Support in Oregon (2026)

Oregon’s Three Types of Spousal Support

Oregon’s most distinctive contribution to family support law is its recognition of three separate types of spousal support, each designed to address a different economic consequence of divorce. This framework, codified in ORS 107.105, provides more nuanced relief than the single-category alimony systems used in most states.

• Transitional support helps a spouse transition to the post-divorce economy by providing short-term assistance for education, training, or vocational development. It typically lasts no longer than ten years.
• Compensatory support compensates a spouse who made significant contributions to the other spouse’s education, training, career, or earning capacity during the marriage. For example, if one spouse worked to put the other through professional school, compensatory support may be appropriate.
• Spousal maintenance addresses the long-term needs of a spouse who cannot become self-supporting at the standard of living established during the marriage. It is most common in longer marriages where one spouse served primarily as a homemaker or caregiver.

Courts may award one, two, or all three types in a single case, depending on the facts. Oregon courts generally view marriages of 20 years or more as strong candidates for spousal maintenance, while shorter marriages more commonly result in transitional or compensatory support.

How Child Support Is Calculated

Oregon uses the income shares model for child support, combining both parents’ incomes to determine the total obligation. The guidelines are established by the Oregon Child Support Guidelines Advisory Committee and codified in ORS 25.275 and OAR 137-050-0700 through 137-050-0765.

The calculation begins with each parent’s gross income, which includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, unemployment benefits, Social Security benefits, and most other income sources. The court may impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.

After determining each parent’s gross income, the guidelines apply adjustments for:

• Taxes and mandatory withholdings
• Existing support obligations for other children
• Health insurance premiums for the child
• Work-related childcare costs
• Parenting time credits (for the parent exercising parenting time)

The combined adjusted incomes are then applied to the guidelines schedule, which specifies a base support obligation depending on income levels and the number of children. Each parent’s share is proportional to their contribution to the combined income.

For a broader explanation of income shares calculations, see our guide on how child support is calculated. To estimate your potential obligation, try our child support calculator.

Parenting Time Credits

Oregon’s guidelines include a parenting time credit that adjusts the support obligation to reflect the amount of time the child spends with the non-custodial parent. The more overnights the non-custodial parent has, the greater the credit, which reduces the support amount. This adjustment recognizes that parents who exercise significant parenting time incur direct costs for housing, food, and other expenses during those periods.

The parenting time credit is calculated using a specific formula in the administrative rules and is based on the actual number of overnights, not merely the schedule in the parenting plan. This means parents should track actual parenting time carefully if they anticipate a support review.

Key Factors and Deviations

Oregon courts may deviate from the calculated guideline amount when the standard result would be unjust or inappropriate. The court considers:

• Shared or split parenting time arrangements
• Transportation costs associated with parenting time
• Income of a new spouse or partner to the extent it frees up resources
• Special hardships of a parent, including extraordinary medical expenses
• Needs of other dependents
• Benefits received by the child, such as Social Security benefits derived from a parent’s account
• The net income available after mandatory deductions
• Any other factors the court considers relevant

Any deviation must be supported by findings explaining why the guidelines amount is inappropriate.

Duration of Child Support

Child support in Oregon generally continues until the child turns 18, or 21 if the child is still attending school under certain circumstances. Support also terminates upon emancipation, marriage, or entry into military service. The potential extension to age 21 distinguishes Oregon from many states that terminate support at 18 or 19.

Factors the Court Considers for Spousal Support

Under ORS 107.105, the court evaluates:

• The duration of the marriage
• The age and physical, mental, and emotional health of both parties
• The standard of living established during the marriage
• The relative income and earning capacity of each party
• The training, employment skills, and work experience of the party seeking support
• The need for education, training, or retraining
• The extent to which earning capacity was reduced by domestic responsibilities during the marriage
• Custodial and child support responsibilities
• Tax consequences of the support award
• Any other factors the court deems just and equitable

The Oregon Child Support Program

The Oregon Child Support Program, administered by the Department of Justice, plays a central role in establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support orders. The program offers services including locating non-custodial parents, establishing paternity, establishing and modifying support orders, and collecting and distributing payments. Parents can request a review of their support order through the program, which may initiate modification proceedings when the current order no longer reflects the guidelines calculation.

