Does Military Service Affect Alimony Payments?
Sustaining a military marriage is difficult when active duty husbands and wives are deployed overseas for long periods of time. Unfortunately, the strain of a long-distance relationship often leads to divorce for many servicemembers.
A military divorce tends to be more complicated than its civilian counterpart whenever a spouse is deployed. Luckily, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protects service men and women who are facing divorce proceedings. It doesn’t, however, keep them from paying alimony. In fact, the military has strict rules regarding spousal support obligations.
In Florida, alimony may be granted to spouses who require financial assistance to offset the economic impact of divorce. In some circumstances, alimony can be awarded in monthly installments or as a lump sum.
Types of alimony payments include:
- Temporary alimony
- Bridge-the-gap alimony
- Durational alimony
- Rehabilitative alimony
- Permanent alimony
Failure to Support
A service member is required to comply with court-appointed alimony payments. Military personnel who fail to provide spousal support may face administrative discharge proceedings. The spouse can also request a court order to garnish wages directly from the servicemember’s paycheck if payments aren’t forthcoming.
Each department of the U.S. military has unique regulations regarding temporary alimony payments. For example, the Army requires soldiers to pay their former spouses the equivalent of their basic housing allowance. Of course, this is only if a state court order hasn’t been initiated. Likewise, the Navy and the Marines demand their service members pay spouses 1/3 of their gross pay. However, this amount increases if children are involved.
Secure Alimony in Florida
Contact Dale L. Bernstein, Chartered Law Office if you have questions or concerns about your alimony payments. Our New Port Richey alimony lawyer has over 35 years of experience and is well-versed in the nuances of Florida alimony laws.
Call Dale L. Bernstein, Chartered Law Office at (727) 312-1112 to schedule a case evaluation.