How Long Does a Divorce Take in Oregon?

Oregon has no mandatory waiting period for divorce. The 90-day waiting period that used to exist under ORS 107.065 was repealed in 2011. A dissolution is legally final the day the judge signs the General Judgment — and for cooperative couples, that can happen in as little as two weeks.

Timeline by Filing Path

Co-petitioner (joint filing): 2-4 weeks. Both spouses file together with a signed stipulated judgment. No service of process, no response period. The only delay is how long the judge takes to review the paperwork — which depends on the county's current docket. Smaller counties often move faster than Multnomah or Washington.

Sole petition, uncontested: 3-6 weeks. The petitioner files and serves the respondent. After service, the respondent has 30 days to file a formal Response. In an uncontested case, the respondent typically signs a stipulated judgment well before the deadline. Once both parties have signed, the judge reviews and signs — usually within days to two weeks.

Sole petition, default: 5-8 weeks. If the respondent doesn't respond within 30 days of being served, the petitioner files a Motion for Order of Default. The judge then signs a General Judgment based entirely on the petitioner's requested terms. The timeline is service (1-2 weeks) plus the 30-day response window plus default processing (1-2 weeks).

Contested divorce: 6-18 months. When spouses disagree on terms, the case moves through mandatory financial disclosures (30 days under ORS 107.089), possible mediation, settlement conferences, and potentially a domestic relations trial. Complex cases involving business valuations, contested custody, or out-of-state property can exceed a year.

What Controls the Timeline

County docket congestion. Oregon's 36 counties have different caseloads. Urban courts (Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Lane) typically take longer to process paperwork than rural counties. This affects how quickly a judge reviews your proposed judgment.

Service of process speed. For sole petitions, the clock doesn't start until the respondent is served. An evasive spouse who avoids service can add weeks or months. If the respondent can't be located, the petitioner must request court permission for alternative service (posting, publication, or even email/social media under ORCP 7D(6)), which adds 4-8 weeks.

Parenting class completion. Cases involving minor children (or adult children 18-20 attending school) require both parents to complete a court-approved parenting education class. The judge won't sign the final judgment until both certificates are filed. The petitioner must register within 15 days of filing; the respondent within 30 days of service. If one parent delays, the whole case stalls.

Financial disclosure compliance. Both parties must exchange financial documents within 30 days of service under ORS 107.089. If one spouse refuses, the other must file a Motion to Compel — adding weeks and potentially attorney fees.

The "No Waiting Period" Advantage

Most states impose a waiting period between filing and finalization — 60 days in California, 90 days in Colorado, six months in New York. Oregon eliminated this entirely.

The practical effect: if you and your spouse have already agreed on all terms, you can walk into the courthouse, file your co-petition with a signed judgment attached, and be legally divorced within weeks. The only delay is administrative processing time.

This also means there's no cooling-off period. Oregon trusts adults to make their own decisions about when to end a marriage.

How to Avoid Delays

The most common avoidable delays come from incomplete paperwork. Court clerks reject filing packets that are missing the Confidential Information Form, that omit child medical support terms (required under ORS 107.106), or that fail to include child support worksheets for cases with children.

Each rejection sends you back to square one on the judge's review queue.

The Oregon Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a pre-submission checklist that catches every common omission before you file, plus county-specific variations that affect processing times.

See more Oregon guides →