Military Divorce Lawyer Colorado Springs & Denver
Cost-effective and Skilled Military Divorce Attorneys – Denver and Colorado Springs
Make Informed Decisions that Impact Your Future. Call for a free initial consultation – 1-866-601-5518.
As an active duty member or spouse filing for divorce you will face unique issues when it comes to divorce law because certain rules apply in military divorces that are different from traditional Colorado divorces. If you are the military parent, you want to ensure that your affairs are handled if you TDY or deployed, you also want to address retirement matters during divorce, and ensure that you have enough visitation wih your children. If you are the military spouse, you also want to ensure that your rights and entitlements are in line with Colorado laws. Watson & Associates’ attorneys resolve several military divorce matters on a daily basis. The litigation process has several unique requirements during divorce. Among the differences are:
- Acquiring service of process upon the military spouse
- Addressing marital property issues related to retirements and pensions
- Addressing personal jurisdiction or establishing domicile
- Establishing parenting time (child custody) in out of state or relocation
Watson & Associates, LLC has successfully assisted military families to experience the diorce process in a away that protects their rights, account for children and their realtionships with parents, and make the unique plans for out of state matters. Some of our members are either retired, or served in the armed forces. They understand the issues that can arise such as the impact of deployment during divorce, retirements and spousal support disputes.
Retain Experienced Counsel that Focuses on Results
Military divorce, like traditional Colorado divorces, require adherence to legal procedural rules. As compared to military law, you know have to understand the civilian family court process. At Watson & Associates, our military divorce attorneys understand both sides. Our lead family law attorney, Lorraine Stark, brings over 20 years of successful experience to your case. In addition, some of our attorneys are retired military members and can help you to navigate and apply laws that impact both federal and state rules.
Get Citical Advice that Helps You to Protect Your Rights
During your free initial consultation, our divorce lawyers can provide you with a general overview of the divorce process and highlight any problem areas that may apply to your case. We will also give an assessment of what should be done to protect your rights and interest. In virtually all new divorce cases, our law firm conducts legal research. We never do guesswork with such sensitive matters. In fact, any skilled Colorado military divorce lawyer should always attend court prepared with legal authority to support your position.
Get Cost-effective Relocation and Retirement Solutions
When you incur problems with relocation, confusion with property division and disputes pertaining to retirement benefits, want a skilled professiona that give you solid and relibale advice. If you reside in the Colorado Springs area and are looking for privacy and confidentiality, Watson & Associates can help. Our Colorado military divorce team can address a variety of issues relevant to your case. They include:
Relocation: Oftentimes, active duty members are on temporary tour of duty (TDY) for extended periods of time, or even deployed overseas. Complex issues arise when a divorce spouse has to relocate out of state for employment purposes and the children are involved. This is a situation that our lawyers can provide valuable assistance.
Solve Retirement & Property Division Problems: One of the most common disputes in a Colorado military divorce is retirement benefits and property division. Depending on the length of the marriage, spouses can be entitled to a portion of military divorce retirement. However, sometimes (depending on the needs of each spouse, negotiation can be an effective way to resolve immediate concerns. Our Denver lawyers are prepared to address these situations for you.
Adequately Resolve Child Custody and Support Matters: When there are child involved in a military divorce, things can get even more complicated. For example, one parent may end up relocating because of a new assignment or another job offer. You want to protect your rights at suhc a critical stage. Similar to traditional Colorado divorces, a judge must consider parenting time, decision making (formerly child custody) when ruling in a military divorce.
Watson’s family law firm has resolved some of the most complex cases in court. We will help you to negotiate an amicable resolution to child custody and support disputes in mediation. If this fails, then we will aggressively represent you in court.
Spousal Maintenance (Alimony): Typically the non-military spouse seeks spousal support (formerly alimony). Never assume that spousal support is automatic in Colorado – it is not. Having experienced military divorce attorneys can make the difference in the outcome in a dispute for spousal maintenance.
Governing CO Divorce Laws
Military divorces in Colorado are governed by both federal and state law. For example, military pension and certain emergency child support orders are dictated by federal law. Colorado family laws govern all other matters such as child custody, child support, spousal support and marital property. Our attorneys can provide you information to help you make the decisions that impact your future.
Unique Rules Pertaining to Military Divorce Proceedings
Military members have some legal protection from divorce proceedings in Colorado that are not available for citizens. For example, under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) military men and women are protected from lawsuits including divorce proceedings (the process can be delayed). This is especially true for active duty members deployed overseas. This one situation when having one of our Denver CO divorce law attorneys can be beneficial to you.
Service of Process
Under Colorado divorce laws, the courts will not be able to hear a case unless it has authority. The authority of a court to hear a case is called jurisdiction. Therefore, if the spouse of a military member is the one seeking a divorce, the active duty spouse must be personally served with a summons and petition for divorce in order for a state court to have jurisdiction over the military member.
If the active duty spouse is overseas or deployed, you may request that military authority serve your spouse, but your spouse must consent to service. If your spouse will not consent, you may request the court to appoint an officer of the court to serve the papers unless your spouse is serving on a ship or at a shore installation.
Grounds for Divorce
Colorado is known as a no fault state. As compared to the strict military regulations that come down upon its members for family actions, Colorado does not consider fault when you are going through a military divorce. You merely have to show that the there is an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage (no possibility of reconciling the relationship.) However, actions of the parties can be considered when addressing decision making and custody matters. If you are family law advice that is reliable, consider the CO divorce lawyers at the Denver law firm of Watson & Associates. Our services reach active duty members and spouses in the Colorado Springs areas.
Learn About Former Spouses and Military Benefits
Under USFSPA, former spouses are eligible for full medical, commissary, and exchange privileges where all of the following conditions apply:
- The spouses were married for at least 20 years
- The military member performed at least 20 years of service creditable for retired pay
- There was at least a 20 year overlap of the marriage and the military service
If the military spouse remarries, then eligibility for benefits is terminated. The benefits are revived if the subsequent marriage is terminated.
Statewide Representation
If you are contemplating or filing for divorce in Colorado, Watson & Associates military divorce lawyers represent active duty members or spouses throughout Colorado. This includes, U.S. Air Force Academy, Peterson Air Force Base and Shriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Army and Navy military members; Buckley Air Force Base in Denver and DFAS personnel.
Contact us
For immediate representation, contact our Denver, Colorado military divorce laws attorney toll free at 1-866-601-5518. We offer free initial consultations.
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