Military & Divorce: What You Need to Do Right the First Time to Save Money:
The majority of military people have very little information, or no idea, about the law that affects their retired pay in a divorce. Many have returned to court after they have learned their divorce decree was not properly drafted to allow the defense finance center to pay out a portion of the military retired pay to the ex-spouse.
Military couples who have not educated themselves about the USFSPA and the military divorce process run the risk of overlooking the many issues that need to be addressed in the decree, including appropriate wording, Your and your attorney's goal should be to:
(1) Ensure that the, decree will not be reopened due to lack of knowledge or misinterpretation of the USFSPA or the omission of important military issues; and
(2) Verify that the coverage of military issues is such that the decree is recognized by the military finance center as being in conformance with the federal law, obviating the need for subsequent modification or clarification.
Service members and spouses can educate themselves on military divorce by reading the book, Divorce and the Military II, the only book for military couples (and their attorneys) that provides the information they need to know, including how to seek competent professional legal help.
This book educates the service member, the spouse, and their attorneys. You are in the best position to protect your rights, whether you are the service member or the spouse, under the USFSPA when you are fully informed about them.
(provided by Marsha L. Thole, co-author, Divorce and the Military II)
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