{"id":353862,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:11","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/military\/family-employment-housing\/military-child-custody-key-legal-issues.html"},"modified":"2024-10-28T20:25:00","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T01:25:00","slug":"military-child-custody-key-legal-issues","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/military\/family-employment-housing\/military-child-custody-key-legal-issues.html","title":{"rendered":"Military Service and Child Custody"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Military Service and Child Custody<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/natalie-moritz\/\">Natalie Moritz<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/melissa-mccall-j-d\/\">Melissa McCall, J.D.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            October 28, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"fl-key-takeaways fl-mb30\" data-testid=\"fl-key-takeaways\">\n    <div class=\"fl-card-content\">\n        <div class=\"fl-card-body fl-card-bg-teal fl-flex fl-flex-column\">\n                            <h2 class=\"fl-card-title fl-h2 fl-no-margin\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n                        <p>Military parents must consider the effects of possible deployments and reassignments on custody arrangements. Some servicemembers may deploy overseas with very little notice. Others may be reassigned to a base in another state or even another country. These relocations make custody agreements for military parents particularly complex.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In many ways, the process of creating a custody agreement is much the same for military parents as for civilian parents. The parties must make the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/child-custody-basics.html\">same decisions using the same factors<\/a> and place the children in the home that will serve their best interests. But military parents must also plan for the unique challenges military service\u2014especially deployments and relocations.<\/p>\r\n<p>This article outlines what military parents should know about how military service impacts child custody arrangements. Learn more about:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Single parents joining the military<\/li>\r\n<li>How enlisting in the military impacts child custody agreements<\/li>\r\n<li>Federal and state protections for military parents<\/li>\r\n<li>Drafting a Family Care Plan<\/li>\r\n<li>And more<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Military Deployment and Child Custody Agreements<\/h2>\r\n<p>Under normal circumstances, a parent cannot simply remove a child to another state without violating the custody order or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/child-custody-relocation-laws.html\">child relocation laws<\/a>. But, military parents are aware of the possibility of deployment or moving out of state and can include custody or visitation provisions in the event of deployment.<\/p>\r\n<p>Even so, deployment can complicate custody arrangements due to extended absences. Courts may implement temporary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/custody-modification.html\">modifications to custody agreements<\/a> during deployment. It is crucial to have a detailed family care plan in place to address these situations.<\/p>\r\n<p>Military parents should discuss these possibilities with their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/hirealawyer\/choosing-the-right-lawyer\/family-law.html\">family law attorney<\/a>. An experienced attorney can recommend the best way to proceed.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Will I Lose Custody of My Child If I Join the Military?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Enlisting in the military doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you\u2019ll lose permanent custody of your children. But, joining the military can temporarily affect some aspects your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/courts-jurisdiction-over-custody-and-visitation-cases.html\">custody rights or visitation schedule<\/a>. The impact of your enlistment on your custody arrangement can depend on several factors, including:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Which branch of the military you join<\/li>\r\n<li>The length of your basic training or boot camp<\/li>\r\n<li>The location of your assigned military base<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Members of the military can still effectively co-parent and have meaningful and equitable child custody arrangements. But, joining the military is a decision that impacts all areas of your life, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/military\/family-employment-housing\/military-family-law-issues.html\">including your family life<\/a>. It is important to understand how military service will affect your custody arrangements before you enlist.<\/p>\r\n<p>Ultimately, courts use the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/focusing-on-the-best-interests-of-the-child.html\">best interests of the child<\/a>\u201d standard when making custody determinations. While military service impacts some components of this standard, it doesn&#8217;t necessarily put a parent at a disadvantage. Courts look at multiple aspects to ensure the child&#8217;s well-being.<\/p>\r\n<p>In the eyes of the law, the fact that one parent is in the military should not have a negative impact on custody arrangements. Under the \u201cbest interests of the child\u201d standard, the court will aim to place children in the custody situation that prioritizes their safety, health, and well-being. If it\u2019s best for the child to be with the military parent, then the court will use use that assessment to inform their custody determination.<\/p>\r\n<p>Despite the possibility of deployment, the court doesn\u2019t inherently view military parents as unsuitable primary caregivers. But the court will likely assess how disruptive a deployment could be to the child. Custody cases for military parents are unique and a family court judge will assess various factors\u2014including the parent\u2019s military duties\u2014before making a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/how-child-custody-decisions-are-made.html\">custody decision<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Can Single Parents Join the Military?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Under the military\u2019s current policy, a single parent who is the custodial parent for their children cannot join active duty military. To join active military duty, a single parent must petition the court for a custody order that grants temporary parental rights to another adult (often a family member or grandparent).<\/p>\r\n<p>But, single parents can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryonesource.mil\/transition-retirement\/national-guard-reserves\/joining-the-military-reserves\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">join the Reserves<\/a> without giving up custody as long as they complete a family care plan.