Connecticut Family Law Attorney Focuses on Military Divorce Issues

New London Military Family Law Attorney Stands Up For Your Rights in Divorce

Military divorce cases can seem daunting, but putting experienced counsel on your side can make the process run as smoothly as possible.

Serving the Summons and Petition for Divorce

Service members can be served on or off-base, using the proper residence address. For military addresses, a sheriff or process server can work with military officials to make the service member available for service of process, provided he is on the base.

Although military officials cannot themselves serve process on base, they have the ability to allow the service member to accept service voluntarily. The documents may also be sent to the unit commander with a request that they be given to the service member, along with an acceptance of service form. Ordinarily, the service member will be given the chance to consult with an attorney before deciding whether to accept service.

A service member stationed overseas can be served by registered or certified mail if the host nation doesn’t object. Compliance must be made with the Hague Convention on Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents if the location is a signatory to the Convention. Be prepared for a long wait, up to several months in some countries.

Domicile in a Military Divorce Case

Domicile is an essential element in a divorce case. To obtain a divorce, one of the parties must call a certain state home for legal residence purposes (where they vote and pay taxes) in order for the divorce to be considered valid. Under the Service members Relief Act, service members can retain their original domicile (the one they had when they entered military service) for state income tax and voting purposes, regardless of where they are stationed.

Contact a New London Military Divorce Attorney Today

Do you have questions about the legal aspects surrounding a military divorce? Bruce A. Chamberlain Law Office has more than two decades of experience helping those who serve our country with their family law issues. Contact him online or call (860) 440-2846 to schedule your consultation today.