- If you are the spouse of a person in the military and you live in California, or
- You are a member of the military stationed in California or on a base elsewhere in the U.S. or overseas but your home is California. (At least one member of the couple must live in California or have lived here before deployment.)
Central Valley Lawyer Handling Military Divorce for California Clients
Military families face considerable stress that, unfortunately, can lead to divorce. The Law Office of Christie Lee can represent your interests in divorce,
We can help members of the military get a "stay of proceedings" under the Service Members Civil Relief Act to stop a divorce proceeding until you have returned to the U.S. If you do not want the divorce to be delayed, we may be able to handle your court appearances by phone while you are stationed overseas.
Family law attorney Christie Lee has 25 years of experience with divorce and family law matters. He is well prepared to protect your interests. To arrange a free half-hour initial consultation, call 209-910-5291 or contact us online.
Child Custody Matters for Active Duty Service Members
Active duty service members can face significant hurdles in the court when it comes to gaining custody. When determining the best interests of the child, the court will look at the level of involvement each parent has in the child’s life. When the parent has been out of the home, this can place them at a disadvantage.
It’s important to make your best case possible up front and not to wait until later when you would need to seek a modification of a child custody and visitation order. Modifying a custody order is difficult — much more difficult than seeking a fair custody agreement up front. An evaluation of your parenting relationship will be critical to your child custody case.
Military Pensions
The Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA) governs how military pensions and benefits can be divided. It prohibits the division of military member’s retirement to a spouse unless they have been married for more than 10 years. In matters of child support and alimony payments, California laws prevents a child support and spousal support order from exceeding 60 percent of the military member’s pay and allowances.
At the Modesto Law office of Christie Lee, we understand the special rules that apply to asset division for members of the military and their families. We will work to protect your interests in court and in negotiations.
Free Half-Hour Consultation • Convenient Location
For a free half-hour consultation, contact the Law Office of Christie Lee, or call 209-910-5291. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Evening and weekend appointments are available upon request. The firm’s offices are conveniently located in downtown Modesto, California, just off Highway 99.