| Chapter 107 of the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) | | | | interest of the child to have frequent and continuing |
| contains the rules and guidelines about child custody. | | | | contact with both parents. Whenever possible, parents |
| Many of these laws are directly applicable as parents | | | | are encouraged to have a joint custody agreement. |
| create a parenting plan. Parents who are separating or | | | | This type of agreement doesn't mean that everything |
| divorced should learn these rules so that they can | | | | is shared equally between the parents. The child can |
| make a plan for their children that the state will | | | | still live primarily with one parent and visit the other. |
| approve of. Here are some of the important laws that | | | | Instead it means that both parents are active in the |
| concern the parenting plan that parents in Oregon | | | | child's life, and each has certain parental responsibilities |
| should know. | | | | to perform. Parents who agree on joint custody can |
| Chapter 107.102 in the ORS explains that the parents | | | | have that arrangement--the court cannot order sole |
| are required to develop and file a parenting plan with | | | | custody in this situation. The court will also never order |
| the court. The plan can be specific or general. A | | | | joint custody for parents who haven't agreed to it. The |
| general plan outlines the how the parenting time and | | | | mother and father have freedom with their parenting |
| parental responsibilities are shared and the parents can | | | | plan to specify how they will share custody. The |
| work out a specific custody agreement between | | | | parents should include provisions that state how the |
| themselves. The plan can also be as specific as the | | | | mother and father have divided the decision making |
| parents want. They can include information about the | | | | responsibility and also how they share time. |
| custody and visitation schedule, holidays, special | | | | These laws affect the making of the custody |
| events, telephone access, parental responsibilities, etc. | | | | agreement. Parents should consider if a joint custody |
| The mother and father should come up with an | | | | agreement would work for them and make a |
| agreement that works best for the child and their | | | | parenting plan accordingly. The mother and father must |
| situation. | | | | also realize that the state requires them to create and |
| Chapter 107.101 and 107.169 cover the issue of joint | | | | file a plan. This is all done for the benefit of the children. |
| custody. The state recognizes that it is in the best | | | | |