Gresham Child Custody Lawyer

Child custody is one of the most important issues you’ll face in any divorce or unmarried-parent situation. When both parents agree on custody and a co-parenting schedule, Oregon courts will generally approve the arrangement. When parents can’t agree, a judge hears both sides and determines custody and the parenting plan based on the best interests of the child.

If the other parent has already retained a family law attorney, having your own representation is important. Custody proceedings carry long-term consequences for your parental rights, and early missteps can be difficult to undo. At Hedman Family Law, we’ve helped many individuals in the Gresham area negotiate and litigate child custody matters arising from both divorce and unmarried-couple situations.

Speak with a child custody attorney in Gresham by calling us at (503) 506-7887 or reaching out online.

What Representation Brings to a Contested Custody Case

Custody proceedings in Multnomah County Circuit Court involve Oregon-specific statutes, local court procedures, and fact-intensive hearings where preparation matters. Whether your case moves toward negotiation or a contested hearing before a judge, how you present your position from the start can shape the outcome. Mistakes made early can affect parenting time and legal custody rights for years.

Our firm brings over a decade of family law experience to these cases, including complex matters where custody intersects with property division or spousal support. Managing attorney Natalie Hedman has served on the Oregon State Bar Pro-Bono Committee and received the Michael E. Haglund Award for her contributions to client service and community engagement. We know this court system and these proceedings, and we help our clients understand their options before making decisions that will shape their family’s future.

Creating a Parenting Plan in Gresham, Oregon

Oregon courts don’t use the word “visitation” when referring to a parent’s time with their children. Instead, it’s called “parenting time,” which reflects the active role both parents are expected to take in raising a child. Oregon courts prefer that both parents remain involved in a frequent and continuing relationship with their child. Cases involving domestic violence or substance abuse by a parent are among the circumstances where courts may not apply that preference.

Legal custody refers to the right to make major decisions about a child’s health, education, religion, and other important matters. Oregon courts won’t award joint legal custody unless both parents fully agree to share that decision-making responsibility. A parent with sole legal custody can make those decisions regardless of whether the other parent agrees. Joint legal custody doesn’t automatically mean equal parenting time or that no child support is owed. A parenting plan sets out the specific schedule for parenting time and addresses holidays, vacations, and transitions between households.

How Oregon Courts Determine the Best Interests of the Child

In Oregon, a minor child can’t choose which parent to live with. That determination rests with the court. A child must be 18 or otherwise legally emancipated before they may make that choice independently. Oregon custody law is gender-neutral: a father has the same right to seek sole or joint custody as a mother, and the court’s focus stays on the child’s best interests, not the parent’s gender.

When determining what arrangement serves the child, courts consider many factors, including:

• Who has been the child’s primary caregiver
• The child’s age and health
• The child’s preference, if old enough to have an opinion
• The child’s relationship with each parent and other family members
• Whether a parent has a history of family abuse or substance abuse
• A parent’s criminal record, if any

The primary caretaker factor carries significant weight. Courts look closely at who has historically handled day-to-day care when deciding what arrangement may best serve the child going forward.

Speak with a Child Custody Lawyer in Gresham

We can work with you to develop a parenting plan that accounts for the critical factors in your specific case and advocate on your behalf in any court proceeding. If you’re navigating a custody dispute or starting the process of formalizing an agreement, our team is ready to help.

Contact our Gresham child custody lawyers today at (503) 506-7887 or reach out online to get started.