Choosing to end a marriage is never an easy decision. But if either spouse is serving in the U.S. military, deployed overseas or stateside, filing for divorce becomes even more complicated, thanks to military regulations and procedures.
If you are in the military or married to someone in the military and wish to file for divorce, we can help. At the law firm of Lorenzi & Barnatt, L.L.P., our skilled Lake Charles military divorce lawyers can help you navigate the legal quagmire of filing for a military divorce and protect your individual rights.
The firm's founder, AV Preeminent-rated* attorney Thomas Lorenzi, has more than 30 years of experience in the practice of law. Dan Lorenzi handles most of the firm's family law work. Financial aspects of family law such as qualified domestic relations orders are handled by attorney Theresa Barnatt.
What Makes a Military Divorce Complicated?
Even though the actual laws that govern divorces do not differ, several issues unique to military divorces can affect the final decree:
- Deployment overseas
- Base transfers
- State residency and filing requirements
- Military benefits, including health insurance
- Military pension plans
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
Under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFSPA), state courts may treat military retirement pay as either individual or community property depending on state of jurisdiction. While the USFSPA does not provide a formula, the amount is generally determined and awarded under specific state laws.
New Orleans Parent Relocation Attorney
The military also has special rules and provisions concerning determination of child support and custody and spousal support. To ensure your parental rights are fully protected, it is important to talk with a lawyer who has experience mediating and litigating child custody in military divorces.
You need a skilled attorney from the law firm of Lorenzi & Barnatt. Contact our Lake Charles law firm online to schedule an initial consultation or call us toll free at 877-269-8978.
* CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies.
Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.
