Working Toward A Divorce Resolution For Military Families

A divorce is difficult, even without one or both of the parties being members of the military. This adds another layer of complexity to the situation and needs the attention of an attorney who has a full understanding of military divorces.

At the Erie office of Law Offices of Bruce G. Sandmeyer, Esq., we confidently handle military divorces and related issues. Our founding attorney, Bruce Sandmeyer, is not only a U.S. Army combat veteran but also a veteran lawyer with more than 25 years of legal experience. His knowledge of the family law issues that military families are faced with, along with a full understanding of the Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act (USFSPA), is an asset in handling your case.

Military Divorces Versus Civilian Divorces

While there are many similarities between civilian and military divorces, there are numerous factors that need to be considered in a military divorce that does not apply in a civilian divorce. Whether you are in the army, navy, marines, air force, coast guard or national guard, our firm helps educate our military clients on situations involving many issues, including those discussed below:

• Military service members are entitled to many different types of benefits that civilians are not. However, the spouses of military service members are often entitled to their share of the benefits upon divorce. It is important to understand how military benefits, including pensions and retirement benefits, are divided to ensure you are getting what you deserve.
• Child custody is often an emotionally-charged matter in a divorce, as a spouse may wish to move with the child or a spouse on active duty may need to have a custody arrangement altered.
• Military members are protected under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which allows a case to be paused (called a “stay”) in the event the service person is called to active duty and cannot proceed with the legal matters. This often occurs in divorces, as they cannot proceed while someone is on active duty.

If you are a member of the military or it is your spouse who is in the service, our firm can assist you. We have handled numerous cases from either side of the divorce and can pursue a resolution to the case that suits your best interests and future.

Let Us Help You Get Started

For more information on how we handle military divorces, send us an email or call our firm at 814-616-2928 to schedule a free consultation.