20/20/20 Rule in Military Divorce
How the 20/20/20 Rule Could Affect Your Divorce in Jacksonville, FL
When a member of the military is engaged in a divorce, the spouse of a
service member has special entitlements to receive retirement benefits
that other non-military couples do not have. The requirements of the 20/20/20
rule state that in order to qualify for military benefits, the
divorce must obviously involve a military serviceman and a dependent spouse. If
the member's spouse is determined to be a dependent spouse, they are
entitled to all the same benefits that the military serviceman has, including
healthcare benefits and commissary privileges.
What do each of the "20s" stand for?
The first "20" stands for the number of years a spouse must have
been married to the military service person. The second "20"
stands for the number of years the military member must have been serving
in the armed forces, as they must have at least 20 years of service accrued
towards retirement. The third "20" refers to the number of years
of the duration of the marriage coincided with the time served in the
armed services.
In order for the non-military spouse to receive full benefits, they must
have been married for at least 20 years to a member of the military who
has served for at least 20 years during the term of the marriage. If these
requirements are not met, the ex-spouse may still collect some benefits
from his or her military ex-spouse, but it may be less than the full benefits.
Get Qualified Assistance for Your Military Divorce
At
Hutchinson Law, we have the experience and qualifications you need in a Jacksonville
divorce attorney. If you have questions about
military divorce law, take the time to schedule an appointment with us. We will always
be available to receive your call to set up an appointment that is convenient
and fits your schedule to discuss in detail the ramifications of military
divorce law and the possible outcomes you could expect in a final judgment
of divorce.
Contact us today to discuss your case during an evaluation with a
family law attorney at the firm.