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Understanding Military Divorce in New York

Making any marriage work takes a lot of time and energy. Military marriages face unique challenges and stress, making healthy relationships even harder to maintain. And just as military marriage is unique, so is military divorce.

If you are a serviceman or servicewoman considering divorce — or already there — understanding the divorce environment you face is important. In working with service members for 28 years, I help my clients understand and take advantage of protections legally available only to those in the military, including the following:

  • Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Signed into law in 2003, SCRA revised and expanded protections available to servicemembers under the federal Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940 (SSCRA). Provisions of SCRA encourage active military members to focus on duties by suspending specific civil legal actions and transactions against them, including divorce, until after return from active duty.
  • Uniformed Services Former Spouse’s Protection Act (USFSPA). This legislation details division of benefits earned by a spouse in the service. Certain benefits are available to former spouses only upon fulfillment of specific requirements. New York State courts can treat military retirement pay as marital property after meeting military eligibility requirements. Other requirements apply to commissary, exchange, and healthcare benefits.

Any kind of divorce is difficult and emotionally wrenching. But military divorce is different than civilian divorce. If involved in the service and considering divorce, talk to me about your rights and protecting your financial future.

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Randy S. Margulis
Member

As a Buffalo divorce lawyer for 28 years, I have devoted myself to solving the problems that affect families throughout the Buffalo metropolitan area and Western New York. As a family law attorney, I make it my goal to create a partnership of trust with my clients. People put their trust in me to handle cases that can potentially have a long-lasting impact on not only their lives, but the lives of their family as well.

Alexandra M. Rockwood Attorney Photo
Alexandra M. Rockwood
Senior Associate

Alexandra M. Rockwood is a Senior Associate Attorney with the Law Offices of Randy S. Margulis & Associates and has been with the firm since early 2020. She primarily practices in the areas of matrimonial and family law, including divorce, child custody, and child support. Alexandra is a practicing matrimonial and family law attorney as…

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