Although a Virginia military divorce may have slightly different rules and regulations than a civilian divorce, the post-divorce years present most of the same concerns and challenges, including difficulties collecting child support from an ex-spouse.
If a court has ordered your ex-husband to pay Virginia child support and he is defaulting on his payments, you should take action right away.
Your first step should be to locate your ex-husband, if you haven't done so already. While a military service member may be stationed far away, he usually won't be hard to find. His name will be listed in a database of military personnel around the world.
The military does not look kindly on service members who intentionally abandon their family responsibilities. If you are able, you can contact your ex-husband's command and let him or her know the situation. You can try his immediate superior first and then continue up the chain of command if that officer won't respond or won't help.
You can use Virginia's child support collection agency to help you pursue your ex-husband for child support. They will help you fill out paperwork, locate your ex and make sure he receives the documents alerting him that he is behind in his payments. Your ex-husband may end up having his wages garnished if he doesn't comply with his Virginia child support order.
Military divorces are carried out according to state guidelines, as well as the guidelines in The Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFSPA). Your Virginia divorce attorney will explain these laws to you and guide you through all legal aspects of your military divorce.
Contacting a Virginia Divorce Attorney
At this vulnerable time, it's critical that you have exceptional legal representation that not only understands the specifics of your case, but is dedicated to your best interests and that of your family.
The Virginia divorce attorneys at Hofheimer Family Law Firm represent Virginia women who wish to file for divorce. We are committed to fighting for your rights, assisting in child custody disputes and advocating that you receive everything you are entitled to and need in order to start your new life. You can learn more by requesting one of our FREE divorce guides for women, or reserving your seat at our monthly divorce seminar – 757-425-5200.