When duty, deployment, and divorce collide, you need clarity, strategy, and a steady hand.

Northwest Florida is home to thousands of military families. With Tyndall Air Force Base, Naval Support Activity Panama City, and other installations nearby, service members face challenges unique to military divorce.

At Justin Andersson, P.A., we help military families navigate the divorce process with a steady hand and a clear legal roadmap — protecting their rights while honoring their service.

Florida law governs divorce procedures — but federal law controls benefits, retirement, jurisdiction, and deployment-related delays. That means your attorney must understand both systems.

Key differences in military divorces:

• Residency & Jurisdiction rules vary for active-duty members
• Deployment & PCS orders can delay timelines
• Military retirement and Thrift Savings Plans (TSPs) must be divided properly
• Healthcare, BAH, and dependent privileges must be addressed
• The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) can temporarily delay proceedings
• Custody, timesharing, and relocation must consider duty schedules and deployments

To file for divorce in Florida, either spouse must have lived in the state for at least 6 months. However, military residency may be more flexible if:

• One spouse is stationed in Florida under military orders
• Florida is listed as the state of legal residence
• The couple owns a home in Florida

If jurisdiction is unclear, we help you determine the proper venue to avoid dismissal or delay.

Florida courts can divide military pensions, but only under strict federal rules:

• The USFSPA allows division if the couple was married 10+ years overlapping 10+ years of service (the “10/10 Rule” for direct DFAS payments)
• If married less than 10 years, division is still allowed, but DFAS won’t pay directly — we’ll build alternative payment plans
• TSP accounts can be split via court order (separate from pension division)
• Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) elections must be clearly addressed