Getting Divorced While in the Service? Get Yourself a Lawyer.

If you are currently serving in the military and thinking about pursuing a divorce, you need a lawyer. While divorce is different for military members, it is always a good idea to seek assistance from an attorney before making any big decisions. By doing so, your attorney can guide you through the entire divorce process, ensure that you understand everything happening with your case, and protect your rights.

What makes a military divorce different?

Military divorces are different from other divorces in various ways. There are several issues that may arise when going through a military divorce that would likely not happen in a civilian divorce. This may include dividing specific military benefits among both spouses, meeting certain requirements established by your military branch, child custody with deployment and other military factors in mind, and even unique child support issues.

When you are an active military member, this can make the divorce process a lot more difficult and complex. The military has its own rules and regulations, which could postpone or delay the legal proceedings, provide more protections to the party currently serving in the military, and prevent any evictions from being made. As a result, you may want to hire a San Antonio divorce attorney who knows and understands the laws surrounding military divorces. With their advice and guidance, you will have a better chance of navigating the divorce process as smoothly as possible.

Can’t a JAG help me with my military divorce?

If you or your spouse is a military service member, you most likely have heard of the term JAG, or Judge Advocate General. . A  JAG is a military lawyer that serves in the JAG Corps, which is an official law organization and firm operated by the government. The following are some of the duties of the JAG Corps:

• Stand up and defend the military service members when it comes to all types of military legal issues
• Fight and demand justice for military service members across the world
• Give helpful advice regarding legal issues that may involve military members

While a JAG is usually available to help military members or their spouses with a variety of legal matters, it is important to realize that a JAG cannot represent a military member in a Texas court, because they do not having jurisdiction there. This means that you can likely schedule a consultation with a JAG on your military base to get the advice you need regarding a divorce, but family court is out of a JAG’s jurisdiction. These individuals typically only help military soldiers with criminal law, administrative law, operational law, labor law, environmental law, national security law, and international law. A JAG cannot help you fill out the papers and actually file for the divorce. Instead, they will likely refer you to a divorce lawyer to assist you with filing for your divorce.

Five reasons why you should consider hiring a San Antion military divorce lawyer

You certainly have the right to go through and obtain a divorce without hiring a lawyer. However, there are huge benefits to having a professional by your side who knows and understands the legal process and is ready to handle any obstacles and challenges that arise with your military divorce case. Therefore, if you are currently unsure of whether it is necessary to hire a lawyer for your military divorce, it may be helpful for you to learn some of the reasons why you should. Here are five of the main reasons:

1. They will answer all your questions and concerns: Any type of divorce is stressful, but a military divorce can be completely overwhelming. This is likely because you have several military rules and regulations that must be kept in mind. When going through this type of divorce, it is very common for individuals to have many questions and concerns emerge. However, if you decide to hire a lawyer, they can make the process much easier for you to navigate by answering your questions and concerns promptly.
2. They have the experience and skills to help you through the entire process: You may worry that seeking an attorney on your own could mean that they lack the experience or skills needed for a military divorce. However, this could not be further from the truth. Some divorce attorneys, such as the team at Grable Grimshaw, have spent years gaining experience, knowledge, and skills to help those with military divorces. Therefore, you can have peace of mind knowing that we have assisted clients with these types of divorces and know the ins and outs of the legal process.
3. They understand that military divorces are unique and different: Divorce lawyers who help military couples and families are aware of the fact that military divorces are unique and different. Both parties involved in the divorce must meet certain requirements and follow specific laws. Therefore, you likely need help ensuring that you follow all the necessary steps to filing a divorce, which a divorce lawyer can assist you with.
4. They will make sure that the property division process remains fair and accurate: The property division process is one of the most complicated parts of a military divorce. Therefore, you want to make sure that you have a legal professional that you can depend on when things become tricky or difficult. A divorce attorney can look over all property and belongings and determine how it all will be split fairly and accurately. Even though this can be time-consuming and exhausting, the last thing you want is your ex-spouse to get the assets that you deserved or were entitled to.
5. They also know how to help with custody and child support: Many military divorces also involve children. Therefore, if you need help with child custody, child support, or visitation issues, you can count on a divorce lawyer to assist you. When these types of divorces involve children, it can be extremely challenging because the service member may already be deployed or about to be deployed to another state or country soon. You need a divorce attorney who will take this into consideration when developing a specific agreement or schedule, while also putting the children’s best interests first.

If you live in the San Antonio area and are going through a divorce, the military divorce lawyers from Grable Grimshaw PLLC are here to help you understand your legal rights and options. We know that this is a very difficult and devastating time in your life, which is why you need a professional lawyer who will ensure that you get the best results possible. Our team will listen to your desires and goals regarding your divorce and do everything we can to help you obtain them. If you are ready to get started, please call our office or submit our contact form to schedule your free case review today.