Ex-Spouse Law Defies Change

Week of November 06, 2006

A 1982 law that allows state courts to divide military retirement as marital property in divorce proceedings has become virtually impenetrable to court challenge or legislative change. That, at least, is how it must seem to long-time critics of the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act (USFSPA) and to bureaucrats seeking changes just to improve how the law is administered. Last month a federal appeals court rejected a host of constitutional challenges to the USFSPA brought by 58 divorced retirees and active duty members. Also last month, Congress declined to allow the first minor adjustments to the ex-spouse law in 14 years. For more information, read the article at Military.com.