<\/p>\r\n<p>Single parenting and military eligibility can be nuanced. For example, a single father without full custody of his children may join active duty military service. But, the father must first sign an affidavit stating they do not have custody or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-support\/are-you-eligible-for-child-support.html\">child support obligations<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>Custody orders also cannot conflict with the needs of the military. This can occur if a custody order includes restrictions on taking the child outside of the state without the other parent\u2019s consent. This would contradict the necessity to relocate or deploy as part of military service.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Federal Legal Protections for Military Parents<\/h2>\r\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/military\/family-employment-housing\/what-is-the-servicemembers-civil-relief-act-scra.html\">Servicemembers Civil Relief Act<\/a> (SCRA) is a federal law providing legal protections for military personnel. Specifically, the SCRA ensures military service does not unfairly disadvantage a parent in legal proceedings, including custody cases. For example, a deployed parent can request a temporary delay of custody proceedings to prevent unfair judgments due to their absence.<\/p>\r\n<p>Courts are generally required to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/custody-considerations-step-by-step.html\"> consider the unique circumstances<\/a> of military life when making custody decisions.<\/p>\r\n<h2>State Laws and Child Custody for Military Servicemembers<\/h2>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/child-custody-summaries-of-state-laws.html\">Each state\u2019s child custody laws<\/a> have provisions that govern the parental rights of military members. These measures ensure that absences due to military duties do not solely determine custody decisions. While protections vary by state, common provisions include:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Military-related absences should not be the only reason for changing a pre-existing custody order.<\/li>\r\n<li>No permanent custody changes should be granted while the custodial parent is absent due to military duty.<\/li>\r\n<li>The original custody order should be reinstated upon the military parent&#8217;s return, unless it is no longer in the child&#8217;s best interest. The other parent has the burden of proof in the custody case that the previous order is no longer in the child\u2019s best interest.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Additionally, 38 states allow servicemembers to delegate their visitation rights to another person during deployment.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Military Service and the Family Care Plan<\/h2>\r\n<p>Single parents in the military and families where both parents are in the military must create a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryonesource.mil\/phases-deployment?content_id=267568\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">family care plan<\/a>. This plan describes what will happen to their children (or any other dependents) in case of deployment. The family care plan must name a short-term caretaker and a long-term caretaker. It also must include provisions on caring for the child.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Short-Term Caretaker<\/h3>\r\n<p>This caretaker is close to the base and can be contacted anytime to care for the children. The short-term caretaker cannot be a member of the military, but can be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/military\/family-employment-housing\/what-are-military-marriage-laws.html\">military spouse<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Long-Term Caretaker<\/h3>\r\n<p>This caretaker cares for dependents in case of a long-term deployment. The long-term caretaker doesn\u2019t need to be local but cannot be a military member.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Care Provision Details<\/h3>\r\n<p>These are instructions on how to care for the military child. Care provision details can include:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Bank account numbers and passwords<\/li>\r\n<li>Instructions for how to transport the child to the caretakers&#8217; homes<\/li>\r\n<li>Medical procedures necessary for the child<\/li>\r\n<li>Prescription medication schedules<\/li>\r\n<li>Other details to ease the transition to the child&#8217;s new home<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Some plans must also include any necessary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/forms\/resources\/estate-planning\/living-will\/power-of-attorney-for-healthcare-and-living-wills.html\">powers of attorney<\/a>. This information is necessary so caretakers can act on behalf of the parents.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Reviewing and Updating the Family Care Plan<\/h3>\r\n<p>The family care plan must be reviewed by the service member&#8217;s commanding officer and updated annually. New plans are also required when a service member:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Welcomes a new child into the family<\/li>\r\n<li>Becomes a single parent either through death or divorce<\/li>\r\n<li>Experiences a situation where the service member&#8217;s spouse becomes unable to care for the dependents for any reason<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>All caretakers must sign the plans each time they are certified.<\/p>\r\n<p>In some situations, the child\u2019s non-military parent must sign the family care plan to show their consent. This is required if all of the following are true:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>The servicemember is the primary caretaker of the child<\/li>\r\n<li>The servicemember lives apart from the child&#8217;s other biological parent<\/li>\r\n<li>The servicemember does not name the child\u2019s other parent as a caretaker<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>If the other parent does not consent, a court order may be necessary to certify the plan. Because of this, many family law attorneys recommend incorporating the family care plan into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/custody-overview.html\">custody order<\/a> to avoid unnecessary hassle.<\/p>\r\n<p>Family care plans should not conflict with any other legal documents, including the service member&#8217;s:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/planning-an-estate\/what-is-estate-planning.html\">Estate plan<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Military <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/military\/family-employment-housing\/military-divorce.html\">Divorce decree<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Custody order<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/military-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">military attorney or family law attorney can review your documents<\/a> for potential conflicts. An attorney can also recommend changes to ensure future deployments cause minimal disruption to your custody agreement.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Legal Help for Military Parents With Child Custody Issues<\/h2>\r\n<p>While joining the military can affect child custody arrangements, it does not automatically result in losing custody rights. But, consulting with an attorney with expertise in custody laws is can help you understand your legal rights as a military parent. An attorney can provide valuable legal advice, as well as help protect your rights and ensure your child\u2019s best interests throughout the process.