Legal Question in Family Law in Oregon

"Revision" of divorce "contract" .....

YOUR QUESTION:

My ex and I need to revise our divorce contract. Can we do this by ourselves? We both agree on the changes but I want to know if this new agreement will be legal without an attorney or a judge.

ANSWER:

It sounds like you are referring to a modification of a Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage. Just as a Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage is not "offical" until signed by a judge, a modification of a dissolution judgment must also be signed by a judge. If you and ex-spouse are both in agreement as to the terms of the modification, you can submit to the court a Stipulated Judgment Modifying Prior Judgment. Assuming you comply with all of the procedural rules applicable to such modifications, there should be no problem. And it is something that you may very well be able to do on your own, without need of a lawyer (although lawyer involvement is always beneficial, at least in my opinion).

Check out the on-line instructions and forms at:

http://www.ojd.state.or.us/osca/cpsd/courtimprovement/familylaw/flpacket4.htm

LDG