50% Off Mediation Services for all Military Families.

 Military families often face their most difficult battles on the home front. Issues such as divorce, custody, separation, property division, employment disputes or contractual disagreements are all issues that may be served in the process of mediation. Mediation lowers legal costs and helps reduce the stress of most conflicts by utilizing the skills of a neutral third party, or mediator. In Oklahoma judges are ordering more case to mediation to allow participants to make their own decisions in a confidential and comfortable setting. This option helps them reduce legal fees and provides the opportunity for the parties to formulate their own agreements instead of having the courts make decisions for them.

The Mediation Institute wants to make mediation services more affordable to Oklahoma Military Personnel and Military families in the Oklahoma region. Travel to outlying communities is available. If you or someone you know could benefit from mediation please contact us today. (918) 877-1427, Toll free: 1-877-Why-Dispute.

• Divorce                                                                     

• Custody

• Visitation

• Property Division

• Modifications

• Pre/Post Nuptial Agreements

• Contract Disputes

• Neighbor Dispute

• Civil Disputes

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Oklahoma Military Divorce

An Oklahoma military divorce creates several unique issues as compared to a typical civilian divorce, which is why specific state and federal laws and rules will apply.

Military Protection from Oklahoma Divorce Proceedings

There are laws set up to protect active duty military members against being held in "default" from failing to respond to a divorce action. These laws were enacted to protect active military from being divorced without knowing it.

Under the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act, 50 UCS section 521 and in the discretion of the local Oklahoma court, the divorce proceeding may be postponed for the entire time the active service member is on duty and for up to 60 days thereafter (This is typically the case when the active member is serving in a war). Also, this right to have the divorce proceedings postponed can be waived by any active duty member should he or she wish to get the divorce.

Serving an Active Military Spouse

The active duty spouse must be personally served with a summons and a copy of the divorce action in order for an Oklahoma court to have jurisdiction over the active military member. In an uncontested case, the active duty spouse may not have to be served as long as he or she signs and files a waiver affidavit acknowledging the divorce action.

Residency and Filing Requirements

The typical military divorce filing requirements are as follows:

- You or your spouse must reside in Oklahoma
- You or your spouse must be stationed in Oklahoma

Grounds for Oklahoma Military Divorce

The grounds for a military divorce in Oklahoma are the same as a civilian divorce.

Dividing the Property

Along with the normal Oklahoma property division laws, the federal government has enacted the Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act (USFSPA) that governs how military retirement benefits are calculated and divided upon divorce. The USFSPA is the governing body that authorizes a direct payment of a portion of a military retirees pay to the former spouse.

The federal laws will not divide and distribute any of the military members retirement to the spouse unless they have been married 10 years or longer while the member has been active duty military.

Child Support and Spousal Support

In Oklahoma, both child support and spousal support/alimony awards may not exceed 60% of a military member’s pay and allowances. The normal Oklahoma child support guidelines, worksheets and schedules are used to determine the proper amount of child support to be paid.