Northern Florida Divorce Attorney Works with Military Officers Dealing with Separation and Divorce
The stress of being a service member, the pressures involved, and the frequent absences from home, all can lead to the end of a marriage. While the military divorce rate is lower than the rest of the country, divorce is still a reality many members of our armed forces have to face. But there are different rules that dictate military divorces, rules that you must be aware of if you are considering or undergoing a military divorce. Jacksonville, FL military divorce lawyer Maria Rogers, retired U.S. Navy, is compassionate as to what service members and their family’s go through, having lived a life serving her country. She is well-versed in the laws that dictate military divorce, and she can help you get through yours with as little stress as possible.
What You Should Know about How Military and Civilian Divorce and Separation Differ
There are many rules and guidelines that dictate how a military divorce should proceed. Separation in the military, for example, is something that must be done carefully and wisely. If you are in the military and you date someone other than your spouse while your divorce is pending or even after you are legally separated, you are risking criminal charges of adultery. You may try to argue that you were no longer married because you and your spouse were living separately or were legally separated, but that argument won’t stand up in a military court. Until you have an order terminating your marital status, you are still legally married under military law.
Another difference is that under the Service Members Civil Relief Act, military members are protected from lawsuits, including divorce proceedings, so they can “devote their entire energy to the defense needs of the Nation.” A court can delay legal proceedings for the time that the service member is on active duty and for up to 60 days following that active duty. Therefore, in order to get your divorce, you need an experienced military divorce attorney who can work with you and the court to make sure that your goals are reached.
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Military divorce and separation issues are complicated because they may be governed by a combination of military codes, state divorce laws and Federal statutes. Both military laws and federal statutes will determine the division and/or distribution of military pay, military benefits, both retirement and health, and some property. This is why it is so important to contact Duval County military divorce attorney Maria Rogers for guidance as to what to expect from your military divorce, and how to proceed. Contact her at her Jacksonville, Florida office today at (904) 352-2459 to begin discussing how to best protect yourself in your military divorce.