Practice area
Custody and parenting plans built around a child’s daily life
Pacific Family Law Firm represents Oregon parents in custody and parenting-time cases, from negotiated parenting plans to contested hearings involving safety, relocation, or decision-making.
Custody, parenting time, and decision-making are related, but they are not interchangeable. A workable plan addresses each one directly.
Custody determines who makes major decisions for a child. Oregon courts may award sole custody, but may order joint custody only when both parents agree.
A parenting plan should cover ordinary weeks, school breaks, holidays, transportation, communication, and the practical needs of the child.
The court considers the child’s relationships, each parent’s conduct and caregiving, safety, and the benefit of a continuing relationship with both parents when appropriate.
The overview below explains the legal and practical issues that commonly arise in this practice area.
Oregon custody determines authority over major decisions for a child. Parenting time determines when the child is with each parent and how exchanges, holidays, travel, and communication work. A court may approve joint custody when both parents agree. Without that agreement, the court selects a sole custodian and addresses parenting time separately. ORS 107.169 (opens in a new tab) states the joint-custody rule.
A proposal should fit the child’s school, care, health, and developmental needs. It should identify regular weeks, school breaks, holidays, transportation, phone or video contact, and a method for handling schedule changes. The Oregon Judicial Department parenting plan guide (opens in a new tab) provides a practical starting point. When parents dispute custody, a dated caregiving history and organized records usually communicate more than broad accusations.
You can discuss what is happening, which records to gather, and what choices may be time-sensitive without pressure or canned promises.
No. Custody concerns authority to make major decisions for a child. Parenting time is the schedule and conditions for each parent’s time with the child. Oregon’s Basic Parenting Plan Guide (opens in a new tab) explains the subjects a parenting plan can address.
Only when both parents agree to joint custody. If they do not agree, the court decides which parent will have sole legal custody and separately determines parenting time under ORS chapter 107 (opens in a new tab).
A dated parenting calendar, school and medical information, communications about the child, existing orders, and a concise caregiving history are often more useful than a large collection of unorganized messages.
Family transitions can bring court deadlines, financial uncertainty, parenting questions, and strong emotions at the same time. The first job is to steady the situation, understand the facts, and identify the legal options that fit your family.
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