Military divorces have to go through a number of legal processes, much like civilian divorces. However, certain issues can make military divorces more complicated, such as the division of assets. Other areas evaluated by courts when considering military divorces are pay, pensions and benefits.
The state courts handling the divorce may ask you for spousal support and division of pension and pay, depending on your situation. According to federal laws, military pensions may be treated either as sole property or shared property between spouses. The state in which the divorce occurs has an impact on the distribution of property. Moreover, the military personnel’s retirement may be paid to the former spouse by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.
Due to complexities surrounding military divorces, you may require knowledge of laws that are not applicable in civilian divorces. It may benefit you to get in contact with a skilled divorce lawyer who has experience in handling such cases. Moreover, since the division of assets differs according to the state the divorce is filed in, you will need a proactive lawyer who has an understanding of the different laws that are active state wise.
If you are involved in a military divorce and would like to protect your interests, then it may benefit you to speak with an experienced divorce attorney. A lawyer may inform you of your rights as a member of the armed forces and help you with the division of assets to secure your best interests.