Military Divorce Lawyer in Plano, TX
Attorney for Members of the Armed Forces and Military Spouses in Collin County
A spouse's military service often puts stress on a marriage. Unfortunately, some service members and their spouses find their marriages falling apart, whether due to this stress or other reasons. When a military service member's marriage ends in divorce, there are several unique complications and considerations due to both U.S. federal law and Texas state law. Both parties should be sure to understand these details and how they can impact their divorce case.
One of the best ways for service members and military spouses to prepare for a divorce is to hire an attorney who has substantial experience with military divorce cases. At the Law Office of Brian Bagley, we will help you consider factors including residency requirements, asset division, and child custody, and we will work to ensure that your interests are protected. With 10 years of family law experience, we are well-versed in the issues you are likely to encounter.
Divorce Filings Between Military Spouses in Texas
The military service of one or both spouses can affect the divorce process from the very beginning, starting with the ability to file for divorce in the state of Texas. Typically, state law requires that at least one spouse has been a Texas resident for at least six months immediately before filing, as well as a resident of the county where the petition for divorce is filed for at least 90 days. However, military service members and their spouses can also file for divorce in Texas if the service member has been stationed in the state and county for those same time periods.
If one spouse is living in Texas while the other is on active duty and stationed away from the state, it may still be possible to file for divorce. However, the proceedings can be significantly delayed based on the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which protects active duty service members from default judgments in civil court proceedings, including divorce cases. This means that if you want to divorce your spouse who is serving in the military, you will need to wait at least until they have been served notice of the petition, and possibly until they return from serving, before your case can move forward.
Property Division and Child Custody for Military Families
Some elements of the divorce resolution will also likely be impacted by a spouse's military service. For example, when dividing marital assets, military spouses will not only have to consider the usual properties like homes, vehicles, and bank accounts, but also the service member's military benefits. According to the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA), civilian spouses of service members may be eligible for the continuation of certain benefits after divorce, including commissary and exchange and healthcare, depending on the length of the marriage and whether it coincided with the military service. A spouse may also be eligible for part of the service member's retired pay. However, it is important to address these issues directly in your Texas divorce agreement to ensure you are protected.
Child custody can also be complicated in military divorces, especially if one of the spouses is currently deployed or expects to be in the future. In general, the terms of managing conservatorship, possession, and access to the child will be determined as in any other custody case, with the child's best interests as the primary focus. However, a deployed parent may choose to pursue a temporary order to allow another party, such as a grandparent or another relative, to exercise custody or visitation with the child during the deployment. The parent may also be able to pursue temporary additional visitation time after returning from duty.
Five-Star Client Reviews
Hear From Our Clients in Their Own Words
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"Although I didn't get the exact result I was hoping for, I got the results that I needed! Brian and his team were more than helpful to me."
Although I didn't get the exact result I was hoping for, I got the results that I needed! Brian and his team were more than ...
Lyndell B. -
"I had the best experience with Brian and his staff. So professional, and timely and kept me calm as they guided me through the process."
I had the best experience with Brian and his staff at Bagley Law Firm. So professional, and timely and kept me calm as they ...
Tina B. -
"They were professional, responsive and sensitive to my circumstances. They made things easy for me and got my through a difficult time expeditiously!"
I had a great experience with Brian and his staff, especially Kristen. They were professional, responsive and sensitive to my ...
Suzanne C. -
"Brian Bagley is the best family law attorney I have ever worked with. He explained everything to me in terms I could easily understand."
Brian Bagley is the best family law attorney I have ever worked with. From our first online meeting, he explained everything ...
Ken H. -
"This team is the absolute best! Professional, speedy, and gets the job done. I love working with them and they make me feel like family."
This team is the absolute best! Professional, speedy and gets the job done. Kristen is quick to respond and get what you need ...
Kristan C. -
"From the first meeting with Brian, he exuded confidence in his knowledge of legal matters. Always very honest, straightforward forward, and clear with his advice and guidance."
From the first meeting with Brian, he exuded confidence in his knowledge of legal matters. Always very honest, ...
Jared C. -
"While divorce is certainly not an easy process for anyone, having a compassionate lawyer helps smooth the process along immensely. Brian was certainly that person for me."
I had another lawyer handling my divorce case prior to Brian, and she was an absolute MESS. It was very difficult to ...
Former Client -
"If I could give them 10 stars I would, HANDS DOWN!! He came in, took over my case from a previous lawyer, did EXACTLY what he said he would do & got my case closed!!"
If I could give this young man 10 stars I would HANDS DOWN!! He came in, took over my case from a previous lawyer, did ...
Faithful A.