Licensed for 26 years

State OR

Acquired 1996

Status
Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

John S Woodworth

Divorce and separation Attorney at Eugene, OR

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Help when you need it most.

I have entrusted John with the security and future of my Children and Family through three separate custody battles. I have also hired John for other area's of his practice and he has come through for me time and time again. When you are faced with situations that can be completely life changing and you are overwhelmed with the process, feel very helpless and it's such a great feeling to have someone who you can come to that will step right in front of you and take the fight head on. John is passionate about what he does, has an unsurpassed skill-set and knowledge of how to help you accomplish your goals. If you meet and explain to John what you are facing or needing he will tell you immediately if it is something within his area of practice and if he tells you he will go to work for you then you can relax knowing that you have just hired the big dog in the fight. One thing to consider when choosing an attorney is that if you go to someone else you may end up facing him on the other side and that wouldn't be good for you. If you approach John and you are not honest or are asking for something unreasonable or if you're trying to get him to bully someone he will simply tell you he can't work with you. John takes his work seriously, has a respect and reverence for the law and will work to get you the absolute best outcome he can. It's a great feeling to be able to walk out of his office and immediately have a buffer between you and whoever may be attacking you. In my life I try to avoid conflict and confrontation but John actually likes it. He will go straight to the source of the problem and turn the tables immediately. It may sound like an easy way out, but the fact is that I consider John somewhat of my "hired gun". Bottom line, you pay him money, he takes your problems and makes them his. I have several times had this experience with him and will return to him any time I find myself in need of his services.

I’m thankful I hired John Woodworth!

John Woodworth is an exceptional attorney! He is extremely well versed in the law and the Lane County Family Courts, and was a direct, no-nonsense advocate for my situation. With my son as number one priority, John helped me navigate my options and what a judge would likely decide on each issue if it went to trial. It’s clear that John is not only a highly skilled, dedicated and trustworthy attorney, but also a genuine person who cares about his clients and the outcomes for their families. I didn’t doubt his abilities for a second. I can’t say enough good things about John! Thank you!

About John

Learn John’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Divorce and separation

35%

Dissolution of marriage, property divisions, custody, parenting time, child support, and collateral issues such as restraining orders and criminal defense.

24 years
Child custody

30%

Dissolution of marriage, property divisions, custody, parenting time, child support, and collateral issues such as restraining orders and criminal defense.

24 years
Family

20%

Dissolution of marriage, property divisions, custody, parenting time, child support, and collateral issues such as restraining orders and criminal defense.

24 years
Criminal defense

5%

State and municipal courts, including traffic violations and collateral and quasi-criminal matters involving FAPA, EPPDA, and Stalking protective/restraining orders.

27 years
Employment and labor

5%

Unemployment Benefits

19 years
Real estate

5%

Real estate litigation, including misrepresentation on sale, boundary line disputes, water runoff issues, and easements.

27 years

*** Practicing only in Lane County Circuit Court, Eugene Municipal Court, and Springfield Municipal Court. ***

John S. Woodworth was born in Syracuse, New York, raised in a family of seven, graduated from Cottage Grove High School (1987), Iowa State University (1992), and the University of Oregon School of Law (1996), and is a single parent of a child who has attained the age of majority.

Mr. Woodworth has been continuously practicing law in the State of Oregon since December 18, 1996, in multiple areas of law, including domestic relations, restraining orders, criminal defense, criminal prosecution, residential landlord and tenant, contract disputes, unlawful trade practices, employment disputes, and real property disputes. According to OJCIN (as of October 8, 2023), which provides information on Oregon Circuit Court cases only, Mr. Woodworth has been the attorney of record in approximately 1,178 cases (924 civil and 254 criminal). The career annual average of Circuit Court cases in which Mr. Woodworth appears as the attorney of record, as of the referenced date, is 44. In his career, Mr. Woodworth has had four Circuit Court cases with co-counsel. Mr. Woodworth has appeared as the attorney of record in well over a thousand municipal court cases.

With a focus on attaining the best result for his clients, Mr. Woodworth offers practical guidance and legal advice to facilitate informed decisions regarding resolving disputes, whether to initiate litigation, negotiation and settlement, strategic trial preparation, trial presentation, and post trial needs.

Domestic Relations Law. Mr. Woodworth offers services in domestic relations issues, including prenuptial agreements, domestic partnerships, cohabitation agreements, divorce, property and debt division, spousal support, restraining orders, custody, parenting time, and child support. Services include representation in original proceedings and modifications. Contributing to his ability to understand and assist people in the process of transitioning from a marriage or domestic partnership to the new role of co-parent, Mr. Woodworth is a single parent and understands the difficulty and potential pitfalls related to that process. Finding great success as a co-parent after several very challenging years, Mr. Woodworth is able to counsel and guide people from a position of extensive personal and professional experience.

