Representing Military Families in Oregon Divorce and Child Custody Cases
Military families face the same stressors during a divorce as civilian families do, but they often have to deal with additional complexities because of laws that apply to service personnel and because of the realities of military life.
At the Law Offices of Stephen J. Bedor in Lake Oswego, Oregon, we are proud to support members of the military, military spouses, and military families in every way possible during divorce and other family conflicts. To set up a confidential consultation about the issues of a military divorce, call us at 503-699-0402 or contact us via e-mail.
We handle all types of military divorce and child custody cases, including those where a service member is living or serving in active duty in another state or abroad.
The Special Pay, Property and Pension Issues in Military Divorce
Attorney Stephen J. Bedor has more than 25 years of experience in legal practice, including divorce and military family law, and understands the special concerns of military divorce. For example, he can help you minimize any damage to your credit rating in order to protect your military security clearance.
Military pensions must be appropriately addressed in any dissolution judgment. Failure to properly address military pensions and related survivor benefits could result in a reduction of your monthly benefit, or termination of that benefit upon the death of the service member. The pension benefit is frequently the largest asset in a military divorce. Ensure your pension benefits are not compromised by inadequate representation. Mr. Bedor has practical experience dealing with military pensions in divorce proceedings.
Because of the structure of military pay, service members sometimes find themselves with their pay essentially reduced at the same time spousal and/or child support obligations are added. This is because a service member's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is calculated based on the number of his or her dependents. When a dependent spouse is taken out of the equation, your BAH may go down. We can ensure the court clearly understands how your pay will be affected by the divorce so that property division and support calculations are made correctly.
Under Oregon divorce law, marital property and debts are to be divided "equitably" between the divorcing spouses, although not necessarily 50-50. In a military divorce between Oregon residents the rule is similar, although military family law requires that distribution of marital property and assets to be done using what is called a "qualified domestic relations order" or "QDRO." We can help you with the proper division of:
- The family residence, vacation property and other real estate, even in a declining real estate market
- Cars, trucks and recreational vehicles
- Private and military pensions, 401(k) plans and other retirement accounts
- Other military benefits
Child Custody Issues During and After a Military Divorce
For members of the armed forces, child custody and parenting time arrangements can become challenging due to frequent relocations that may be required. We will protect your interests by setting up a system to resolve these issues well in advance. Whether you are awarded primary custody or have a joint custody arrangement, your parenting plan can be an effective tool for preventing resolving conflict.
Contact Us
Our mission is to protect your rights, promote the best interests of your children, and make sure you are treated fairly. Contact us by telephone at 503-699-0402 or via e-mail for a confidential consultation with a lawyer experienced in military divorce.
