Sunday, March 6, 2011

Boise Divorce Attorneys and Custody Lawyers - Divorce and Custody Considerations for Military Personnel

Boise Divorce Attorneys & Custody Lawyers in Idaho, call (208) 472-2383- free consultation. Kershisnik Law, PLLC

Boise Divorce Attorneys are often faced with unique considerations when it comes to divorce and custody in the military setting. The Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act provides various protections for military personnel in a variety of areas including divorce, leases, eviction, interest rates, court proceedings, installment contracts and tax assessments.

In regard to divorce and custody, the SSCRA prevents a divorce proceeding from being taken by default. A military service member can by him or herself, by an attorney or through a letter from their commanding officer request that a divorce proceeding be suspended until the service person returns from active duty. Idaho law also protects soldiers but an Idaho Court can make a determination that a suspension of the court proceedings are not necessary. If, however, an Idaho court determines that to go forward without the soldiers presence would cause irreparable harm then they will issue a stay in the divorce proceedings until the soldier returns.

The SSCRA, however, does not apply to child support proceedings. Idaho Child Support can be set and an order issued regardless of a service person's duty status. Divorce and Custody Lawyers have a unique tool to use when it comes to child support, as well as spousal support in regard to military personnel. Service personnel on active duty are not exempt from providing child support to their children. They are not exempt from an Idaho Court establishing an order without their presence and they are required by military code of conduct to provide support for their children and their spouses. Army Regulation 608-99 establishes a duty for military personnel to provide such support even in the absence of a court order and if they fail to, they can be punished in a variety of ways. One interesting "loop hole" in AR 608-99 is that they do not have an obligation to provide support for an illegitimate child in the absence of a court order and therefore cannot be punished for not support a child who legitimacy is in question.

If a member of the military fails to provide the "just" support for their families, a non-military divorce lawyer or custody attorney can contact their Commanding Officer and report their failure to abide by AR 608-99. It is then up to the Commanding Officer to inform the service person of their failure and to direct them to make good on their obligations.

On one hand, the SSCRA protects service personnel on active duty from a variety of legal consequences, but on the other hand AR 608-99 protects the non-military spouse and the children from a service person hiding behind the SSCRA and not keeping up with their obligations.

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