Military Divorce Attorney in Queens

Support For Military Families Facing Divorce

Military divorce in New York often feels more complicated than a civilian case. Service commitments, moves, deployments, and military benefits all affect how decisions are made. If you are part of a military family and are thinking about divorce in Queens, Markfeld Law is here to guide you.

At our firm, we focus on family law and have spent more than a decade helping families navigate divorce, custody, and support in Queens and across New York City. We understand that you may be worried about your children, your future finances, and how your service will be viewed in court. Our goal is to give you clear information and steady support so you do not feel like you are doing this alone.

From the first conversation, we take time to understand your situation, including your duty status, your living arrangements, and your priorities for your children. We then explain how New York family law applies to your circumstances and discuss realistic next steps.

Contact our trusted military divorce lawyer in Queens at (718) 569-8618 to schedule a confidential consultation.

Why Military Divorce Is Different

Many of the issues in a military divorce are similar to any other divorce, but military life adds layers that can be easy to overlook. Your work schedule may include long shifts, temporary duty, or deployments outside New York. Orders can change quickly. These realities affect how parenting time, exchanges, and decision-making for children are planned.

Military pay and benefits also have unique features. Items such as housing allowances, bonuses, and special pay may be considered when the court looks at income for child support or spousal maintenance. Retirement benefits, including military pensions, can be treated as marital property under New York law, which means they may be divided as part of a divorce.

Jurisdiction can raise questions too. One spouse might live in Queens while the other is stationed in another state or overseas. Whether you can file in Queens County Supreme Court can depend on residency, where you are currently living, and where your marriage has its strongest ties. We work with you to review these details so that filings are made in the appropriate court.

For many service members and spouses, the biggest concern is protecting their relationship with their children despite distance. Parenting plans can be designed to account for time away and communication by phone or video when in-person contact is not possible. Our team helps you think through schedules that are realistic and focused on your children’s best interests.

How Our Queens Family Law Firm Helps

When you contact Markfeld Law, you are reaching a family law firm that has built its practice in Queens and New York City. Our attorneys concentrate on divorce, custody, and related matters. This focus, combined with our ties to the local legal community, allows us to guide you through a military divorce with attention to both state law and the realities of service life.

We begin by listening carefully. Every military family is different. Some clients are on active duty, some are retired, and others are married to service members who are often away from home. We discuss your stationing, your housing, your children’s routines, and your financial picture. This helps us understand what is most important to you and what you would like your life to look like after the divorce.

With that foundation, we work with you on a plan that can cover all parts of the case. That can include the divorce itself, child custody and parenting time, child support, and spousal maintenance. It can also involve questions about dividing assets and debts, including interests in retirement accounts. Because we handle a wide range of family law issues, we can address these topics together rather than in isolation.

Our attorneys are familiar with how cases move through Queens County Supreme Court and other New York courts that handle family matters. This local knowledge helps us prepare you for hearings and conferences, and it allows us to set expectations about timing and process. Our connections within the legal community also support our ability to communicate with opposing counsel and to present your position clearly.

Communication with you is a priority. We know that military clients are not always available during standard business hours or may be outside the country. We work to maintain open lines of contact and to explain each step before it happens. Our firm is committed to taking on cases we believe in and advocating with focus, which means you should feel that your concerns are heard and that your case is receiving careful attention.

Key Issues In Military Divorce Cases

Military divorce cases often involve several connected decisions that need to be considered together. Understanding these topics can help you arrive at a plan that makes sense for your family and supports a more stable future. We explain each area in plain language, then discuss how New York law and your service affect the details.

Child custody and parenting time are usually the most emotional parts of any divorce. In a military family, the court still looks at the best interests of the children, but the schedule may need to account for deployments or transfers. Parenting plans can include provisions for when a parent is away, makeup time when they return, and clear communication methods so children can stay in touch.

