Military protective orders (MPOs) are one of the most serious administrative tools available to a military commander. Whether you are a service member facing an MPO or a spouse seeking one for your safety, an MPO can affect your housing, your daily movement, your military career, and your civilian family law case. There is very little casual or humorous about ...
If you’re a veteran navigating the complexities of divorce, you may wonder: Is my ex-wife entitled to my VA disability benefits? Whether you receive benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or live in Virginia (VA), the intersection of family law and veterans' benefits can be confusing. Let’s clarify this important question: Can your ex-spouse claim a portion ...
Divorce is never easy, but when one or both spouses are members of the military, the process becomes even more complex. While the fundamental legal framework for divorce—such as property division, child custody, and spousal support—still applies, military divorces involve additional rules, protections, and unique considerations that can significantly affect the outcome. Whether you’re stationed stateside or deployed overseas, understanding ...
The Magna Carta gave our founding fathers the phrase, “law of the land.” Virginia’s own James Madison apparently added the U.S. Constitution’s Article 6 flourish, “supreme law of the land.” That Supremacy Clause sets the hierarchy for all legal issues, including Virginia Circuit Court child custody orders and military Family Care Plans (FCPs). Jump to a Section Supremacy Rules What ...
Revenge is best served hot, as in a hot cup of coffee. At least that is what Melody Feliciano Johnson apparently thought. After her airman husband filed for divorce, Johnson allegedly used bleach to poison his coffee. Johnson reported to police that her husband sexually assaulted her while he was stationed in Germany, so she was allegedly poisoning him in ...
All gave some, some gave all. It is a quotation popularly attributed to Howard William Osterkamp, who served in combat in Korea from 1951 to 1953. Combat-related disabilities are lifelong reminders of sacrifice. Does a veteran receiving Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) have to share it in Virginia divorce? Jump to a Section What is CRSC? Who Can Receive CRSC? Virginia ...
Between 1940 and 1944, divorce rates in America rose from 16 per 100 marriages to 27 per 100 marriages, according to Mintz & Kellogg1. World War II created quick marriages, strained relationships, and awkward homecomings. Needless to say, divorce during deployment is still with us, and still a challenge to navigate. Jump to a Section Divorce While Deployed Does Deployment ...
The government is not noted for its eloquent writing style. Here is a sample from the user’s guide to The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA): “The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) (50 USC App. § 3901 et seq, as amended), formerly known as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, provides members on active duty status with important ...
This nation’s first military pensions gave our fighting soldiers not money, but land. According to the National Archives, on September 16, 1776, Congress passed a resolution promising up to 1,100 acres of “free land in the public domain to officers and soldiers who continued to serve during the Revolutionary War or, if they were killed, to their representatives or heirs.” ...