Guidance You Can Trust. Experience You Can Rely On.
Parenting Time Attorney in Portland
Practical Parenting-Time Guidance Backed by Over a Decade of Experience
Parenting-time disputes often involve more than deciding which days a child spends with each parent. Exchanges, holidays, school routines, missed time, safety concerns, and changing family circumstances may all require careful attention. In Oregon, courts and attorneys generally use the term parenting time, although many parents know the issue as visitation rights.
At Hedman Family Law, L.L.C., we help Portland parents address custody-related concerns and modifications of family court orders. We listen to your priorities, explain your legal options, and help you pursue an arrangement based on your child’s best interests and your family’s circumstances.
Call (503) 506-7887 to discuss your parenting-time concern and learn what steps may be available.
Legal Help With Parenting Plans, Changes, & Enforcement
Parenting-time issues may arise during a divorce or child custody case, after an order has been entered, or when a parent isn’t following the existing schedule. We identify the legal issue, explain the applicable process, and prepare a clear request grounded in the facts.
Our parenting-time counsel may address:
- Initial Parenting Plans: Preparing or reviewing proposed schedules for regular parenting time, holidays, vacations, and school breaks.
- Schedule Disputes: Addressing disagreements about exchanges, transportation, missed time, or unclear terms.
- Order Modifications: Seeking changes when work schedules, school obligations, relocation plans, safety concerns, or a child’s needs have changed.
- Enforcement Concerns: Evaluating disputed compliance with an existing order and the available legal process.
Enforcement and modification serve different purposes. Enforcement concerns whether an existing order is being followed, while modification asks the court to change the arrangement. We assess which approach fits your current visitation or scheduling concern instead of treating every disagreement the same way.
What an Oregon Parenting Plan May Cover
Oregon court proceedings involving parenting time require a parenting plan. At a minimum, the plan must state how much time each parent will spend with the child. If either parent requests a detailed plan or the parents can’t create one together, the court may establish more specific terms.
A detailed parenting plan may cover:
- Residential schedules, weekends, holidays, vacations, and school breaks
- Transportation, exchange times, and exchange locations
- Telephone or electronic contact with the child
- Information sharing and decision-making responsibilities
- Relocation procedures and methods for resolving future disputes
No single schedule applies automatically to every family. Courts consider the child’s best interests, the parties’ safety, and the circumstances supported by the evidence. We help clients develop practical proposals that address daily routines and reduce uncertainty about important details.
Over a Decade of Focused Family Law Experience
Our practice is devoted exclusively to family law. We bring over a decade of experience to each case and provide realistic guidance while recognizing the strain that can accompany a contested schedule.
Before recommending a course of action, we take time to understand your family’s history, your concerns, and your goals. Our firm holds a 9.3 Avvo rating. Lead attorney Natalie Hedman participates in the Oregon State Bar Pro-Bono Committee and holds memberships in Oregon Women Lawyers, the Multnomah Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
But Your Don't Have to Do It Alone
Supervised Parenting Time & Safety-Focused Plans
Safety concerns may require more structure than a general parenting plan provides. With supervised parenting time, contact occurs in the presence of an approved third party or professional. A proposed plan may also set specific conditions for exchanges, communication, transportation, or a possible transition to unsupervised time.
Allegations involving abuse, threats, substance use, unsafe exchanges, or immediate danger require advice tailored to the facts. Parents generally must follow an existing family court order until it’s changed through the appropriate legal process, subject to emergency circumstances recognized by Oregon law. We can review the order and available information, then explain which legal options may apply.
Parenting-Time Resources for Multnomah County Families
Multnomah County Family Resolution Services provides mediation and parenting-plan development services. Its ReSet program may assist qualifying families experiencing an extended loss of parent-child contact. Eligibility and the appropriate process depend on each family’s circumstances.
The Oregon Judicial Department also publishes basic, birth-through-three, and safety-focused parenting-plan guides. Because courts don’t accept every self-help form uniformly, parents should confirm local filing requirements before relying on a particular form or plan.
Discuss a Clearer Path Forward for Your Family
Whether you need to create a parenting plan, request a schedule change, address denied time, or respond to safety concerns, we provide sincere and personalized counsel focused on your family’s circumstances.
Hedman Family Law, L.L.C. serves Portland families and surrounding Oregon communities, with virtual consultations available for greater flexibility.
Call (503) 506-7887 to discuss your parenting-time or visitation concern with our family law team.
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Sincere, Honest and Compassionate
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Focused on Your Children’s Best Interest
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A Team Who Understands and Genuinely Wants to Help
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Experience and Passion about Protecting Your Rights
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Invested in Our Community
Whether you have questions or you’re ready to get started, our legal team is ready to help. Complete our form below or call us at (503) 506-7887.