Modifying Child Support

Either parent can seek a modification by demonstrating a substantial change in circumstances not contemplated in the existing order. Modifications can only be retroactive to the date of filing the motion. Common grounds include:

• A significant change in either parent’s income
• A change in the parenting time arrangement
• A change in the child’s needs
• A change in the cost of health insurance or childcare
• A child aging out of support

Modifying Spousal Support

Spousal support orders can be modified upon a showing of a substantial change in circumstances not contemplated at the time of the original order. The modification is only retroactive to the date the motion is filed. Spousal support generally terminates upon the death of either party or the remarriage of the recipient. Cohabitation by the recipient may also be grounds for modification or termination, depending on the circumstances.

Enforcing Child Support

Oregon enforces child support through the Oregon Child Support Program within the Department of Justice. Enforcement tools include:

• Wage withholding
• Federal and state tax refund intercepts
• Suspension of driver’s and professional licenses
• Contempt of court proceedings
• Property liens
• Passport denial
• Credit bureau reporting
• Bank account levies

Oregon participates in interstate enforcement through the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA).

When to Seek Legal Help

Oregon’s three-type spousal support framework and income-shares child support model create a system with considerable nuance. Whether you expect to pay or receive support, understanding how the statutory factors apply to your situation is essential for achieving a fair outcome. Consider scheduling a free consultation to discuss your case with an experienced Oregon family law attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

What child support model does Oregon use?

Oregon uses an income shares model under ORS 25.275 and administrative rules OAR 137-050-0700 through 137-050-0765. Both parents’ gross incomes are combined and applied to the guidelines schedule. Each parent’s share is proportional to their contribution to the combined income.

Until what age does child support last in Oregon?

Child support in Oregon generally continues until the child turns 18, or 21 if the child is still attending school under certain circumstances. Support also terminates upon emancipation, marriage, or entry into military service.

What are the three types of spousal support in Oregon?

Oregon recognizes transitional support (short-term, for education or vocational development, typically lasting no longer than ten years), compensatory support (to repay a spouse’s contribution to the other’s career), and spousal maintenance (long-term support, most common in marriages of 20+ years).

How does Oregon enforce child support?

The Oregon Child Support Program within the Department of Justice handles enforcement using wage withholding, tax refund intercepts, license suspensions, contempt proceedings, property liens, passport denial, credit bureau reporting, and bank account levies.

What is the parenting time credit in Oregon child support?

Oregon’s child support guidelines include a parenting time credit that reduces the non-custodial parent’s support obligation based on the number of overnights they have with the child. The more time the non-custodial parent exercises, the greater the credit. The calculation is based on actual overnights, not just the scheduled parenting plan.

Can spousal support last indefinitely in Oregon?

It depends on the type. Transitional support is typically limited to ten years. Compensatory support is usually paid as a fixed amount over a defined period. Spousal maintenance can be open-ended, particularly in marriages of 20 years or more, but it terminates upon the recipient’s remarriage or either party’s death.

How This Guide Was Researched

This guide was developed by reviewing ORS 25.275 (child support guidelines), the Oregon Administrative Rules at OAR 137-050-0700 through 137-050-0765 (child support calculation methodology, income definitions, and parenting time credits), and ORS 107.105 (spousal support types and property division). We also consulted the Oregon Department of Justice’s Child Support Program publications, the Oregon Child Support Guidelines Advisory Committee’s reports, the Oregon Judicial Department’s family law resources, and the Oregon State Bar’s family law section materials. Statutory and administrative rule references were verified against the current ORS and OAR.

Sources and Legal References

• ORS 25.275 — Child support guidelines and the income shares model
• OAR 137-050-0700 through 137-050-0765 — Administrative rules governing child support calculations, income definitions, parenting time credits, and deviation factors
• ORS 107.105 — Three types of spousal support (transitional, compensatory, maintenance) and property division
• ORS 25.020 — Oregon Child Support Program authority and enforcement mechanisms

Official Oregon Resources

• Oregon Judicial Department — Family Law Program
• Oregon Department of Justice — Child Support Program
• Oregon Courts — Divorce Forms
• Oregon Revised Statutes — Chapter 25 (Support)

For more about how we research our guides, see our editorial policy and sources methodology.

Related Guides

• How child support is calculated — National overview of calculation models
• Child support calculator — Estimate your potential obligation
• Divorce in Oregon — No-fault dissolution and property division
• Child custody in Oregon — Joint custody rules and best interests factors
• How alimony works — Types and factors across states
• How alimony is calculated — Formulas, factors, and state approaches
• Custody and parenting plans in Oregon — Oregon’s unique approach
• How to file for child support — Starting the process