What to Do If You Can’t Find the Right Family Court Form in Oregon

Are you going through a divorce, custody, or other family court case on your own? You’ll often need to fill out and file forms to move your case forward. But what if you can’t find the form you need?  

Before going any further, read our guide to free court forms for Oregon divorce and custody cases.

If you still can’t find the right form, this article provides options for finding or creating the form you need—either on your own or with a little support.

Option 1: Talk to your local family court facilitator

Each circuit court in Oregon has a family court facilitator. Facilitators provide free help to people involved in family court cases. They can:  

• Help you find court forms.
• Answer basic questions about your case.
• Explain court processes.  

You can meet with a facilitator in person or schedule a free virtual appointment. Read our article about court facilitators to learn more and find out how to get help.

Option 2: Visit a law library

Sometimes a facilitator can’t help you because your situation is too complicated. Maybe there are no court forms or maybe they can't answer your questions. 

If that’s the case, try visiting a law library. Law library services vary widely from county to county. However, larger law libraries typically have law librarians on staff who can assist you with legal research. They may be able to connect you with additional legal resources that can help you.

Use our Legal Directory to search for a law librarian near you.  

Option 3: Read the “Family Law in Oregon” booklet

The Family Law in Oregon booklet is a comprehensive guide to family law in Oregon. It’s written by Oregon lawyers for Oregon lawyers.

Although this book isn’t intended for the public, if you’re determined to handle your family law case on your own, this book can be a helpful resource. It includes detailed legal information and court forms.  

To access this book:

• Contact one of the law libraries in our Legal Directory for free access.
• Or visit the Oregon State Bar Bookstore to purchase a copy for $378. 

Option 4: Hire a lawyer to help you draft the form

If you’re still stuck, consider hiring a lawyer to help you draft the form. Some lawyers offer limited scope or unbundled services. This means they will help you with just one part of your case—like writing a form or preparing for a hearing—without taking on your entire case. This saves you a lot of money!

You can find a lawyer that provides unbundled legal services by:  

• Contacting Oregon’s Lawyer Referral Service.
• Googling “Oregon Unbundled Family Lawyer” or similar search terms.

For tips on hiring a lawyer, see our guide to hiring a lawyer in Oregon.  

Option 5: If all else fails, write a letter

If you’ve tried all these options and you’re still stuck, you can try writing a letter to the court. Many courts will accept letters as long as you give a copy of the letter to the other side.

In your letter to the court, be sure to include:  

• Your case name and number.
• A clear explanation of what you’d like the court to do.
• Your name, phone number, and address.
• A statement that you mailed a copy of your letter to the other side. Include the date you mailed the letter and the address you mailed it to.

Take aways

Don’t panic if you can’t find the family court form you need for your Oregon divorce or custody case.

You have several options to keep your case moving:

• Get free help from a family court facilitator.
• Visit a law library for legal research help.
• Access the “Family Law in Oregon book” to find detailed family law information and forms.
• Hire a lawyer for limited help drafting the form.
• As a last resort, write a letter to the court. 

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