When it comes to divorce, military and government families face issues that other families do not. At The Susan Hicks Group, our lawyers represent employees and retirees of the CIA, FBI, Secret Service, Homeland Security, and members of all branches of the military, as well as their spouses.
Our lawyers understand the issues that military and government families face. Several of our attorneys grew up in families where a mother or father served in the military or worked for the federal government. Attorney Christopher Mays is a former combat medic with the U.S. Army.
Dividing Military and Government Benefits in Divorce
When you go through divorce in Virginia, marital property is divided according to the law of equitable distribution. Marital property includes assets such as real estate and bank accounts, as well as benefits such as pensions and retirement savings accounts.
The retirement plans and other benefits of government employees and members of service are different than those of private employers. When a member of the military or government employee divorces, special procedures must be followed to divide those assets.
For example:
- Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS), Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), and military pensions are different from private pension plans and cannot be divided by a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO). There are special procedures and deadlines a divorced spouse must follow to receive a portion of a government employee's or service member's retirement benefits.
- Thrift Savings Plans are separate from pension benefits. Dividing these assets requires a court order with specific language.
- Certain ancillary benefits, such as continued healthcare and life insurance, may be available to spouses of military members and government employees.
Child custody and visitation arrangements for military service members can be complex, and require a lawyer with both creativity and compassion like you will find at The Susan Hicks Group.
Contact Our Alexandria and Loudoun Government and Military Divorce Attorneys
For more information, or to schedule a consultation with our Fairfax divorce attorneys, call 703-468-0193 or fill out our online form.
