Family Law Blog
Colorado Attorneys - Kaplan Law, LLC
Family Hardships Common for Soldiers Returning Home
By Denver Divorce Lawyer on December 8, 2011
When President Obama announced in October that all American soldiers will be home for the holidays, the country rejoiced. In fact, on December 4, 2011, more than 150 Fort Carson, Colorado soldiers from the 59th Military Police Company, 759th Military Police Battalion, were welcomed home and honored with a special ceremony, according to KRDO.com. But just because soldiers are returning home from military life, it does not mean that the battle is over. Many veterans are finding it very difficult to readjust to civilian life and family life after being away for so many years. For many, family life is not an adjustment that they can make. Marriages where one spouse is an active service member often end in divorce.
According to the Ventura County Star, many Iraq veterans feel more comfortable with their combat buddies than their own families. Furthermore, they feel more comfortable in Iraq than at home. Many military veterans have such a hard time trying to reintegrate into family life that they seek redeployment. There are a wide range of issues that could keep a “military family” from succeeding. In some cases, the at-home spouse may not want to relinquish the control he or she had over their household while their spouse was deployed. On the other hand, when the deployed spouse returns, he or she may expect that his or her spouse and/or children will respond to orders.
In addition, many veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which can cause nervousness, irritability, agitation, impatience, aggression, and other effects. Alcoholism is often associated with PTSD. With all these obstacles to face when coming home, it is common for military members to divorce. According to U.S. Pentagon statistics, the military divorce rate increased from 2.6 percent in 2001 to 3.6 percent in 2009. It remained about the same in 2010.
Coming home is something most soldiers dream about. They want to return to either their husbands or wives and children. Once they get home, however, they face an uphill battle. At Kaplan Law, LLC, our experienced divorce lawyers in Denver understand that it is not always possible to hold onto a marriage, but we are committed to making sure that our clients make an informed decision about what is best for themselves and their families. If you are interested in determining whether divorce is the best option for you, we can help. Call us today at (303) 458-5500 for a consultation.
Military Personnel Protect Our Country, but Marriages May Suffer Nevertheless
By Denver Divorce Lawyer on November 4, 2009
A recent examiner.com article discusses the unfortunate tendency for spouses of military personnel to grow so tiresome of their significant other’s deployment that divorce becomes a solution to the problem. The story cites another article from the Washington post that explains how the commanding officers of soldiers that find themselves on the verge of divorce have the ultimate say over whether or not the soldier is granted an emergency leave on the grounds of correcting problems at home, including a looming divorce.
Among the many reasons often cited for divorce amongst military families is a lack of interaction that a deployed soldier has with his or her spouse. Feelings of abandonment and loneliness may slowly creep up on unsuspecting spouses when their significant other is deployed overseas or even out of state. Child custody and other issues arise in many divorce proceedings, and child custody can often be difficult for a deployed soldier to contend with. In all cases where divorce seems like a likely possibility, and especially if children are involved, an individual’s best course of action is to retain the services of a skilled Denver child custody attorney who will see to it that all decisions made in regard to divorce are as equitable as possible for both parties involved.
According to the article, many states have passed laws preventing military deployment as being cited as a significant reason for seeking a divorce. To ensure that your rights are upheld in a court of law, don’t hesitate to contact the family law attorneys at Kaplan Law, LLC. Our experienced divorce lawyers have represented a large number of clients in a variety of divorce proceedings, and are prepared to make your divorce proceedings as stress-free as possible. Our Denver family law attorneys understand how complex such situations can be, and are prepared to handle every detail of your case so that you don’t have to. Please call Kaplan Law, LLC today at 1-877-527-5206 for more information about divorce and your possible options.
