Military marriages aren’t easy, and that makes military divorces extra difficult. For example, many military spouses are unemployed or work part time due to their spouse’s ever-changing work assignments. As a result, parents often have difficulty making decisions regarding their children. Luckily, the United States Military offers family law support and may oversee some disputed issues in a military divorce if the enlisted spouse is not cooperating with court orders.

What our Clients Say...
“I’ve worked with A People’s Choice since September 2013.  They are very knowledgeable and experienced.  Their work is done professionally and timely.  They show a real concern for my situation.  I recommend you give them the opportunity to be of service to you.”
D. Echeverra
“Just recently moved to the Ventura area and didn’t know of any companies to help me with my legal paperwork. I am glad I chose A People’s Choice. They were very friendly and helped me with my documents in a very efficient way in very little time. Give them a try and you will be writing a positive review just as I did.”
D. Buelna
“Extremely satisfied with the performance of A People’s Choice. The communication was excellent and all was handled in a timely efficient manner. “
Pam T.
“I needed help understanding and filling out legal documents, but I didn’t have enough money to pay for an attorney. The staff at A People’s Choice was very professional and helpful. They took care of all of the paperwork and filings and kept me posted. I would highly recommend them. You will get outstanding service at an affordable price. “
Sharon B.
“I can’t remember how I found A People’s Choice, but am completely satisfied with the service provided. The person I worked with was very friendly whenever we spoke on the phone and always responded promptly to any emails. The entire process was smooth and painless. Would recommend A People’s Choice without hesitation.”
Les A.
“My wife and I needed to have papers filed in court but found traditional lawyers were quite expensive. A People’s Choice did a professional job completing our paperwork and I might say, at a very reasonable price. You can bet I will contact A People’s Choice again if or when the need arises. “
D. Hileman
“Made the process so easy for me. Also VERY prompt replies through email. So glad I used their services.“
Kristina C.
“Very professional, excellent follow up and easy to work with. I will recommend them often! The staff rocks!”
Gene A.
“When I first saw all of the documents required to file I was overwhelmed. Already dealing with the stress of everything else, I did not want to deal with the courts, a mountain load of paperwork and trips to file as well. I’m VERY happy that I went with A People’s Choice. They were very helpful, despite all of my questions. I definitely recommend.”
M. McCleod
“A People’s Choice prepares legal documents so you can represent yourself and still look like you know what you’re doing. I utilized their services recently and found them to be professional as well as extremely helpful. I couldn’t be happier.”
Evan J.
“Highly recommend A People’s Choice. The customer service and professionalism are exceptional. My documents were delivered to me quickly and accurately. Compared to using an attorney for complete paperwork, this service is only a fraction of the cost, more responsive, and better suited to quickly completing complicated court forms. “
Linda F.
“I was very happy with the service received. They were extremely responsive by phone and email and completed the document in less than 24 hours! All questions were answered promptly. I would highly recommend this service to anyone needing a legal document prepared!”
M.D.
“This team is efficient, professional, ethical and easy to work with. Any of my questions were responded to immediately. They did everything they could to help me. I highly recommend their services.”
Leigh A.
“I used A People’s Choice for filing divorce paperwork for an uncontested divorce. The price was very affordable and fair. Excellent service throughout. Not being able to call and talk on the phone worried me at first but they responded to every email extremely quickly. Directions were very easy to understand. Will definitely use them again if I need.
Frank M.
“A People’s Choice helped me with my QDRO. They were very professional and very honest. They saved me a lot of money by having them do all the paperwork. There was no hidden fees. I would recommend A People’s Choice for any of your needs. They are very knowledgeable in what they do. Thank you A People’s Choice for all your help!”
Debra H.
“A People’s Choice offers a very professional, low cost service for all sorts of legal paperwork, from living trusts to divorce, bankruptcy and everything in between. If you know what you want to do and don’t need legal advice, I strongly recommend calling this company. You won’t be disappointed and will save lots of money!”
Kathryn R.
“I recently required the help of A People’s Choice, Inc. and found them to be entirely professional. Everything was done in short order yet all was explained to my satisfaction. They were friendly and courteous. I am happy and impressed.”
C. Zyobel
“I can’t say enough about the level of service and professionalism I received working with A People’s Choice. Emails were always responded to quickly and thoughtfully. They really care about the process and helping you get the best result with no up-selling. The process played out according to plan, and I ended up saving a lot of money by going with A People’s Choice over an attorney.”
