Everyone wants to know how much their family law matter is going to cost. Your legal fees — well, that’s a matter between you and your attorney. Do you need a custody evaluation? That requires a professional, and will cost between $500-$7,000. If your case is complex, you might need experts to testify.

But here’s some good news: your filing fees can be easily quantified, because they’re set by the circuit courts each year.

The circuit you file in depends on where you or the other party (depending on the facts of your case) reside. So, for example, if you’re in Washington County, you or your lawyer will hoof it out to Hillsboro to file your paperwork, even if you’re way out in King City. Barring unusual circumstances, your case will stay in that circuit until it’s resolved.

Here are some of the common filing fees in the Portland Metro Area for 2008.

Clackamas County Circuit Court: (Effective April 1, 2008)

adoption (petition): $100

adoption (objecting party): $98

annulment (petition): $380

annulment (response): $304

child custody or support (petition): $370

child custody or support (response): $294

child custody or support (motion to modify): $100

child custody or support (response to motion): $75

dissolution of marriage (petition): $381

dissolution of marriage (response): $304

dissolution of marriage (motion to modify): $150

dissolution of marriage (response to motion): $115

family abuse prevention act (all): $0

filing/docketing foreign child custody determination: $41

paternity/filiation (petition): $370

paternity/filiation (response): $294

Multnomah County Circuit Court (Effective January 1 2008)

adoption (petition): $100

adoption (objecting party): $98

annulment (petition): $380

annulment (response): $254

child custody or support (petition): $370

child custody or support (response): $244

child custody or support (motion to modify): $200

child custody or support (response to motion): $100

dissolution of marriage (petition): $381

dissolution of marriage (response): $254

dissolution of marriage (motion to modify): $253

dissolution of marriage (response to motion): $140

family abuse prevention act (all): $0

filing/docketing foreign child custody determination: $41

paternity/filiation (petition): $370

paternity/filiation (response): $244

Washington County Circuit Court (Effective January 1 2008 and April 1 2008)

adoption (petition): $100

adoption (objecting party): $98

annulment (petition): $330

annulment (response): $263

child custody or support (petition): $320

child custody or support (response): $253

child custody or support (motion to modify): $55

child custody or support (response to motion): $55

dissolution of marriage (petition): $331

dissolution of marriage (response): $263

dissolution of marriage (motion to modify): $108

dissolution of marriage (response to motion): $95

family abuse prevention act (all): $0

filing/docketing foreign child custody determination: $41

paternity/filiation (petition): $320

paternity/filiation (response): $253

U.S. News and World Report ran an interesting article captioned “Childhood Smiles-or Frowns-and the Risk of Divorce” Researchers compared the intensity of smiles from college students’ yearbook photos and childhood photos, and then compared the intensity of the smiles to the divorce rate among the sample.  The top 10% of smilers had a 5.5% divorce rate, while 27% of the worst smilers were divorced. One theory behind the result is that optimistic people fare better in relationships than the eternally grumpy. Should my divorce lawyer peers be asking for a copy of the yearbook photos before drafting a prenuptial agreement?

Many of our clients report that they have emotionally richer and longer communications with children when they video conference rather than just call. We recommend the use of a web cam and free video conferencing to clients with long distance parenting issues. A well drafted parenting plan should address the use of free video conferencing, include the right to use and the obligation to facilitate electronic communication (e.g. maintain Internet, a working camera, etc.) The feedback we get from our clients using web cams for videoconferencing has been overwhelmingly positive. If you travel for work, or do not live close to your children, talk to your lawyer about putting video conferencing language in your parenting plan.