| Military Divorces |
In Texas, military divorce cases offer special challenges for every attorney. Such cases involve a complex convergence of
Texas divorce laws and federal laws such as the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act. Few Texas lawyers
are intimately familiar with the rules governing military retirement, disability pay, Survivor Benefit Plan benefits, and other
benefits available to retired military personnel and their ex-spouses.
Marc A. Pederson, Attorney at Law, is well experienced in dealing with the complexities unique to divorces involving an
active duty, reserve, or retired military service member. Contact Pederson Law Office for a free telephone consultation.
How is the military service member's military retirement divided?
Division of military retirement is a very complicated area of the law. The military spouse is entitled to share in that part of
the service member's retirement that is deemed to be part of the community estate, which is that portion of the retirement
derived from the years of the service member's years of creditable military service during which he or she was married to
the military spouse. There are many different methodologies involved in calculating the spouse's share of the service
member's military retirement, which depend on a number of factors, such as whether the service member is on active duty
at the time of divorce, credit from military reserve service, and disability.
How is the divorce action in court affected by a military service member's deployment?
The Service members Civil Relief Act is, among other things, legislation intended to free active duty men and women from
pressures and distractions while performing their duties. Under the Relief Act, service members’ divorce proceedings may
be postponed, at the discretion of the judge, for the length of their active service term, plus 60 days after their tour ends.
Of course, such a remedy is not absolute. First of all, the final decision to stay divorce proceedings rests in the hands of
the judge. Furthermore, it is not always in the best interest of the service member to delay divorce proceedings for a long
period of time. Alimony, child support, or military retirement benefits awards to the spouse could increase as more time
passes; in certain situations, conducting divorce proceedings through long-distance mediums (such as the Internet) is both
the most feasible and beneficial option.
What about post-divorce continuation of military benefits to the spouse?
Under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFSPA), former spouses are eligible for full medical,
commissary, and exchange privileges where all of the following conditions apply: (i) the spouses were married for at least
20 years, (ii) the military member performed at least 20 years of service creditable for retired pay, and (iii) there was at
least a 20 year overlap of the marriage and the military service.
In Texas, military divorce cases offer a unique set of challenges for every attorney. Such cases involve a complex
convergence of Texas divorce laws and federal laws such as the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act.
Few Texas lawyers are intimately familiar with the rules governing military retirement, disability pay, Survivor Benefit Plan
benefits, and other benefits available to retired military personnel and their ex-spouses.
Read these REVIEWS to see what former clients say.
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Texas divorce laws and federal laws such as the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act. Few Texas lawyers
are intimately familiar with the rules governing military retirement, disability pay, Survivor Benefit Plan benefits, and other
benefits available to retired military personnel and their ex-spouses.
Marc A. Pederson, Attorney at Law, is well experienced in dealing with the complexities unique to divorces involving an
active duty, reserve, or retired military service member. Contact Pederson Law Office for a free telephone consultation.
How is the military service member's military retirement divided?
Division of military retirement is a very complicated area of the law. The military spouse is entitled to share in that part of
the service member's retirement that is deemed to be part of the community estate, which is that portion of the retirement
derived from the years of the service member's years of creditable military service during which he or she was married to
the military spouse. There are many different methodologies involved in calculating the spouse's share of the service
member's military retirement, which depend on a number of factors, such as whether the service member is on active duty
at the time of divorce, credit from military reserve service, and disability.
How is the divorce action in court affected by a military service member's deployment?
The Service members Civil Relief Act is, among other things, legislation intended to free active duty men and women from
pressures and distractions while performing their duties. Under the Relief Act, service members’ divorce proceedings may
be postponed, at the discretion of the judge, for the length of their active service term, plus 60 days after their tour ends.
Of course, such a remedy is not absolute. First of all, the final decision to stay divorce proceedings rests in the hands of
the judge. Furthermore, it is not always in the best interest of the service member to delay divorce proceedings for a long
period of time. Alimony, child support, or military retirement benefits awards to the spouse could increase as more time
passes; in certain situations, conducting divorce proceedings through long-distance mediums (such as the Internet) is both
the most feasible and beneficial option.
What about post-divorce continuation of military benefits to the spouse?
Under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFSPA), former spouses are eligible for full medical,
commissary, and exchange privileges where all of the following conditions apply: (i) the spouses were married for at least
20 years, (ii) the military member performed at least 20 years of service creditable for retired pay, and (iii) there was at
least a 20 year overlap of the marriage and the military service.
In Texas, military divorce cases offer a unique set of challenges for every attorney. Such cases involve a complex
convergence of Texas divorce laws and federal laws such as the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act.
Few Texas lawyers are intimately familiar with the rules governing military retirement, disability pay, Survivor Benefit Plan
benefits, and other benefits available to retired military personnel and their ex-spouses.
Read these REVIEWS to see what former clients say.
GO BACK TO HOME PAGE
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| Marc A. Pederson Attorney and Counselor at Law |
| The Naylor House 1919 San Pedro Avenue San Antonio, Texas 78212 (210) 735-9911 mail@pedersonlaw.com |
Copyright © 2012 by Marc A. Pederson. All rights reserved. You may reproduce materials available at this site for your own
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The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice
regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting
Pederson Law Office does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential or time sensitive
information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.
personal use and for non-commercial distribution. All copies must include this copyright statement.
The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice
regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting
Pederson Law Office does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential or time sensitive
information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.