Restraining Orders. Mr. Woodworth prosecutes and defends restraining orders filed under the Family Abuse Prevention Act, Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Abuse Prevention Act, Stalking Protective Order statute, and all other civil restraining orders provided under Oregon law. Most litigants in this area of law participate in the process without an attorney, which is a mistake. The statutes governing these laws are heavily affected by controlling case law from the Courts of Appeal, and the assistance of counsel (regardless of who that attorney is) is highly recommended.

Criminal Defense. Mr. Woodworth offers defense services in cases involving charges ranging from traffic citations to felony charges carrying mandatory minimum prison sentences. Mr. Woodworth practices in both State and Municipal Courts. Having experience as both a defense attorney and a city prosecutor, Mr. Woodworth offers guidance, counsel, and aggressive services designed to obtain the best outcome for a person accused of wrongdoing.

Residential Landlord & Tenant Law. Mr. Woodworth represents tenants in claims against residential landlords on a select basis.

Employment Law. Mr. Woodworth offers services pursuing unemployment insurance claims.

Awards

Client's Choice

2022 2021 2020 + 5 ...

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Contact John

John S. Woodworth, Attorney

(541) 349-3417 Office

(541) 359-4723 Fax

888 West Park Street

Second Floor

Eugene, OR, 97401

woodworth-john.business.site

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John S Woodworth

(541) 349-3417 Office

PO Box 747

Eugene, OR, 97440

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Reviews

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4.9 / 5.0

58 customer reviews

5 Star

95%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Client's Choice

Client's Choice is an Avvo award granted to attorneys with a significant number of client reviews over 4 stars in a given year.

Posted by Rob | September 8, 2022

Help when you need it most.

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Posted by Morene | May 20, 2022

I’m thankful I hired John Woodworth!

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Posted by Tommy | May 18, 2022

Amazing

Truly amazing and dedicated attorney. I originally hired him for a child custody case and ended up using him for a restraining order and stalking order cases as well. Without him I would have lost custody of my son I have no doubt about that. I fully recommend John S Woodworth for any of your attorney needs.

Posted by anonymous | May 13, 2022

Great attorney

Even when assigned a difficult judge, John managed my case great and I will continue retaining him in the future.

Posted by Aaron | May 4, 2022

Best possible outcome for the situation

Mr. Woodworth came highly recommended by other attorneys in the area, who I consulted prior to hiring him. I had a somewhat difficult case, but he was able to get me visitation of both my kids (one biological, one non). Worth every penny, will definitely hire him again if the need ever should arise.

Posted by John | February 25, 2022

Magnificent attorney!

Mr. Woodworth handled my case with professional ease. I am thankful for my decision to seek his services. John helped me preserve my rights, and it was to my great fortune that I obtained his assistance in my case.

Posted by Daniella | September 1, 2021

I will always trust John with my family!

John helped me tremendously with my child custody case. My child’s father was an especially difficult person to deal with and John didn’t blink twice about it. He was very honest with me (saving me thousands), was always quick to respond, and gave the best advice for my case. I will use John every time, and so should you.

Posted by Kevin | July 13, 2021

Saved me a ton!

A property management company was pursuing me for 5 thousand dollars I know I didn't owe. I went to two other lawyers around town before getting to John. The first told me to pay the fine. The second recommended me to John. John discovered that, not only did I not owe the company ANY money, but that they likely owed ME money. With a letter, John was able to get the opposing attorney to drop all claims against me. Don't be like me: Make John your first choice.

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Posted by Leah | July 12, 2021

Phenomenal Attorney

John took the time to understand my situation, the details and nuances surrounding my divorce. He communicated very well. Setting reasonable expectations for me, timing, etc. John was one of the best choices I could have made in the divorce. I am so glad I found him and hired him. Worth it!

Posted by Daniell | March 1, 2021

Dedicated

Some services these days are only concerned about making sure the fill all the bubbles. John Woodworth was very dedicated to accomplishing a desired outcome. When a wall presented itself he searched for a real solution and was very honest.

Posted by Daniel | March 1, 2021

great Lawyer

Was refered to john by a coworker, called and had the consult right away and was very knowledgeable and took on my case. being the first time with anything like this helped help through the whole process and had my back. Even when i was worried about things he told me what to expect and finished the case with a better result then i originally thought was going to happen. I would recommend John great man.

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Posted by anonymous | December 13, 2020

Amazing trial lawyer!

John is a great cross-examiner. He represented me in a child custody case and did an amazing job. I would highly recommend him to others. He was quick to respond to my calls and my emails and always was well reasoned.

