MikeS
2007-12-19 12:47:18
The military provides an overlooked exception to normal process which might illuminate the alimony debate. In part because of the efforts of Congresswoman Pat Schroeder, the retirement pay of most servicemembers is subject to division with an ex-spouse. Future retirement checks are considered community property and divided accordingly. The goverment even helpfully provides for such split disbursement automatically.
No argument about need is required, only the presence of the spouse for at least ten years of the time spent in the Service. Presumably, the non-military spouse “earned” the pay by contributing to the military member’s career. Raising the question, is a divorced male spouse less worthy of such a payment than a female spouse?
