A Soldier’s Journey Through Military Divorce in Rock County
James, a 42-year old Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army living in Janesville, WI, turned to Attorney Andria Adams at Sterling Lawyers for help with his military divorce. James has been married for 15 years, and he and his wife have two daughters, ages 10 and 13.
James works as a logistics NCO stationed at Fort McCoy. He manages the supply chain and distribution of equipment and resources for his battalion. James’ wife Claire stopped working a few years ago to focus on raising their daughters full-time.
Over the last couple of years, James and Claire's relationship deteriorated. They tried marriage counseling, but ultimately decided to end their marriage. Because James is active duty military, his divorce is considered a military divorce under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This federal law provides legal protections for active duty service members, like protection against default judgements.
Navigating a military divorce in Rock County requires following specific procedures and legal protocols. Attorney Andria Adams has years of experience handling these complex cases. She knows the ins-and-outs of the Rock County family court system and works hard to protect her clients' rights.
Attorney Adams handles every aspect of the military divorce process. She drafts all the necessary paperwork, files motions, represents clients at court hearings, and finalizes divorce decrees. Attorney Adams understands military divorces have special considerations like division of military pensions, child custody disputes when a parent is frequently relocated, and coordinating with the Judge Advocate General (JAG). She works closely with her clients to understand their goals and advocate for favorable outcomes. For example, James' main concern was getting 50/50 shared custody of his daughters, even though he is sometimes relocated for months-long training exercises.
Attorney Adams helped James file paperwork requesting an equitable custody arrangement with extended visitation when he cannot be home. She also guided James through disclosing his assets, completing child support calculations, and dividing marital property fairly.
Having a trusted advisor helped reduce James' stress during an already difficult time. Attorney Adams provided knowledgeable guidance at every turn, allowing James to focus on his job and his daughters.
Military divorces in Rock County follow these main steps:
- File the initial divorce paperwork – The process starts by filing a Summons, Petition for Divorce, and other required Rock County documents. Attorney Adams handles this filing on the client's behalf.
- Serve the spouse – The spouse must be officially served with notice of the pending divorce. Attorney Adams coordinates proper service.
- Discovery phase – Attorney Adams works with the client to request documentation from the spouse regarding assets, debts, income, and other information needed to reach a settlement.
- Complete parenting plans – For clients with kids like James, Attorney Adams helps craft proposed parenting plans including custody schedules, visitation, etc.
- Divide assets & debts – All marital property must be equitably divided. Attorney Adams negotiates this division on the client's behalf.
- Finalize the divorce decree – Once an agreement is reached, the court issues the final decree outlining the terms. Attorney Adams helps explain the decree and file needed paperwork.
A military divorce has extra requirements like pension division orders and compliance with the SCRA. Handling these complex legal issues alone can be very difficult. An experienced attorney guides you through the process.
Going through a military divorce while serving our country is highly stressful. Having a knowledgeable attorney can provide immense relief during this already challenging time.
Attorney Andria Adams minimizes complications by competently handling all legal filings and protocols. She has successfully guided many service members through military divorces in Rock County.
With an attorney on your side, you avoid getting stuck or making costly legal mistakes. Attorney Adams identifies all available options for negotiating the best resolution. Her familiarity with local judges and mediators helps craft agreements the court will readily approve.
Most importantly, Attorney Adams provides the empathy and support clients need during this difficult transition. She treats each client like family, maximizing their chances of achieving lasting success after the divorce.
Don't go it alone. Attorney Andria Adams has the military divorce experience to make the process as smooth as possible. Reach out today to discuss your situation during a free consultation.
Notice: The names and scenarios in this article have been altered to protect client confidentiality. This story illustrates the types of matters our attorneys handle but for privacy reasons, we never disclose the outcome of actual cases.