Posted by Kimberly DeGifis | December 9, 2020

Knowledgeable, thorough, and tenacious

John recently helped my 96 year old grandmother out of a horrible situation involving rental law, restraining orders, and a few felons. He is diligent and thorough. He quickly responded to our emails & phone calls, and patiently answered our questions. He is a creative problem solver and an absolute pro in court. He spent weeks with us and did not stop until the problem was solved. My grandmother was referred to him by Senior and Disability Services and he took on her case pro bono. He is a good man and a very skilled lawyer.

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Posted by Christian | June 30, 2020

Diligent and thorough

I was under a lot of stress when i contacted John. He cut to the chase in my first visit and laid out a course of action that was clear for me to understand. Not only did he work hard on my case, but he was kind and caring in helping me through the process. I agree with the other review that called his communication 'direct'. He is efficient and deliberate in his explanation of situations and does not try to convey false hope or expectation. I felt like he acted as a lawyer, doing all the legal stuff for the trial, but also that he was like a coach, in the sense that he could tell when i needed help understanding different things, and he would explain it more thoroughly without being condescending. The level of interaction and preparation he put into making my case not only improved the result for me, but gave me confidence during the process. He looks normal and harmless, and he is a nice guy, but he was tenacious and focused like a pro fighter when it came to defending my rights. I will never consider hiring anyone else but him.

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Posted by Shivani | June 8, 2020

Real, honest, and did what I needed.

John was recommended by a previous client of his that was a friend of mine. She tried to warn me that he was very direct and for the type of person she is that was sometimes hard for her. However, his direct, no bullshit style was exactly what I needed to feel like someone with a good head on their shoulders was helping me. I always felt like he had my best interest in mind and he was honest with me when it was time to fight or time to let it go. He really helped me understand the process and let me ask the confusing questions (sometimes multiple times) so that I could feel comfortable at every step. He also was very honest and gracious with his record keeping in terms of time spent and I always felt like he was using my limited funds wisely and to the best causes. He was also able to recommend another college when there was real estate law involved and was honest that it wasn't his area of expertise. All in all I would absolutely recommend him to anyone who needs his services that is willing to be told the truth upfront and wants to feel like someone is always on their team!

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Posted by Kathleen | May 12, 2020

Phenomenal

Mr. Woodworth worked magic for me regarding a situation with my landlord. I rent an apartment from a community service organization who rules with fear and intimidation. I was given a notice alleging I had done several things that were not true, their notice focused on complaints I had made to the manager and they refused to talk to me about the inaccuracies contained in the notice. I agreed to a six month probationary period, three weeks before the six months was over I received another notice...and given ten days to move out. I could have become homeless without his expert assistance. I was referred to Mr. Woodworth who found several violations of the Oregon Landlord Tenant laws contained in both notices, he wrote a letter via email requesting documents and a second letter pointing out their legal errors and requesting they terminate the notice. The organization then attempted to contact me directly without including him in the communication. He essentially fired back at them alleging additional violations of landlord tenant laws and advised them we would reserve the right to bring action against them for those violations for one year as allowed by law. I have not heard from them again. Mr. Woodworth was professional and direct, his expertise allowed us to avoid going to court and I remain in my lovely apartment. Thank you so much!

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Posted by anonymous | April 27, 2020

BEST lawyer

I contacted John about an issue with my landlords. They were trying to keep my security deposit and continue to charge me rent after I had moved out of their property. I also had many issues with them prior to moving out. He was very attentive during the consultation and answered any/every question I had. After our consultation I hired him for my case. He responded to all of my emails in-depth and in a timely manner. He gave me a variety of possible routes to take to come to a solution. I decided to start with a demand letter and that’s all I needed. Not only did he win the case, he got me more than I originally asked of him when I first came to him. He is very professional and clearly takes his job seriously. It is also clear that he is passionate about what he does. If I ever need a lawyer again, I will no doubt be coming back to him. I would recommend him to anyone. I couldn’t be more happy with the outcome of the case!

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Posted by anonymous | September 19, 2019

BEST attorney in this area!

I contacted John about alleged criminal case pending against me that I was not guilty of. John took all the details and formulated a defense that was rock solid. Before we could even go to court the case was dismissed. He is ontop of the facts and will really go to bat swinging home runs- one after another. He knows the law. He will fight for what is right. He will go above and beyond for his clients. Very reasonable and honorable man to deal with. Would hire again in a heartbeat if the need arises.

