The military is a demanding commitment, and with such a strain on your time and obligations, it is understandable that your marriage may suffer. According to sources such as Military.com, the divorce rate for spouses in the service has been on the decline for several years, but there are still many military couples who divorce every year. There are a few things to think about if you are in this situation.
The most important considerations will regard your financial future and arrangements that affect your children, if you have any. It is vital that you prepare for the legal processes that these items and the rest of your divorce will entail, and if necessary, hire an attorney to represent you in court.
Division of pension
If there is no pre- or postnuptial agreement in place, dividing property and finances may be a challenge. One of the most valuable assets a service member is likely to have is a pension, and when negotiating a divorce, this can become a contentious issue. A court may decide to split the sum of the pension between both spouses, or a court may decide that the enlisted spouse retain the pension.
Custody arrangements
Raising kids while enlisted is often a challenge in and of itself — you never know if you face deployment or will receive orders to move to a new base. This can become even more complicated if you get a divorce. A family care plan is typically a requirement, and it is the best way to negotiate plans for sharing custody while both spouses are local or planning for custody if an enlisted spouse is on deployment.
Spousal support
It is not uncommon for a person to pause his or her career in order to support a spouse’s military commitment. Whether this career break involves raising kids or simply supporting a spouse’s career, it can make it more difficult to reenter the workforce or maintain the standard of living you had during the marriage. In such cases, spousal support may be an option.
