Massachusetts Attorneys for Divorcing Military Personnel
Divorce is complicated for everyone, but when you or your spouse is a member of one of the armed services, the process becomes even more challenging. If you have been served with a military divorce complaint or are seeking a military divorce, it is important to secure the help of an experienced Massachusetts divorce lawyer who understands the special considerations that apply in military divorces.
Serving Military Clients at Home and Abroad
At the offices of The Massachusetts Family Law Group, our attorneys offer military divorce services to clients and their spouses stationed in the Commonwealth, including Devens Reserve Training Area, Hanscom AFB and Soldier Systems Center. We also represent clients stationed at other bases in the United States and overseas.
Our attorneys can advise you about the process and talk with you about possible obstacles you may encounter. Because we believe that knowledge is power, we help our clients get the information they need to make the process as smooth as possible. With more than 40 years of combined experience, our lawyers rely on each other and on our statewide network of experts and specialists, to get the job done for our clients.
Special Considerations in Military Divorce
Federal laws and protections that apply to military members and their families include:
- Some aspects of a military divorce are governed by federal rather than state law, especially matters related to pensions and emergency child support.
- Service members on active duty are protected by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act from legal action, such as a divorce proceeding, for up to 60 days following the end of active duty.
- If your spouse is stationed overseas and you are seeking a divorce, you must ask the military authority where he or she is serving to serve the complaint and summons.
- Many military benefits, including retirement benefits, can be paid to ex-spouses only if they were married for ten years or more. However, the limitations can be waived by the military spouse in certain instances.
- Military law requires soldiers to support their families. Failure to do so can affect their military careers.
Navigating special considerations such as these or those found in the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFSPA) requires the advice and counsel of a knowledgeable divorce lawyer. Our attorneys are proactive on behalf of our clients and are committed to providing service members or their spouses with the help they need to get through a difficult time in their lives.
For more information, call a Boston military divorce lawyer at (800) 763-1030 or send an e-mail to schedule a free initial consultation. Our clients include spouses and servicemembers throughout Massachusetts and those deployed in war zones. Wherever they are, our clients know that they will get the high quality representation they need in difficult times.