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Posted by Aaron | August 8, 2019

Attorney

I was having a dispute with my landlords decision to keep all my security deposit plus charge me more. I presented my case to Mr. Woodworth and he agreed I had a justified case. He gave me multiple solutions to resolve the matter which some didn't involve using him which would be cheaper. I decided to hire Mr. Woodworth and he discovered additional grievances I didn't realize I was entitled to. He sent a very articulated Demand Letter and I ended up getting all my money back and then some plus attorney fees covered. I would highly recommend using Mr. Woodworth. He is very professional and gets results!

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Posted by anonymous | July 9, 2019

Best

I would give this man 6 stars if I could, for bringing my dearly beloved child back home after so much trauma and grief. John is the most competent attorney I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. My family attorney friend told me he was taking leave. I called John because my friend said, “I’ve gone up against him, and he’s really good, very professional.” He’s all of that and more. He immediately put me at ease. He plainly laid out what my situation was, and what our next steps would look like. Everything seemed insurmountable without him, but really simple after spending just a little bit of time with him. He was real and down to business. He’s professionalism exceeds anything I ever see, ever. He was timely, efficient, and highly effective. Every move he made put us ten steps ahead. He seemed so passionate and knowledgeable about my case, but I know he absorbed all the information he needed quickly before every hearing. I got the impression that he was equally devoted to any case, big or small, and was able to quickly work out an individualized game plan from one case to the next. You can see him mentally taking big leaps and strides in mere blips of time. John broke down monetary needs into pieces I could work with. He’s not the most inexpensive attorney by a long shot, but you’ll get ten times what you paid for. You could get one tenth of the representation he offered, and end up paying the same amount anyway, because he’s so quick witted, and effectively manages time so well. I have John to thank for my peace. I don’t know what I would do or where I would be without him. It’s a good thing he was paid to do this, because what he did for me was priceless. I hope I never need his services again, but if I do, I know I can rely on his fierce advocacy, his impressive knowledge of family law, and his unwavering commitment to the best interests of children.

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

Attorney
John S. Woodworth
1996 - Present

Prosecutor
City of Cottage Grove
2014 - 2019

Prosecutor
City of Florence
2013 - 2016

Attorney
Vincent & Woodworth, PC
2006 - 2007

Attorney
Vincent, Victor & Evans, LLP
2005 - 2005

Attorney
McPherson, Gintner, Gordon & Diaz
1997 - 1998

UO Law School Student Representative
Westlaw
1995 - 1996

View all work experience

Education

Community Mediation Services
Certificate
2013

Community Mediation Services
Certificate
2013

University of Oregon School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1996

Iowa State University
BBA - Bachelor of Business Administration
1992

Cottage Grove High School
High School Diploma
1987

View all education

Associations

United States District Court for the District of Oregon
Member
1998 - Present

Oregon State Bar
Member
1996 - Present

Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Lifetime Member
N/A

Languages Spoken

English

Honors and Awards

Peer Review Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2023

Client's Choice
AVVO
2022

Peer Review Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2022

Peer Review Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2021

Client's Choice Award
AVVO
2021

Client's Choice Award
AVVO
2020

Peer Review Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2020

Client's Choice Award
AVVO
2019

Peer Review Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2019

Clients' Choice Award
AVVO
2018

Peer Reviewed
Martindale-Hubbell®
2018

Clients' Choice Award
AVVO
2017

Peer Reviewed
Martindale-Hubbell®
2017

Clients' Choice Award
AVVO
2016

Peer Reviewed
Martindale-Hubbell®
2015

Peer Reviewed
Martindale-Hubbell®
2014

Clients' Choice Award
AVVO
2014

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Attorney endorsements

Received (6)

Given (18)

Endorse John

Michael Vergamini

Family Attorney | Apr 23
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I strongly endorse this lawyer. I have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Woodworth on many different occasions over the last decade. He is a formidable trial attorney; he relentlessly pursues the case on behalf of the client and he gets excellent results. I would refer a family member to him."

Lance Quaranto

Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 21
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Mr. Woodworth is a very talented lawyer who is passionate about the law and brings a wealth of knowledge and professionalism to the community."

Kent Anderson

Litigation Attorney | Oct 19
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"John is a skilled and experienced litigator. He doesn't waste time and focuses like a laser on the most important issues. This is a very good lawyer!"

Andrew Coit

Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Kyle Edmonds

Unknown Attorney | Oct 27
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John is an excellent attorney. He is an honest, diligent, knowledgeable, and effective attorney, who cares about what happens to his clients I have known John for the better part of a decade. He is on a very short list of attorneys to whom I refer prospective clients. Should the need arise, I would not hesitate to refer either my personal friends, or my own family to John."

Jesse London

Litigation Attorney | Oct 14
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John is one of the most knowledgeable lawyers in the community with close attention to detail. John approaches each case with genuine care for his clients needs. At the same time that he fights hard for his clients, he applies his experience and formidable trial skills using a practical approach. I highly recommend John."

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