Divorce in the Military: How will this affect my retirement?

To clarify other comments...you have to have been married for ten years before she can touch your retirement. Beyond that is up to state law.

You need an attorney to advise you. There are a lot of factors that are unique to your situation. For instance, you plan to retire in 5, but what if you stay for 30? What if she remarries before you retire? You need to seek legal counsel before signing anything. Something that seems simple now can have a huge impact later.

its up to state law now, but if its mutual as in my case, married 9 yrs, separareted 1 yr, she didnt want my retirement mil or civi, it all depends on the divorce, mutual or contested, i kept the house ,my retirement, no kids, sold 10 acres and she got 80%, the rest is mine, go thru mediation and work out the logistics, if its amicable, if this is bitter get lawyer and hold on, went thru 2 lawyers on my first divorce

I am not sure about this. It's usually decided by a judge in the divorce proceedings. A good lawyer can help you on this. Best wishes.

In California, if you've been married for more than 10 years, she will get half your pension. How do I know this? I went through the process where her lawyer requested that she gets half my retirement pay (if I should retire) from the military. Good thing I made sure I did not stay long enough for that to happen. I rather be poor than pay her to get f#$% and use my pension for her pleasure. I once knew an E7 who got out at 18 years in the military because as he put it,"I would be damned if the bitch get anything from me, as I would rather start over."

I was divorced after 8 years to my first wife. I looked into this, (30+ years ago) Had we been married longer than 10 years while I was on active duty she could have claimed half my retirement, As it came about she got $300 a month child support which ended when the sons turned 18....And just as I retired....Thankfully....

Yes