Jeffrey S. Matthews
Jeffrey Matthews is a respected leader in the Portland family law community. He has practiced law for close to thirty years, over twenty of which have been exclusively in family law. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is named as an "Oregon Super Lawyer", recognizing him by his peers to be in the top 5% of practicing Oregon attorneys. Jeffrey was selected for entrance in The National Trial Lawyers Association 2010 Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Oregon. He is one of four Family Law Attorneys in Oregon to have been included in this esteemed group.
He maintains an AV® Preeminenttm rating from Martindale-Hubbell - the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.
Jeff obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon, and his law degree in 1981 from the University of Oregon School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Oregon and the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. He is a member of the Multnomah County Bar Association and the Oregon State Bar.
Jeff authored the chapter on Retirement Benefits for the Oregon State Bar Family Law desk book for the 1990, 1993 and 1997 editions. In 2000 he was awarded the Multnomah Bar Association's Award of Merit for outstanding service to the profession and the bar. Jeff served on the director board of the Multnomah Bar Association from 2001 to 2005 and is also a founding board member and past president of The Multnomah Bar Foundation, a nonprofit organization designed to manage and administer a community gift fund promoting civic education and involvement in the judicial system. He concluded his service with the board in January of 2009.
In 1997, Jeff founded Oregon Lawyers Against Hunger (OLAH), a non-profit organization that has raised well over $1 million for Oregon Food Bank. He has also previously served as a director on the board of Oregon Food Bank and now serves on its Advocacy Committee. He is a former board member and Vice President of Northwest Housing Alternatives, Inc., which is a community development corporation, dedicated to providing affordable housing for those in need. Jeff is now a board of directors' member for Portland Children's Relief Nursery.
Areas of Practice
- Appeals
- Child Custody
- Child Support
- Divorce
- Domestic Partnerships and Dissolution
- Enforcement of Judgments
- Parenting Time
- Post Divorce Enforcement
- Post Divorce Modification
- Postnupital Agreements
- Premarital Agreements
- Separation Agreements
- Spousal Support
Bar Admissions
- Oregon, 1982
- U.S. District Court District of Oregon, 1982
Education
- University of Oregon School of Law, Eugene, Oregon
- J.D. - 1981
- Santa Barbara College of Law, Santa Barbara, California
- University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
- B.A. - 1977
- Major: English Literature
Published Works
- Retirement Benefits, Oregon State Bar, Family Law CLE Publication, 1989 and 1997 Editions
Honors and Awards
- Multnomah Bar Association's Award of Merit for Outstanding Service to the Profession and the Bar, 2000
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Named, "Oregon Super Lawyer"
- The National Trial Lawyers Association, Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Oregon, 2010
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Oregon State Bar
- Multnomah County Bar Association, Member
- Washington County Bar Association, Member
- Clackamas County Bar Association, Member
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers , President-Elect of the Oregon Chapter
- Multnomah Bar Foundation, Board Member and Past President, 2005 - 2007
- Multnomah Bar Association, Board Member, Past Secretary, 2001 - 2005
- Portland Children's Relief Nursery, Board of Directors, 2008 - Present
- Oregon Food Bank, Now serves on its Advocacy Committee, Board Member, 1999 - 2004
- Northwest Housing Alternatives, Board Member and past Vice President, 1999 - 2004
