If you’re dealing with military divorce, a Newport News divorce law firm for women can advise you on the best course of action. Divorcing a military member differs in some ways from divorcing a civilian; make sure your rights are protected throughout the process.
Housing and Military Divorce
Divorce involving military members has guidelines that differ from those of civilian divorce. Divorce laws for civilians are dictated by the state in which the divorce is carried out. Military divorce, on the other hand, is governed by a combination of state and federal laws.
These federal laws help guide the distribution of military pension and use of military benefits and other aspects. One of the primary questions many military spouses have is in regards to housing. On-base housing is one of the many benefits of being part of the military or being married to a service person.
The laws surrounding military housing after divorce are fairly simple. Military housing was made for a service person and his or her dependents. If you are the spouse of a military member, you normally will be expected to vacate military housing shortly after the divorce is final.
However, before the divorce is final, the military member may be ordered to take residence in the barracks while the spouse remains in on-base housing. The military can house the servicemember in the barracks but cannot accommodate a non-military ex-spouse.
This can be a difficult situation for many people because they have to go through the stress of moving and in some cases (for the spouses of a military member) re-acclimate to civilian life. Also, in most cases, the military does not pay for the move, so there will be expenses to relocate.
Contacting a Newport News Divorce Lawyer
Some individuals facing divorce initially may attempt to seek legal help from their JAG (military legal services) only to find that little help was offered. The on-base legal services office is normally not equipped to deal with domestic matters, so it’s strongly suggested the individual seek the advice of a civilian attorney familiar with divorce involving servicemembers.
At the Hofheimer Family Law Firm, we represent women who are going through the divorce process. See our free divorce eBook and secure your seat at our divorce seminar. Call us at 1-757-425-5200 to set up a consultation with a Newport News divorce law firm for women regarding your military divorce and how it affects on-base housing.