It is no overstatement to say that the men and women of the armed services make a bounty of sacrifices for their country. Sometimes these sacrifices include the stability of their family lives. And if a military couple finds they can no longer make things work, they may decide that a divorce is their best option. But if a couple has children, then there are custody issues that must be addressed.
If you are a service member who is preparing to get divorced and you have children, you may be feeling apprehensive about the kind of custody agreement you will be able to procure. And the fact is that you have to take the possibility of deployment into account.
The issue of deployment is significant because often there are restrictions placed on a parent’s ability to move a child out of state. And obviously, a sudden deployment could create a serious problem if such a condition is in place.
However, it is possible for a military parent to add visitation or custody provisions in his or her parenting agreement that could accommodate a deployment. But also understand that any custody decisions made by the court will be seen through the prism of what is in the child’s best interests.
Your military service should not negatively impact your custody arrangements. But at the same time, it is important to make sure that the judge presiding over your case fully understands your capacity to provide your child with proper care.
And an experienced military family law attorney may be able to help you put your best foot forward. An attorney who understands the challenges you face, as well as the specific laws and regulations pertaining to military divorce, could work to protect your parenting rights.