Tampa Military Divorce Mediation
Divorce & Custody Mediation for Military Personnel
Are you and your partner looking to get a divorce in the state of Florida? Have you served or are you currently serving in the U.S. military? Military divorces can be resolved through mediation, a process that is more streamlined, private, and cost-effective than traditional divorce court. However, it is critical to work with a mediator who is knowledgeable about the special issues affecting military personnel and their civilian spouses.
Attorney Mediator Beth Reineke has assisted many military couples in the Tampa Bay / St. Petersburg Area during her three-decade career, including active duty, reservists, and retired military. Attorney Beth Reineke is Certified by the Florida Supreme Court to conduct mediations for both divorce and custody matters. If you are looking to work with an experienced, compassionate, and effective Tampa military divorce mediation lawyer with an in-depth understanding of the armed forces, don’t hesitate to reach out today!
Tampa Bay Attorney-Mediator for Military Retirement & Divorce
At Reineke Mediations, we have counseled many officers and enlisted personnel serving at MacDill Air Force Base and other duty stations around the world, and we welcome service members from all branches of the armed services. Beth Reineke has practiced divorce and family law for over 30 years but now devotes her practice exclusively to alternatives to divorce litigation.
Military families face unique challenges in dealing with divorce, child custody, and related matters. The federal rules are complex and family matters are complicated by deployments, transfers, and other realities of the military lifestyle.
Beth Reineke understands these realities, and she will help you work out a fair and practical agreement regarding:
- Military pensions: A military spouse is entitled to a portion or an equal share of the service member’s pension, depending on years of service and overlapping years of marriage.
- Military pay and benefits: Some military pay is taxable, and some is not, which makes a difference in the calculation of child support or alimony.
- Health benefits: A spouse and dependent children may be entitled to ongoing medical insurance, depending on the number of years of service and overlapping years of marriage.
- All the regular aspects of divorce, parenting time, child support, and more.
These are just a few of the considerations in military divorce. Military personnel who are stationed overseas or away from Florida, for example, may be able to delay divorce or custody matters under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (formerly the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act). Please contact us to learn more.
Differences Between Civilian & Military Divorces
In addition to the considerations mentioned above, differences between military and civilian divorces include:
- Servicemembers and their spouses still have the option to file for divorce when the former is overseas on duty. In such cases, military divorces can be filed in one of three places: the state where the servicemember is stationed, the state where the servicemember is a legal resident or the state in which the servicemember’s spouse lives.
- Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, relevant court and/or administrative proceedings can be postponed if the service member can prove they cannot actively participate because they are on active duty.
- Additionally, servicemembers may be protected from a default judgment if they fail to respond to a divorce filing or fail to appear at trial due to their service.
What Is a Military Spouse Entitled to in a Divorce?
The military offers benefits to divorced military spouses such as:
- Retirement benefits
- Commissary and BX/PX privileges
- Healthcare and dental coverage
- Military ID cards
- And more
However, it should be noted that certain benefits are only available to ex-spouses or members of the military if they meet certain requirements, such as being in the marriage for a specific length of time.
To schedule your free consultation, call (813) 205-6675 or contact the firm online. You can also schedule a mediation with Beth Reineke by clicking here. We serve clients throughout the Tampa Bay Area.
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