<\/p>\r\n<p>Contact a local <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/family-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">family law attorney<\/a> today to learn how they can help your family.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalassistance.law.af.mil\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Military legal assistance offices<\/a> can also provide guidance and support for military families. Additionally, organizations like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryonesource.mil\/financial-legal\/legal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Military OneSource<\/a> offer resources for military families facing legal challenges.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M6 21H3C2.46957 21 1.96086 20.7893 1.58579 20.4142C1.21071 20.0391 1 19.5304 1 19V12C1 11.4696 1.21071 10.9609 1.58579 10.5858C1.96086 10.2107 2.46957 10 3 10H6M13 8V4C13 3.20435 12.6839 2.44129 12.1213 1.87868C11.5587 1.31607 10.7956 1 10 1L6 10V21H17.28C17.7623 21.0055 18.2304 20.8364 18.5979 20.524C18.9654 20.2116 19.2077 19.7769 19.28 19.3L20.66 10.3C20.7035 10.0134 20.6842 9.72068 20.6033 9.44225C20.5225 9.16382 20.3821 8.90629 20.1919 8.68751C20.0016 8.46873 19.7661 8.29393 19.5016 8.17522C19.2371 8.0565 18.9499 7.99672 18.66 8H13Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\n                              stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--positive\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Easy to understand\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                        >Easy to understand<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Solved my problem\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                        >Solved my problem<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--negative\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\">\n        <div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Crimes involving military personnel need an attorney\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Family law issues are handled differently for military families\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Lawyers can help with military benefits or administrative issues\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>The military tries cases through the court martial process. A military law lawyer can help protect your rights during this process.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link fl-flex\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link\">\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <p class=\"find-attorney\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/military-law\/#USER_GEO\/?fli=esum:FL35\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a local attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"email-subscription fl-mb30\">\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-header\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-content\">\n            <h3 class=\"fl-callout-sm fl-no-margin\">Stay Up-to-Date With How the Law Affects Your Life<\/h3>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-image fl-flex fl-items-end\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n                src=\"https://www.findlaw.com/static/c/images\/images\/w_1200,c_limit,dpr_auto\/f_auto,q_auto:eco\/v1745902396\/ability-law\/wp-prod\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1.png?_i=AA\"\n                alt=\"\"\n                loading=\"lazy\"\n            \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-content fl-flex fl-flex-wrap\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-text fl-mb25\">\n            <h4 class=\"fl-no-margin\">Enter your email address to subscribe<\/h4>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <form class=\"email-subscription-content-form\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distributionList\" value=\"latl\" \/>\n            <label for=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" class=\"fl-text-sm-bold\">Email (Required)<\/label>\n            <div class=\"email-subscription-content-form-group\">\n                <input id=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" name=\"email\" autocomplete=\"email\"\/>\n                <button type=\"submit\" aria-label=\"Submit\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-success subscribe-success-message fl-text-sm-bold\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"status\">Thank you for subscribing!<\/p>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-error subscribe-error-message fl-text-sm-bold\" role=\"alert\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/p>\n\n            <div id=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha\" class=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha subscribe-recaptcha\"\n                data-sitekey=\"0x4AAAAAAABGBEkK9kEeKxO-\"><\/div>\n        <\/form>\n\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-footer fl-text-sm\">\n            <p><a href=\"https:\/\/newsletters.findlaw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about FindLaw\u2019s newsletters<\/a>, including our terms of use and privacy policy.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"general-list\">\n    <h3>Helpful Links<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"fl-list fl-no-margin\">\n                                    <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/military\/criminal-law\/military-criminal-law.html\">\n                        Military Criminal Law\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/military\/family-employment-housing\/military-family-law-issues.html\">\n                        Military Family Law Issues\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/military\/administrative-issues-benefits\/military-administrative-issues.html\">\n                        Military Administrative Issues\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"popularDirectory\">\n        <div class=\"general-popular-directory \">\n            <div class=\"general-popular-directory-title\">\n                <h3>Attorney Directory<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/military-law\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">General Military Law Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/military-divorce\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Military Divorce Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover military parents should know about how service impacts child custody. Learn about family care plans, single parents enlisting, and more at FindLaw.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":353857,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2745],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-353862","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-military"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=353862"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":398429,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353862\/revisions\/398429"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=353862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=353862"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=353862"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=353862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}