Child support and spousal maintenance are also central issues. Courts generally consider the income of both parents, including military pay and certain allowances, to determine support. For a non-military spouse, these payments may provide important stability after the marriage ends. For a service member, support orders must be realistic and consistent with military obligations.

Property division can include bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, and other assets acquired during the marriage. In many military divorces, retirement benefits are a significant part of the financial picture. These interests need careful attention so that any division is handled correctly under New York law and consistent with applicable military rules.

Common concerns military families face in divorce include:

• How to structure custody and visitation when one parent deploys or moves
• What counts as income for child support and spousal maintenance
• How military retirement benefits may be divided in a New York divorce
• Whether health coverage for children can continue after the divorce
• Where to file if spouses live in different states or countries

These topics are complex, but you do not have to work through them alone. We walk you through each decision and help you understand the tradeoffs so you can make informed choices.

What To Do If You Are Considering Divorce

If you are thinking about filing for divorce or believe your spouse may file, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Taking a few practical steps now can help protect your interests and make your first meeting with an attorney more productive. We encourage you to move at a pace that feels manageable, while staying focused on your long-term goals.

Start by gathering important documents. These may include recent pay statements, including any military pay information, tax returns, bank and credit card statements, and documents related to retirement accounts. If you have orders, deployment schedules, or documents relating to housing, it is useful to keep them together. This information can give a clearer picture of your financial and family situation.

It is also helpful to think about your children’s day-to-day lives. Consider school schedules, activities, medical needs, and who has been handling which responsibilities. If you know a deployment or move is coming, write down your concerns about how that may affect the children. These details will matter when crafting a parenting plan that works for your family.

Before your first consultation, you may want to:

• List your main questions about custody, support, and property
• Note upcoming deployments, transfers, or major schedule changes
• Gather key financial and service-related documents
• Consider your priorities for your children and your finances

When you meet with our team, we explain the divorce process in New York, including how cases typically proceed in Queens County Supreme Court. We discuss possible timelines, areas where agreement may be reachable, and where the court may need to make decisions. Our role is to provide clarity so that you can decide how to move forward with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does my deployment affect child custody?

Deployment does not automatically prevent you from having meaningful custody or visitation. Courts in New York look at the children’s best interests and can consider schedules that account for time away and time at home. We work with you to propose plans that reflect your service and your children’s needs.

Can I file for divorce in Queens if I’m stationed elsewhere?

In some situations, you can file in Queens even if you are stationed out of state. It often depends on where you or your spouse has legal residency and other ties to New York. During a consultation, we review your facts and explain which court is most appropriate.

What happens to my military pension in a New York divorce?

Military retirement can be treated as marital property in New York, which means a portion may be subject to division. How that division works depends on factors like the length of the marriage and service overlap. We help you understand the options and how they affect long-term financial planning.

How will your firm communicate with me if I’m overseas?

We adapt our communication to your situation and can use a mix of phone, secure electronic communication, and scheduled calls that account for time zones. Our goal is to keep you informed and involved, even if you are deployed or stationed far from Queens.

When should I talk to a lawyer about a military divorce?

It is often helpful to speak with an attorney as soon as you begin seriously considering divorce or if you believe your spouse may file. Early advice can clarify your options and help you avoid missteps. We meet with you to discuss your goals before any major decisions are made.

Talk With Our Team About Next Steps

Deciding to move forward with a military divorce is rarely easy. Having a clear understanding of your rights, your children’s options, and your financial future can make the path less overwhelming. At Markfeld Law, we draw on years of family law work in Queens and New York City to guide military families through this process with care.

When you reach out to us, you can expect straightforward explanations, thoughtful questions about your service and your family, and a plan that reflects your priorities. Our attorneys are committed to building lasting relationships with clients and maintaining open communication from the first meeting through the conclusion of the case. 

If you are looking for a military divorce lawyer in Queens who understands both New York law and the demands of military life, we invite you to contact us at (718) 569-8618.