ORS 25.502: Policy.

It is the public policy of this state that dependent children shall be maintained, as much as possible, from the resources of both of the parents, thereby relieving or avoiding, at least in part, the burden often borne by single parents or by the general citizenry through public assistance programs. The existing remedies pertaining to family desertion and nonsupport of dependent children are to be augmented by the additional remedies provided in ORS 25.501 to 25.556 which are directed to the real and personal property resources of the responsible parents. These additional remedies are not in lieu of existing law. ORS 25.501 to 25.556 shall be liberally construed and administered to implement the policy stated in this section.