Service Member & Military Spouse Divorce Help

Military personnel are often put stressful situations during training and during deployment. Sometimes, these job stressors can have a huge impact on your marriage that may lead to divorce. Gordon N. Shayne is a skillful divorce attorney that is sensitive to the unique demands of military life. He provides exceptional legal counsel that is committed to protecting your rights during your military divorce.

The Effect of Combat on a Family

Service members in all branches of the military are required to undergo high levels of stress on a daily basis when preparing for battle. After experiencing the stress of combat, service members may endure any number of emotional or behavioral problems, including:

• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Alcohol and/or drug abuse
• Depression
• Other trauma-related mental illness

The stress of these trauma-related behavioral struggles significantly impacts divorce rates in military families. However, because behavioral health concerns can have a significant impact on child custody hearings and spousal maintenance negotiations, it is crucial to have a lawyer to protect your rights throughout military divorce proceedings. Gordon N. Shayne knows what is at stake in your divorce. He is knowledgeable about the specific procedures and rights military service members have regarding custody and other post-decree matters. With personal care and attention, he aggressively protects your best interests and helps your family reach a satisfactory resolution.

Initiating Divorce as a Military Spouse

Divorce can be initiated by husbands and wives of military service members even if their partner is deployed. However, there are specific procedures that apply to a military spouse. Divorce attorney Gordon N. Shayne provides expert military legal assistance & family law help when you need to file for divorce from your spouse who is in the military.

Legal Assistance & Family Law Help for Military Families

When you choose Gordon N. Shayne as your military divorce lawyer, he provides the guidance and advice that comes from over 33 years of legal experience. Mr. Shayne understands how the court may divide assets, child custody, benefits and award spousal maintenance or child support with respect to military households. For proficient legal assistance with military divorce in Colorado Springs, CO, contact Gordon N. Shayne today.

Experience Counts

*for those individuals interested in retaining legal counsel and who have the financial means to hire an attorney

The answer to that question is under certain circumstances, you sure can. We’ve represented hundreds and hundreds of military members on active duty who are deployed to different locations all over the world.

Can I get a divorce during my military deployment? The answer to that question is under certain circumstances, you sure can. We’ve represented hundreds and hundreds of military members on active duty who are deployed to different locations all over the world.

The first thing that needs to be established is a line of communication with those clients, usually by e-mail. As long as clients can maintain and establish communication with us, then we can keep the clients advised regarding their process and their case, and have good communication going as to what needs to be done to conclude a case.

In order to finalize a divorce, when a military member is on a deployment, the kind of case that is involved in the family court is going to determine whether the court will allow the case to become final when a military member cannot be present. Many times, when I’m representing somebody in the military, I will file a motion with the court to ask that a military service member be permitted to appear by telephone for a court hearing, and that’s another way that, even though you’re on deployment, your divorce case can be finalized.

Another way that a divorce case can be finalized when you’re on deployment is when both parties have lawyers, and there’s children involved, the parties can enter into agreements. Even if you’re in a foreign land, you can get a copy of the separation agreement and the parenting plan.

Both lawyers can make sure that their clients sign the separation agreement and the parenting plan, and a document called affidavit of non-appearance. When those documents get filed with the court, with a decree of dissolution of marriage, and you have a full understanding of what the agreement says, and what the court is going to do in adopting your agreements, then the court can issue a decree even though you are on a deployment.

Now, there are some cases where it’s impossible for the court to enter a decree of dissolution of marriage, when a soldier or a active-duty military member is not available. Those circumstances usually come up during the Soldiers/Sailors Civil Relief Act, which prohibit the other party from taking action before a judge when a military member is on overseas deployment duties and objects to action being taken that that military member cannot participate in.

This is another example of why it should be in your best interest, at every opportunity, to have appropriate legal counsel representing you, when you know you’re going to be deployed, or you know that there are significant issues involved in your divorce case that will also affect your military career. I would advise you to always talk to, even by e-mail, or in a phone conference, a qualified lawyer.

We offer free consultations for military members, and we offer a reduced retainer for all military members. I’m available to talk to you about your case, or about your questions that you have as to how we can help you and represent you in your divorce case, when you know that a deployment or other kinds of military commitments are coming up.