Janice Ashe
Community Justice Manager
503.988.3189 x22195

Family Court Services is a social service agency that is administered by the Department of Community Justice Juvenile Services Division.  Family Court Services supports the Domestic Relations Court by providing a variety of direct services to parents and children experiencing the transition of separation or divorce, or of conflict related to unresolved parental disputes over the care and custody of children.  

To protect children and parents from the harmful effects of separation and divorce related conflict.

Program Objectives

Direct services to parents and others include:

• Intake Services

Front desk reception, parent education and counseling staff all provide information and referral services to clients in the process of navigating domestic relations filing and court procedures. Clients receive telephone or in person, walk-in services in which they may register for mediation and parent education, meet with a counselor to receive assistance with filing custody and parenting time plans, ask questions about procedures and FCS services, and receive assistance about how to best access other agencies and resources to get help with domestic relations conflicts and emergencies.

• Parental Education

The Parent Education Program offers a three and a half hour class that presents information concerning legal issues, child development, conflict resolution strategies and community resources for those who have custody and parenting time issues before the court. Lectures, videos, and handouts are used to convey the information.

A $55/$70 fee is charged to participate in this class which is mandatory for those who have domestic relations matter pending before the court.  (ORS 3.425)

The one-time only class is offered five times per month—every other Tuesday, every other Thursday and one Saturday. 

You may register online or call 503.988.3037 to set an appointment or to ask questions.

If you are at or close to the poverty line and have a case in Multnomah County, you may download a copy of the Fee Waiver Form,, fill it out completely, and fax or mail your signed form to:

Multnomah County Courthouse
Attention Parent Education:
1021 SW 4th Avenue, Room 350   Portland, OR 97204-1184

• Mediation

Assistance planning custody or visitation with minor children is available through the Mediation Program. Parents are assisted to discuss arrangements for sharing decisions about and time with their children and reaching a mutually acceptable plan, if possible. This service is supported by filing fees and there is no charge. (ORS 107.775 – 107.795; Chief Justice Order No. 05-028)

• Evaluation

A written professional opinion concerning custody and parenting time is developed by the completion of a Custody and/or Parenting Time Evaluation. Parents, and sometimes children, are interviewed and other information is collected that is pertinent to making a recommendation. There is a $168 opening fee associated with this service and the initiation of this study requires that a domestic relations matter be pending before the court.

• Parental Access and Visitation Mediation Program

Information and referral, assistance with domestic relations filing forms and mediation is provided to indigent parents that have administrative child support orders or processes underway, but do not have a parenting plan on file with the Court. This service is supported by a Federal Department of Justice Access and Visitation grant awarded by the Oregon Division of Child Support. There is no charge for this service.

• Conciliation

Parents may participate in short-term counseling specifically related to a divorce or separation proceedings through the application of a conciliation petition. There is no charge for this service. (ORS 107.510 – 107.615)

• Resources
• Second Chances
• Ideas for Your Parenting Plan
• Safety Plan Handout
• PT Plan Handout 0-2
• PT Plan Handout 3-5
• PT Plan Handout 6-12
• PT Plan Handout 13-18

For information or an appointment call:
Family Court Services (503) 988-3189

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