Tools for Portland, Oregon Guardians ad Litem, Therapists and Mediators

A co-parenting app and case tools you can recommend to the Portland, Oregon families you work with, whether you serve as a guardian ad litem, a therapist, or a mediator. Messaging between co-parents is free for both parents, and every message is time-stamped and tamper-evident.

Families in Portland, Oregon who end up in the Multnomah County Circuit Court rarely arrive at a mediation, a therapy session, or a home visit with their records in order. FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform built for those parents. Below is what it does for them, what it means for you as a guardian ad litem, therapist, or mediator, and what to know about family court in Portland, Oregon.

Area covered: Multnomah County.

Court for custody cases: Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Appointed for the child: Counsel for the child.

Custody mediation: Depends on the county or judge.

Parenting coordinators: Set by state law or court rule (ORS 107.425).

Parenting class: Depends on the county or judge.

State family law: Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 107 - Dissolution of Marriage.

Co-parent messaging (Free): One time-stamped, tamper-evident thread, free for both parents, with a Tone Meter that offers calmer rewrites.

Invite a professional into the conversation (Free): A parent can add a guardian ad litem or mediator to the co-parent conversation with a single-use link.

Parenting plan, built and shared (Free to build): Parents draft a parenting plan and can share it with you to read and comment on.

Verify a chat export (Free): Check that an exported message record (the JSON file) has not been changed. No account needed.

Court-Grade Journal (Paid plan): A dated, no-delete journal; a parent can send you a packet of chosen entries.

Expense Tracker (Paid plan): Shared child costs with receipts; a parent can give you a view-only look.

Parents can create an account and message their co-parent for free, with no credit card. Building a parenting plan is free; sharing, downloading, and printing it, and the tools marked as a paid plan, are part of a monthly plan a parent can start and stop.

For counsel for the childs and guardians ad litem in Portland, Oregon

In Oregon, the court can appoint a counsel for the child in a custody case. What the role involves is in the FAQ below.

On FamilyCourtHelp.com you see what a parent chooses to share. A parent can invite you into the co-parent conversation with a single-use link, which you accept with your own free account; from there you can read the thread, post in it, and review the shared calendar's requests and approvals. A parent can also share the parenting plan with you to read and comment on.

The invitation a parent sends is labeled Guardian ad Litem, the title most states use. It works the same if you serve as a counsel for the child in Portland, Oregon.

For therapists and counselors in Portland, Oregon

Court-involved and reunification therapists, co-parenting counselors, and custody evaluators in Portland, Oregon do not get an account view here, and that is deliberate: each parent keeps their own record and chooses what to bring you. The free messenger keeps the week's facts in one time-stamped thread, and its Tone Meter flags a heated message and suggests a calmer one before it is sent.

For mediators and parenting coordinators in Portland, Oregon

In Oregon, custody mediation is set county by county. Parenting coordinators are set by state law or court rule (ORS 107.425). The details are in the FAQ below.

Sessions in Portland, Oregon start further along when the draft is already on the table. Parents can share their parenting plan with you to read and comment on, and invite you into their conversation with a single-use link. Agreements then live in one time-stamped thread, and every schedule change is a request on the shared calendar that the other parent approves or declines.

Parenting coordinators can be added to a shared plan as a viewer who reads and comments.

Family court programs in Portland, Oregon

Custody cases in Portland, Oregon are heard in the Multnomah County Circuit Court. The court-connected programs below were checked against official sources.

Family Resolution Services (Multnomah County): A county program that supports the domestic relations court with services for separating parents and their children, including mediation for parents in cases involving children. Its mediators have advanced training in custody and parenting time.

If you searched for a counsel for the child, a family therapist, or a custody mediator in Portland, Oregon, the court that has your case, the order in it, or your lawyer is the place to find who is appointed or approved. This site does not appoint professionals or refer you to one. What you can do here is come prepared: keep every message with your co-parent in one time-stamped thread, write down what happened with dates while it is fresh, and work on a parenting plan before the meeting.

Free help for parents in Portland, Oregon: the court help desks and legal aid offices below were checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

Multnomah: Multnomah County Legal Resource Center, (971) 236-8670. Helps parents without a lawyer fill out Multnomah County divorce and custody paperwork.

Multnomah legal aid: Legal Aid Services of Oregon, (503) 224-4086.

FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform, not a law firm and not a court, and nothing on this page is legal, clinical, or mediation advice. Court rules and local programs change, so confirm anything that matters for a case with the court, the order that appointed you, or the program itself.

Frequently asked questions

Where are custody cases heard in Portland, Oregon?

Divorce and custody cases in Multnomah County, including Portland, are heard by Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Is there a court mediation program in Portland, Oregon?

Yes. Families with a case in the local court can use the Family Resolution Services (Multnomah County). What it offers, and the official link, are in the family court programs section above.

Where can parents in Portland, Oregon get free help with a family court case?

Free court help for parents without a lawyer: Multnomah County Legal Resource Center. Free legal aid: Legal Aid Services of Oregon. Phone numbers and links are in the parents section above, checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

How can parents prepare for custody mediation in Portland, Oregon?

Bring the family calendar, a draft parenting plan, a list of the issues still open, and a list of shared costs with receipts. Parents can put all of that together on FamilyCourtHelp.com before the first session. Families with a case in the local court can ask about the Family Resolution Services (Multnomah County).

What does a counsel for the child do in a Portland, Oregon custody case?

In Oregon custody and parenting time cases the court may appoint a lawyer to represent the child. If a child asks for a lawyer, the court must appoint one, and the fee may be charged to the parties. You may also see "attorney for the child" and "child's attorney". The rule is in ORS 107.425. This is general information, not legal advice; the order in the case controls.

Is custody mediation required in Oregon?

Every Oregon judicial district must offer a mediation orientation session when custody or parenting time is in dispute. Many counties also require parents to try custody mediation before a judge decides.

Does Oregon use parenting coordinators?

Oregon law lets the court appoint a person, panel or program to help parents build and follow a parenting plan and settle parenting time disputes. This can include gathering information, checking that orders are followed, and making recommendations to the court.

Do parents in Oregon have to take a parenting class?

Many Oregon counties require parents in divorce, separation and custody cases to finish a parent education class before the final judgment. The classes cover helping children adjust and skills for co-parenting while living apart.