Are you in the military or married to someone who is?

Divorces are difficult.  Getting a divorce as a military servicemember  or veterans presents unique legal challenges due to deployments and other issues. Protecting people's rights regarding children, marital property and other considerations in these complex divorce scenarios requires the services of an attorney with a comprehensive knowledge of state, federal and military law.

For dedicated legal representation in divorces involving military personnel, call Attorney Tom Hetchler. We are dedicated to resolving divorce and other family law matters and know what it takes to get it done.

Contact us today to discuss your military divorce matters with a lawyer who actually served in the military.

Divorces of military personnel stationed out of the country or state

A divorce when one spouse is serving in the military can be a difficult process. Because of their status, military personnel receive special legal protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).  The military spouse must file for divorce in the county and state where they live.  In Michigan, they must reside in the county for at least 10 days and must have been a resident of Michigan for the past 180 days.    The Service member can file for divorce in their home state (home of record) or in the state where they currently reside.   There are exceptions to these rules so you should consult with an experienced military and veterans attorney. 

Divorce proceedings against a spouse in the military can experience significant delays due to their out-of-state or out-of-country military service. There can be similar delays in child custody proceedings, as modifications to an existing custodial arrangement often cannot be made because of the deployment.

Whether a military or civilian spouse is considering divorce, currently involved in one, or already divorced, our skills in military divorce law will help them address concerns regarding:

• Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
• Dividing pay, benefits and military retirement
• Spousal benefits limits
• Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA)
• Domestic violence
• Paternity

Experience handling a military divorce

As a military spouse, is it better to resolve a divorce as soon as possible or wait and allow a larger share of military retirement pay to increase? As a non-military spouse is it wiser to push the divorce and lose certain benefits now or let the process run its course for a larger share of other marital property later?   

Our knowledge of Michigan divorce law and how it relates to federal protections for military spouses helps clients fully understand their options. We always provide them with the information they need to make informed legal decisions.


Contact us at Michigan Veterans Law 

(517) 908-3480
or Toll Free 866-98-THOMAS  

The Law Offices of Thomas Hetchler
919 Chester Road
Lansing, MI  48912
(517) 908-3480
Fax (517) 908-3481
help@MiVetLaw.com