Military Retirement Attorneys in Northern Virginia

About the Military Retirement System

The lawyers of  HALE BALL MURPHY, PLC have decades of experience representing members of the armed services, including the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, as well as service members’ spouses. In military divorce cases, we know that retirement is going to be an issue, simply because the military retirement system is such a strong retirement program. Service members want to protect their retirement accounts. Spouses want their fair share of all marital property, including retirement accounts. Our knowledge of this unique and complex issue allows us to pursue a fair outcome.

Types of Military Retirement Plans

A variety of military retirement plans exist, depending on when a person’s service began. Our lawyers have knowledge about all plans, including:

• The Final Pay retirement system: This was the only retirement system available to people who entered the armed forces prior to September 1980.
• The High 3 retirement system: Also referred to as the High 36 retirement system, this was the only option available to service members who started between September 1980 and August 1986. It is currently one of two options available to service members.
• The Career Status Bonus (CSB)/REDUX retirement system: This system is available to people who entered the armed forces after August 1986 and chose this option. The alternate option is the High 3 retirement system, which is the default option for those who decline to choose between the two.

Each plan has its own nuances, which may play a role in the division of military retirement. For example, the CSB/REDUX system comes with a series of bonuses. It is significantly different from the other systems, not to mention civilian retirement plans. Regardless of the specifics of your military retirement account or your spouse’s military retirement account, you can be certain that we have the skill to make certain that your interests are protected.