Where can I get free help with divorce forms in Lane, Linn, Benton or Douglas County?

The forms themselves

The Oregon Judicial Department posts its divorce forms for free on its family law forms page. There are packets for couples with children, couples without children and spouses filing together as co-petitioners. Download them before you visit a help office. If you're handling the divorce without lawyers, start here, because the packet shows which documents the court expects and the help office can check them for completeness once they're filled in. Facilitators work fastest with your draft in hand. Bring every page.

Lane and Linn

In Lane County, the Family Court Assistance Office is on the second floor of the courthouse at 125 East 8th Avenue in Eugene; check in at the Court Records Window. Call 541-682-4302 or email LANFamilyCourt@ojd.state.or.us. Reception is open 8:00 to 4:30, and phone and email 8 to 5, Monday to Friday. Staff explain procedures, review documents by appointment, make referrals and sell forms.

In Linn County, the Family Court Assistance Office is in Room 108B of the courthouse at 300 SW Fourth Avenue in Albany; check in at Room 107. Call 541-704-3479 or email lin.familycourt.mailbox@ojd.state.or.us. Document review is by appointment from 8 to 12, and general questions are 1:30 to 4:00 in 30-minute appointments, Monday to Friday.

Benton and Douglas

In Benton County, the Family Law Unit is in Room 101 of the courthouse at 120 NW 4th Street in Corvallis. Call 541-243-7846 or email BEN.FamilyLaw@ojd.state.or.us, and the family law facilitator will review forms by appointment. Call before you go. Benton is also the one county of the four whose local rules let couples agree to mediate property, debt and support under SLR 12.015, which can matter when the house is the main asset.

In Douglas County, the Family Law Resource Center is in Room 201 of the Justice Building at 1036 SE Douglas Avenue in Roseburg. Email dou-domestic@ojd.state.or.us, or call the court's family law line at 541-957-2403. Forms are available 8 to 12, filing is 8 to 12 and 1 to 5, and a facilitator reviews by appointment.

What they can't do

Every one of these offices is clear that its staff aren't your lawyers. They can explain a form and check that it's complete, but they can't tell you what to file, what to write or what strategy to use, and Linn's office can't help people who already have lawyers. Benton notes that court staff can't give legal advice under ORS 9.160. For that, you need an attorney. I'm a broker and can't give it either, but I'm glad to explain the house side at 541.784.7745.