Divorce and Remarriage
questions & answers
Question: I was married to my ex husband for 11 years while he was in the military. He later retired from the military. Am I entitled to half of his pension? It was not noted on our divorce decree.
Answer: Division of military pensions is governed by the Uniformed Services Former Spouse's Protection Act. Under this law, state courts are given the power to divide military pensions in a divorce (dissolution) proceeding in accordance with federal guidelines. There must be a family court order. The USFSPA defines a court order dividing military pensions as follows: "Final decree of divorce, dissolution, annulment, or legal separation issued by a court, or 3 a court ordered ratified or approved property settlement incident to such a decree." This also includes an order modifying a previously issued court order. In other words, the statute requires you to go back to court to have your decree of dissolution modified to divide the pension.
QUESTIONS
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I was married to my ex husband for 11 years while he was in the military. He later retired from the military. Am I entitled to half of his pension? It was not noted on our divorce decree.
STORIES
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He told me that I could actually get all the money I needed by using my home as collateral. . .
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He told me that I could actually get all the money I needed by using my home as collateral. . .
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I just helped my mother, age 89, deal with her Medicare HMO. . .
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