As the spouse of a service member, you likely know how challenging a military marriage can be. Because servicemen and women can spend so much time on active duty, the onus is often on the non-military spouse to keep a household running. This can be especially difficult if there are children to care for.
Sometimes, it comes to pass that military couples are unable to maintain a healthy marriage. If a split appears imminent while the military spouse is deployed, the non-military spouse may be tempted to simply keep on keeping on and not think about the impending divorce proceedings.
If you are in this situation, you may feel that you are too busy to contend with preparing for a divorce. But if you are not addressing the situation now, you may be overwhelmed later. So, if you are in a holding pattern, waiting for your spouse’s return, now would be a good time to get the ball rolling.
One thing you can do is start estimating what your needs will be once the divorce is finalized. If you do have children and you assume you will be granted custody, you may want to figure out how much child support you think you will need. You could also take an inventory of joint assets held by you and your spouse to better determine how they may be divided.
And because military divorces come with specific issues regarding benefits, you may wish to have a family law attorney look into your situation. An attorney who is experienced in handling military divorce cases can represent your interests and may be able to help you receive a fair settlement.