Stumptown Family Law - Michael Hallas

02/14/2026

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/realestate/nesting-divorce-shared-home.html?unlocked_article_code=1.MFA.XTKN.8y2etlw6Ukg8&smid=nytcore-ios-share

Experts and divorced couples share co-parenting pitfalls and guidance for keeping children in the family home.

12/16/2024

Gen X parents, and parents born in the late 70’s and early 80’s might be surprised that what was routine in our childhood would expose our parents to criminal liability these days. In my experience, most of us get it, but sometimes it’s still surprising to see it in writing.

The question of parental negligence at the youngest ages permitted may depend entirely on the maturity level of your child, and the preparation that you have given your child to prepare to be alone for brief periods of time.

How do you know if your child is ready to stay home alone this winter break? Here are some tips and Oregon laws to help guide your decision.

02/28/2024

Hey, Facebook algorithm gremlins. Not interested in country music, basketball or hip hop. Please stop!

02/18/2024

Portland, Oregon

02/04/2024

Proof the judges are just lawyers, and lawyers are just people, and some people are smarter than others…

A New York judge, Cynthia Lopez, is accused of writing a mom in a custody case in a swingers' site.

12/10/2023

This advice is applicable regardless of gender or s*x, with some caveats that I’ll discuss below. If you’re truly interested in the article and can’t get past the paywall, find me a the Oregon State Bar Member directory www.osbar.org (directory link is on the top of the page) and email me a request for a gift link. I’ll send one if I have any left.

https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/6STixcS3689mK4VoGHCiFw~~/AAAAAQA~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~

Divorce was a shock that led me to a new vow: financial independence.

10/13/2023

Divorces in Oregon are bench trials not jury trials. Most judges I know are great and strive for impartiality, but certainly they have their own personal biases that are harder to set aside. Preparing a family law case to be tried, but making a serious effort to settle before trial can help the parties control the outcome rather than being decided by a judge who, for whatever reason, has formed an unfavorable opinion of a party.

This is a more extreme example:

The state’s top jurist recommended that Traci Soderstrom, a district judge in Lincoln County, be removed from the bench after she and a bailiff mocked lawyers, jurors and witnesses.

09/11/2023

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/30/1196872794/prenups-arent-just-for-the-rich-and-famous-heres-when-to-consider-one?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20230911&utm_term=8948333&utm_campaign=news&utm_id=50220589&orgid=305&utm_att1=

Reasons why a prenup is smart even if you and your future spouse are 100% committed to a life together.

Everyone should consider a prenuptial agreement before getting married, says family law attorney Theresa Viera. Here's how to talk about it with your partner and decide whether it's right for you.

12/22/2021

British Court Orders Dubai Ruler to Pay £554 Million in Custody Settlement - The New York Times

The settlement, of about $734 million, resolves a lengthy dispute that began when Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein and her two children fled to London in 2019.

06/25/2021

https://youtu.be/5Vlxd260pXo

If you are getting divorced and have children, this video is a decent explanation of the differences between the concepts of "custody" and parenting time as used in Oregon law.

This video explains the difference between child support custody and parenting time. For more information and online resources, visit the Oregon Judicial Dep...