There are various laws that impact a member of the military when going through a divorce in Tennessee and whether you are a member of the miliary or a military spouse going through a divorce, it is crucial that you retain an attorney with the experience and expertise to navigate the potential pitfalls that may occur in a military divorce. Here are some of the issues that impact a divorce involving a member of the military:

Parenting Plans

The unique nature of military service may impact how a parenting plan is structured. It is the obligation of a court in Tennessee to maximize both parent’s time with a child, after considering all the circumstances. One of those circumstances may be the schedule of a member of the military due to PT, periods of time in the field, deployments, temporary duty stations, etc. You need an attorney experienced in tailoring a parenting plan that takes these circumstances into consideration.

Child Support

Under Tennessee law, child support is determined pursuant to the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines. Those guidelines specify whether money received by a parent is deemed to be income for child support purposes. Our attorneys have substantial experience navigating the impact of various aspects of military pay including BAH, BAS, Base Pay, and Special Duty Pay and Patton | Pittman’s attorneys can assist you in determining how each aspect of pay impacts child support in Tennessee.

Military Retirement / Thrift Savings Plans (TSP’s)

While military retirement that is earned during the marriage is generally considered marital property, just as civilian retirement, there are federal laws that impact how various payments to a former member of the military are classified. These laws address VA benefits, Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP), military retirement, and Thrift Savings Plans (TSP’s). These issues can be complicated to decipher and the attorneys at Patton | Pittman have the experience necessary to help you navigate these issues which are unique to military families.

If you are a member of the military, a retired member of the military, or a military spouse who is or will be going through a divorce, the attorneys at Patton | Pittman are here to help with decades of experience working with military families.