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Spousal support in Oregon sounds simple until you’re the one trying to predict what a judge will do and what a “fair” monthly number really means. We sit down with Pacific Cascade Legal's Founding Attorney, Lewis Landerholm, to clear up the confusion by breaking spousal support into the three categories Oregon courts actually use: maintenance support, transitional support, and compensatory support. Along the way, we explain why compensatory support is rare, why transitional support is often paired with maintenance, and how the facts of your marriage shape both the amount and the duration.

We also get practical about timing and real-life pressure points. We talk about temporary spousal support during the divorce process, what “indefinite” support usually means (and why it does not automatically mean forever), and how retirement can trigger a reanalysis. Since Oregon doesn’t use a spousal support calculator, we dig into the judge’s discretion, how income disparities are evaluated, and why “income” can mean potential income if someone is underemployed. For complex cases, we touch on vocational and occupational experts who can help estimate earning capacity after years out of the workforce.

To round it out, we cover the post-2019 tax treatment of spousal support, how spousal support interacts with Oregon child support calculations, and negotiation strategies like a lump-sum buyout or trading support for assets. If you’re facing a divorce, considering a settlement, or worried you’re leaving money on the table, this conversation gives you a clearer map of the spousal support landscape. Subscribe, share with someone who needs this, and leave a review, then tell us: would you prefer a monthly payment or a clean buyout?

If you would like to speak with one of our attorneys, please call our office at (503) 227-0200, or visit our website at https://www.pacificcascadelegal.com.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this communication is intended to provide legal advice nor does it constitute a client-attorney relationship, therefore you should not interpret the contents as such.

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Divorce decisions are rarely made in a calm, rational bubble. When fear hits, money can turn into leverage, conflict can become a reflex, and old power dynamics can keep running the show even after you decide the marriage is over. We sit down with negotiation professor and mediation coach Merideth Thompson, Ph.D. to unpack the real drivers behind “bad deals” in divorce and how to protect yourself before the process protects you.

We dig into how finances get weaponized through control, hidden information, and pressure tactics, and why that uncertainty makes people more likely to settle out of panic. We also talk about the “conflict lens” and how constant fighting doesn’t just raise attorney fees, it drains assets, delays closure, and creates instability that kids feel first. Meredith brings negotiation and relationship science into plain language, helping us shift from rigid demands to underlying interests like security, workable co-parenting, and a future you can actually live with.

Then we get practical about divorce mediation and negotiation preparation: writing down goals, naming non-negotiables, and rank-ordering priorities so you know where to fight hard and where to trade. Meredith explains the research behind aspiration points and why your target matters, plus the role of creativity under high stakes, including a memorable “peace and freedom account” strategy that reduces emotional friction while you rebuild your life.

If you found this helpful, subscribe to Modern Family Matters, share this with someone navigating divorce or separation, and leave a review so more families can find real guidance. What part of divorce decision-making feels hardest to you right now?

If you would like to speak with one of our attorneys, please call our office at (503) 227-0200, or visit our website at https://www.pacificcascadelegal.com.

To learn more about how Merideth can help you, you can view her website at: https://merideththompson.com/

Disclaimer: Nothing in this communication is intended to provide legal advice nor does it constitute a client-attorney relationship, therefore you should not interpret the contents as such.

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Not every marriage ends in a divorce—and not every separation means the same thing.

This episode of Modern Family Matters explores the significant differences between annulments, divorces, and legal separations—three distinct ways marriages can be dissolved.

Host Steve Altishin and Founding Attorney Lewis Landerholm explain that annulments are increasingly rare in modern law because they require proving specific grounds (such as fraud, bigamy, or incest), whereas no-fault divorces are available in all states without proving wrongdoing.

While annulments theoretically erase a marriage as if it never happened, the practical and financial burden of proving grounds makes them impractical for most people. The discussion clarifies that children's legal status, custody, and support remain unaffected regardless of which dissolution method is chosen, and that legal separations maintain marital status while dividing assets—a distinction that can create complications if parties later reconcile or decide to divorce.

If you would like to speak with one of our attorneys, please call our office at (503) 227-0200, or visit our website at https://www.pacificcascadelegal.com.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this communication is intended to provide legal advice nor does it constitute a client-attorney relationship, therefore you should not interpret the contents as such.