M. Rice
“This company is excellent! They helped me get through all of my paperwork, submitted it to the court, and now everything is complete. Everything was clear and almost too easy. I saved thousands of dollars!”
Seth M.
“I had contacted a lawyer and he wanted to charge me $1800.00. Then I found A People’s Choice. They got my paperwork started and at a much lower cost, and steered me, with the help of lots of paperwork, in the right direction. I am grateful for the company’s services and would recommend them to anyone that may need the services they offer.”
April R.
“Great service. Highly professional and efficient creating legal documents. I am completely satisfied and highly recommend them to others. I am so glad I found you on the internet. People who are looking for professional legal services look no further, try A People’s Choice.”
Radtech N.
“So glad I found this company to handle my divorce. They were very professional and detail oriented, answering all of my (many) questions and kept me informed. They handled everything for me from hundreds of miles away and made it pretty seamless. The pricing was in the exact range we were looking for. Very honest company and great to work with!”
Jessica J.
“I would just like to comment on what a great job A People’s Choice did with my divorce. I could not be happier. They let me know how they keep the cost down by communicating through email. I also appreciated how when I had a question they got back with me in the day or in the evening. APeoples Choice is a good deal for the consumer.”
R. Leyva
“A People’s Choice is a business that delivers what they promise. I was treated like a VIP by their staff. As for their services, they promptly delivered all of the official documents and fillings on my behalf and their price is more than reasonable. In short, this is a business that I will always recommend and continue to use. Thank you!”
Juan B.
“A People’s Choice is awesome! They made the legal documentation process painless. I highly recommend A People’s Choice. The name says it all.”
Eric J.
“Lightning fast response, I had my very simple document on the same day as my order for the very fair and reasonable price of $325 (including the rush fee!) compared to my attorney who quoted me 3 weeks and $2500. I will definitely use these folks again and highly recommend them!”
L. Carnes
“A People’s Choice is extremely customer orientated and friendly.  Their service was fast and reliable. in the future, should I need their services again, I will not hesitate to call them. All e-mails were answered with either a phone call or e-mail sometimes even late at night“
Tar
“Want to personally thank the staff at A People’s Choice for making my divorce process so simple and painless. From my 1st contact in the office, they were was warm and friendly and took the time to explain each step in a very simple and quick manner. Filing for a divorce can be a difficult and painful process and the staff was extremely professional and clear in all guidance and explanations. I highly recommend A People’s Choice.”
C. Hannon
“Overwhelmed with my divorce, custody and child support paperwork, A Peoples Choice made everything so much easier and really put my mind at ease. I couldn’t be happier with their assistance and it really made all the process speed up for me. Thank you so much for all your help.”
Samantha R.
“A People’s Choice saved me time, money & hardship. The people are professional and a pleasure to work with, I totally recommend them to everyone! I will used them for all my legal documents in the future. Thank you!”
C. Lazalde
“I thought I could save money and file my own divorce paperwork. The court clerks offer no assistance whatsoever! The best advice I can give is to call A People’s Choice first. They typed up my paperwork and my divorce was final in two weeks! Would highly recommend them to everyone.”
L. Bayer
“The service provided by A People’s Choice was very professional and comprehensive. We have used A People’s Choice on a previous occasion and were completely satisfied. We would highly recommend A People’s Choice to anyone!“
R. Betancourt
“I had the opportunity to use A People’s Choice again, Wow doesn’t say enough for the way the staff was able to get me in and out and all my answers answered. Very P-professional, organized and Friendly. I highly recommend!”
Debbie E.
“How much is peace of mind worth to you? This company of hardworking, caring individuals will help you get the job done in the quickest, most efficient way. Conveniently located. Check it out. Thank you!”
Diana K.
“I used A People’s Choice to complete custody paperwork. No disappointment here. The service was easy and painless. It might have been nice to have a discussion by phone, but it was still quite easy and quick via email. Overall, the process was simple and I would use A People’s Choice again.”
Michael J.
“Divorce is usually never pleasant but A People’s Choice made it much easier than it would have been if we tried to do the divorce paperwork on our own. They were very quick to respond to us and always took the time to answer all of our questions thoroughly, in addition to quickly. I would highly recommend them for handling divorce paperwork.”
Susan Z.

