support

General Procedure in Divorce Law in Oregon

• Jurisdiction, Venue, Out-of-State Issues
• Filing Fees
• How to File
• Service/Response Period
• Temporary Relief
• Alternative Dispute Resolution Resources
• Waiting Period
• Judgment

When is a Lawyer Needed and How to Work with an Attorney

• Role a Lawyer Can Play
• Standards Lawyers are Held to
• How Lawyers get Paid
• How to Communicate Effectively with Your Lawyer

Impact of Collateral Emotional Issues.

Post-Judgment Law and Procedure classes are forthcoming. Please check back for times and dates.

Individual Consultation

You may call or e-mail to schedule an individual consultation with one of the attorneys at Bend Family Law. An individual consultation lasts for 50 minutes and costs $75.00. During your consultation, you are able to tell the attorney the details of your particular situation and the attorney is able to advise you how to proceed under Oregon law based upon the information you provide.

Please bring all the court documents relating to your situation, if any. These meetings are consultations only. The attorney you consult with will not be your attorney or take any actions on your behalf without a written agreement creating and defining the terms of an attorney-client relationship with you.

One-Party, Non-Contested Dissolution of Marriage and Other Family Matters

This service is for individuals who want a family law professional to prepare all necessary documents for their family law issues and who want to resolve their family law issues without litigation. This limited legal service relationship with a Bend Family Law cooperative attorney allows representation of one party and preparation of all necessary documents to finalize the matter. The client will receive basic information about Oregon Law and process relevant to his/her case as well as professional guidance in collecting and interpreting information necessary for settlement.

The cost for this service may vary with the complexity of the case, but generally the fee is $1,000 plus filing fees. Please call to set a consultation appointment to determine if this service is right for you and your family.

Limited Legal Services - Dissolution of Marriage and Other Family Matters

What is provided in limited legal services is what the client needs and can afford. Limited Legal Services, also called "unbundled" services, allows the attorney and the client to discuss issues and options for limited scope representation, and then apportion the tasks in the proceeding between the client and the attorney. Some examples of apportioning the tasks are:

• Help putting an agreement into enforceable "legal language" for filing with the Court
• Review of "do-it-yourself" dissolution (or other family law) papers to make sure nothing is left out and that it says exactly what you want it to, and what you expect that it does
• Help with timing and sequence of filing of "do-it-yourself" dissolution (or other family law) papers
• Help with collecting, organizing and interpreting records and documents Help with formulating settlement options that fit the Court's criteria
• Drafting documents
• Appearances at specified hearings
• Negotiations on behalf of the client
• Assistance with child support calculations
• Assistance with drafting parenting plan

Directed Mediation Services

This service is for represented and non-represented spouses, former spouses, parents, grandparents or other persons in family law disputes who wish to resolve their issues through mediation. If you and your spouse or other involved family member wish to mediate your differences and need or wish to have professional guidance on the basic issues and form of your final settlement for court, then mediation may be for you.

Mediation may be completed in one session, or may continue over weeks or even months if necessary, depending on the complexity and cooperation of the parties. Each session is two hours and the cost is $200 per hour shared equally by the parties. Please call or email to set up a consultation appointment to see if mediation is right for you.

Mutually-Agreed Binding Arbitration/Settlement Conferences

This service is for represented or non-represented spouses, ex-spouses, parents, grandparents or others in a family law dispute who need a neutral decision-maker when litigation is not an emotional or financial option.

The parties may participate in one or more two-hour semi-formal sessions in which each party presents their side and their evidence. The parties' differences are arbitrated by a family law professional with the goal of settling the case. The cost is $200 per hour shared equally by the parties. The parties must agree in advance that the decision is final and binding without going to court.

Traditional Legal Services - Dissolution and Other Family Matters

While negotiated resolutions are the goal of the attorneys at Bend Family Law, the reality is some cases may not be resolved outside the courtroom. For these cases, Bend Family Law is able to provide full, traditional legal representation.

Full traditional legal representation starts with you entering into a contract with (or "retaining") the attorney to take all actions on your case for you. This may include drafting all legal documents, communicating with the opposing party or their lawyer, doing "discovery" (which means acquiring all the information necessary to present your case), and appearing in court for temporary hearings and trials.

Generally, a retainer for this type of case is $2,500. Typically this retainer pays your filing fees and costs and pre-pays the attorney at the attorney's hourly rate. It does not include the cost of experts such as custody evaluators or appraisers or the cost of preparation of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders. A retainer is NOT a flat fee and it is NOT an estimate of what the total cost of your case will be. What your retainer does and does not cover depends entirely upon what you and your attorney agree on in writing. If retainer is left after your case is completed, the unused portion will be returned to you. Please call or e-mail to make an appointment with a Bend Family Law attorney to determine if this type of representation is necessary for you.