Ask for custody, parenting time and support as an unmarried parent: next steps
Guidance reviewed 2026-10-11. Check legal parentage and court authority, then use the unmarried-parent petition or response process.
Start here: Confirm that legal parentage has been established; if not, review the parentage-establishment route before using this packet.
Where and how to proceed: full steps and checklist
1. Is this for me?
Unmarried legal parents. The publisher says parentage must be established first and the packet is not for nonparents.
Service area: Oregon or applicable federal route; confirm venue and agency jurisdiction.
2. What should I prepare?
Some documents may be conditional. Ask about alternatives. Checkmarks are temporary and are not saved or sent.
3. Where and how do I submit?
Read the linked publisher instructions to confirm the receiving office, accepted submission method and current forms. This page has not separately verified those details. A county filter does not decide the correct court or filing location.
Timing: If served, use the deadline in the summons and current response instructions. Petitioners must also meet service and local case-management requirements.
4. What will it cost?
Details to confirm with the provider
Fees and fee-waiver eligibility have not been separately verified for this route. Check the current provider instructions. For a court filing, ask the court about its fee-waiver or deferral forms.
5. What happens after I submit?
Details to confirm with the provider
Keep a copy of what you send and its confirmation or receipt. Ask the receiving office how to track it, when to expect a response and how it will request missing information. These follow-up details have not been separately verified for this route.
6. What if something goes wrong?
Details to confirm with the provider
Read any returned filing, correction request or denial notice promptly. Ask the responsible office for the correction, review or appeal instructions and the deadline that applies to your notice. This guide does not verify a route-specific appeal process.
Language, disability and offline help
Ask the receiving office about language assistance, disability accommodations and an alternative to online submission. Available options have not been separately verified for this route.
Statewide instructions must be used with the filing court's local rules. Court staff and facilitators provide procedural help, not legal advice. Interstate cases, safety concerns and complicated property or support issues need individualized review.
Procedure steps, documents and printable checklist
Statewide instructions must be used with the filing court's local rules. Court staff and facilitators provide procedural help, not legal advice. Interstate cases, safety concerns and complicated property or support issues need individualized review.