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Eugene, Oregon, Divorce Lawyers
A marital dissolution
can be the most difficult time in a person's life.
They're also one of the most important times. Your
financial future or your children's future may depend on
the outcome of an Oregon divorce.
A divorce can feel
like your world is ending and the uncertainty of the
future can be unsettling at best and terrifying at worst.
Getting answers from an experienced Oregon divorce lawyer
goes a long way in allowing you to prepare for the
future.
Settlement vs. Trial
Typically the best result for a
client in an Oregon divorce is to settle the case amicably with a result
he or she can live with. That is our goal in every case.
However, our attorneys actually try
cases, so we know what the likely range of outcomes are in a given case.
Before hiring an lawyer, quiz them as to how many trials their firm's
family law lawyers try each month. Without constantly being in
the courtroom, it is difficult for an attorney to tell you what spousal
support might, for instance. How will you know if a settlement offer is
acceptable unless your attorney knows what would likely happen at trial?
Given the
consequences of a divorce case, you not only need an
experienced Oregon family law attorney on your side, but
you need an experienced Lane County trial lawyer. Our
lawyers know family law and know the courtroom. In fact, Arnold Law
Office's managing partner, Jacy Arnold,
was rated one of the best Oregon family law lawyers under the age of 40.
[Click here
to meet our legal team.]
All
Oregon divorce cases are different. However, we know what Lane
County judges and other Oregon courts do in a case like
yours, because we've tried many cases. Consequently, we
know the likely outcomes of your situation if your
dissolution case goes to trial in Lane County.
We will not hesitate
to give you the straight truth about what an Oregon court
would likely do in a case like yours. We do not advise
you to take your case to trial just for the sake of
additional attorney fees. Based on our attorneys'
collective experience, we advise you of what we think the
possible Lane County trial outcomes are and the estimated
likelihood of each possible outcome. It is up to you to
decide whether or not to take your divorce case to trial.
Oregon Spousal Support:
Will I receive or have to pay it?
Oregon does not have any set
statutory guidelines for spousal support amounts but does have different
types of spousal support allowable. Generally, the circumstances where
support may be appropriate are guided by case law. Spousal support
awards vary quite a bit among the different Lane County judges. Our
attorneys try lots of Oregon divorce cases, so we can advise you on the
risks and benefits to litigating or settling a spousal support issue
with your spouse.
Complex
Assets Divorce
Many dissolutions of
marriage or domestic partnership involve complex assets,
such as retirement accounts, closely held corporations,
or cash-based income. These issues are ripe for
inequitable outcomes between the parties. To ensure
a fair result, your attorney must be experienced in
dealing with voluminous records and mysterious bank
transactions. This requires an attention to detail
and an eye for inconsistencies in the bank records. Our
attorneys have experience litigating complex asset
divorce cases as well as
complex commercial litigation in
Oregon.
Commonly hidden or forgotten assets
include the following:
- Frequent flyer mileage: usually there's a
monthly accounting of these. To obtain a value,
contact the airline to see what destination you
can purchase and compare that to values you can
book independently online.
- Security deposits (e.g., utilities, car
lease)
- Bond or deposit for country club
- Unused vacation, sick leave
- Patents, copyrights, royalties
- Income tax capital loss carry-forwards
- Income tax charitable contribution
carry-forwards
- Marketable government licenses (radio
licenses, rafting/river licenses, commercial
fishing quotas)
- Hobby or other collections
- Affiliation “rewards” programs (e.g., points
or discounts for credit card use)
- Entertainment tickets, season ticket options
- Business vehicle for personal use
- Prepaid rent, leases, subscriptions
- Burial plots
- Life insurance cash surrender value (or
perhaps death benefit if insured is elderly)
- Tort, worker’s comp claims, particularly if
they involve lost wages
- Hangar lease (for aircraft)
- Hotel or credit card points
- Cash and precious metals (gold and silver)
- “Hidden value” items - rare items of
personal property (e.g., antiques), rare pets,
collectibles
- Options to purchase property
- Unpaid commissions on deals set to close
- Referral fees (e.g., for personal injury
lawyers): when divorcing a lawyer, take a look
at the books to see who your spouse usually
refers cases to and then subpoena records from
that attorney and depose them.
- Car insurance prepaid
- Taxes prepaid
Source: Georgia Family Law Blog,
"Your
spouse's hidden assets"
Military
Benefits
If a party to a
divorce is in the military, it is necessary to hire an
attorney with experience in his practice area. If the
language in a judgment is improper, the division of a
military retirement could be unenforceable. Additionally,
there are several unique avenues to acquire information
relevant to the dissolution.
If you or someone you know in Eugene or
throughout the Willamette Valley needs the assistance of an
experienced divorce lawyer, contact the
attorneys at Arnold
Law Office today at 541-338-9111. Our attorneys have a wealth of
information at their fingertips, including that of managing partner
Jacy Arnold, who was recently rated one
of the best Oregon's best lawyers under the age of 40.

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