Get help filing a military divorce in California!

START MY DIVORCE PAPERWORK

…or continue reading the article below to learn about child custody in military divorce.

Child Support in Military Divorce

Each branch of the military has its own rules and regulations for child support payments. For example, Army Regulation 608-99 “Family Support, Child Custody and Paternity” outlines the United States Army’s guidelines on child support. Specific details in the Army regulations include the Army’s responsibility in ensuring members pay financial support as ordered. However, the Army also uses a special equation to calculate a soldier’s mandated child support payments in the absence of a court order. Ultimately, a military spouse requiring child support payments should research the applicable branch’s requirements.

Garnishment

If a member of the military refuses to pay child support per court order, the collecting parent can file for garnishment against the soldier’s pay by the government. To do so, they must send a copy of the official support order to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). This order will direct the appropriate government agency to transfer child support from the military member’s pay. According to DFAS, the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. § 1673) limits the value of garnishment from 50 to 65 percent of a soldier’s disposable income.

Child Custody in Military Divorce

Unlike support orders, state courts oversee child custody and visitation disputes in military divorce just as they do for civilians. In fact, family law judges are expected to base rulings regarding child custody and visitation matters for military families on the same guidelines as civilians’. Even so, many parents still worry that their military status will impact a judge’s decision on child custody. Additionally, they may fear that the other parent will request a court order on custody while they are deployed! Luckily, enlisted military members do have one form of protection in child custody cases: The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).

SCRA’s Protection Against Default Judgment

For deployed military members involved in a contested divorce, the SCRA provides protection against default judgment. More specifically, the law states the following:

The SCRA states that for civil court proceedings where a defendant servicemember has not made an appearance and it seems that he or she is in military service, a court may not enter a default judgment against that defendant until after it appoints an attorney to represent the interests of that defendant servicemember. (50 U.S.C. § 3931)

In other words, a family law court could NOT make a child custody order while a military member is deployed or otherwise in active service until an attorney representing them can appear at a hearing or before 90 days have passed.

Importance of Custody Agreements in Military Divorce

While active duty service shouldn’t affect the court’s ruling on child custody orders, it can affect the day-to-day routine of custody arrangements. For example, a soldier with sole physical custody of a child may worry about how the situation will change upon deployment. Some military members’ ex spouses may not provide the best living situation for their children. Therefore, it’s in the best interest of divorcing spouses and their children to create a custody agreement upon legal separation.

Custody agreements, parenting plans, and family care plans are all great solutions for child custody issues in military divorces. In fact, the military requires family care plans in many situations! These documents typically include full-time, long-term, and short-term caregivers’ names and contacts. This information is especially important when the other parent is not one of the custodial appointees. Additionally, the plans should include proof of a power of attorney for appointed caregivers.

Get Legal Help With Your Military Divorce

Some military divorces, especially with contested issues or conflicts, may require representation by a divorce attorney. Additionally, military spouses can get more information and help from their branch’s local legal assistance office. Alternatively, they may call Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 for help with family law issues.

That said, military spouses requiring assistance with divorce or legal separation paperwork in California should contact A People’s Choice. We provide hands-on, flat-fee assistance completing and filing all required divorce paperwork throughout California. Plus, while we cannot provide legal advice, we offer family law services tailored to your exact needs. Give us a call today at 1-800-747-2780 to learn more about how we can help.

Get help with your Legal documents today!

A People’s Choice can save you hundreds of dollars by preparing your legal documents instead of an expensive attorney!

CONTACT US!

Was this article helpful? We would love to know your thoughts! If you found this article helpful, please check the LIKE button below. Your feedback helps us plan topics for future articles.