Encino Military Divorce Attorneys
An Attorney Handles Your Military Divorce from Start to Finish
Military divorce involves the same California family-law framework as any dissolution, but military service adds layers that don’t appear in civilian cases: jurisdiction questions tied to stationing and domicile, federal statutes governing military retirement benefits, deployment-driven custody planning, and procedural protections for active-duty participants. At Zahn Law Offices, APC, we handle military divorce matters as part of our broader California family-law practice, bringing over 30 years of combined legal experience to cases in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Whether you’re the service member or the military spouse, and whether you’re filing or responding, the relevant issues can differ. We review the facts of each matter before forming any legal strategy, and an attorney remains involved in your case from intake through final resolution, with no handoffs to paralegals or legal secretaries.
To schedule a consultation with our team, contact our office online or via phone at (805) 804-9100.
Can I File for My Military Divorce in California?
California generally requires either the petitioner or respondent to have lived in California for the past six months and in the current county for the past three months before starting a divorce case. For military families, stationing, domicile, and where each spouse currently resides can create separate jurisdiction questions that should be evaluated before filing. We serve clients in Encino and throughout Los Angeles County, and we’re familiar with the procedural requirements at the Los Angeles Superior Court for family-law matters.
The core California divorce forms include the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (FL-100) and Summons (FL-110), but the right approach to filing depends on the specific facts of your situation. We can walk you through which court is appropriate and what your filing options look like before anything is submitted.
Active-Duty Service & Court Participation
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) includes protections relevant to civil actions, including family-law proceedings, when a service member’s military duties materially affect their ability to participate. Under 50 U.S.C. § 3932, a qualifying servicemember may request a stay of at least 90 days when the required conditions are met. The application must include a statement from the servicemember explaining how current military duties materially affect their ability to appear and identifying a date when they expect to be available. It must also include a communication from their commanding officer confirming that current duty prevents the servicemember’s appearance and that military leave isn’t authorized. A stay request doesn’t waive jurisdictional or other defenses.
Active-duty status alone doesn’t automatically stop every divorce proceeding. The effect of the SCRA depends on whether statutory requirements are satisfied and whether the servicemember has the ability to participate. A service member may also choose to waive SCRA protections and respond to a divorce proceeding in the ordinary course, which means retaining counsel and filing a response within the applicable deadline. We review the facts to determine how SCRA requirements, response deadlines, and available defenses apply.
To schedule a consultation with our team and discuss jurisdiction, custody, or military benefits, contact our Encino military divorce attorneys online or via phone at (805) 804-9100.
Clients Share Their Experiences
Working Together to Secure Your Future
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"Zahn law office has represented me multiple times and handled things beyond my expectations."
The Zahn law office is very professional and focuses on your needs. Custody and visitation was handled promptly.- Angel M. -
"I would recommend him to anyone looking for a good attorney."
He made magic happen when No other attorney would even take the time to discuss my matter.- Chris M. -
"Mr. Fuller specifically, made sure that I understood everything that was happening and that I was being taken care of."
Their office helped not only resolve the issue, but ensured the agreement was fair and in the best interest of my son.- Mike P. -
"I want to thank Allison Novik for her sincere support from the first time we met at her office."
All her communications and follow-ups were precise, on time, efficient and always reinforced my confidence that my case was handled in the best possible way.
- Kristian G. -
"Paul is an honest, hardworking, and wonderful attorney."
He has been fair with billing and stayed with me even when money was tight.- Erica W. -
"By far, Mr. Zahn went above and beyond to help me with my situation."
I was referred to the Zahn Law Officer from another attorney who doesn't handle family law. Without hesitation, Mr. Zahn was willing to help me file child support paperwork in another county. The documents were filed via e-file. Within about a week in a half, the paperwork was filed and the issue was taken care of. His secretary Donna Hernandez always kept in contact with me, updating me with the status of the filing. By far, Mr. Zahn went above and beyond to help me with my situation.- Allen M.
The Zahn Law Offices, APC Difference
Personalized Counsel Every Step of the Way
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Our Legal Team Has 30+ Years of Combined Experience
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Our Lawyers Have Been Named to Super Lawyers Rising Star List
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We Offer Flexible, Affordable Payment Plans
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We Provide Quality Legal Service at Reasonable Rates
