DivorceNet®

I am a US Marine currently stationed at MCAS New River. My wife and I are getting a seperation and then hopefully a divorce. There is some negative tension between the two of us when discussing the issue. We just bought a house two months ago. I drive the car in her name and she drives the car in my name. We have a two year old boy and I have no room for him at the moment in my parents house where I stay at in order to have partial custody. All my furniture and items my parents bought me are still at other house because I have no room to put them anywhere. I am deploying for a year in the next 3 months, not sure when.

I was just wondering what I should do about the situation at hand. Should I stay in the house and make her find a place or should I let her stay there until I get back from deployment? Should I still get partial custody or give her full custody until I get back from Afghanistan?

I'm not versed in military issues, but I do have some thoughts.

1) You'll need an attorney to help you get things in order. If the divorce will not be completed by deployment, ask for a stay on all proceedings until you're able to return. That will prevent her from taking adverse actions against you in your absence.

2) Do not physically move out yourself. Stay in the house, but for the most part spend as little time as necessary there and as much time as possible with your son as you can.

3) Before you leave switch the cars and the financial responsibility for each of those back to your rightful names if there are outstanding loan balances on them. If yours is the better one for the child, maybe sell them both and have her refinance a third in her name.

4) Look into the costs of storage, a friend's garage even, and have the belongings removed there before deploying. Or -- have your attorney write up a specific order that all these items are to be retained in the home, kept in good condition, not sold etc., until such time you return.

Probably a lot more to think of :)