Williamson County, TX · Free Consultation
Liberty Hill, TX Military Divorce Lawyer
What Our Clients Say
A change in federal law reshaped how much of a military pension a former spouse receives — and an order that ignores it gets rejected. In Liberty Hill, SMB Law, PC drafts pension divisions the way current law and DFAS require. A Liberty Hill military divorce lawyer knows the frozen-benefit rule and DFAS formatting that a pension order must follow or be rejected. Shane M. Boasberg has handled Central Texas divorces for more than twenty years and personally drafts military pension divisions the way current law requires.
Liberty Hill’s military families are often surprised that the pension-division rules changed in 2017, reducing what many spouses had assumed they would receive.
Where a Liberty Hill military divorce is handled
Liberty Hill is in Williamson County, so the divorce is filed with the Williamson County District Clerk at the Justice Center in Georgetown.
The ‘frozen benefit’ rule for dividing the pension
For divorces after December 23, 2016, the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act requires a ‘frozen benefit’ method of dividing a military pension. The divisible marital share is calculated using the member’s rank (pay grade) and years of creditable service as of the date of divorce — not the higher amount the member would eventually earn at retirement after later promotions and raises. In effect the spouse’s share is frozen to the member’s status at divorce, which can meaningfully reduce it compared to the old ‘time rule.’ Just as important, the order must contain specific figures — the member’s retired-pay base and creditable service at divorce — or the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) will reject it and pay nothing. We make sure a Liberty Hill decree carries the exact data the frozen-benefit rule and DFAS demand, so the division is both accurate and actually enforceable.
Meeting the DFAS requirements
A military pension division is only as good as the order that reaches DFAS, so a Liberty Hill case is partly a documentation exercise. We gather the precise inputs the frozen-benefit rule needs — the member’s high-3 retired-pay base and creditable service as of the divorce — and draft the award so DFAS can apply it without guessing. We also address cost-of-living adjustments, which continue to apply to the frozen figure, so the spouse’s share keeps pace over time. Because an order that is vague or built on the old time-rule formula will simply be returned unpaid, we get these specifics right before the decree is signed rather than fighting a rejection afterward. Done correctly, the pension award holds up and begins paying without a second round of litigation.
Working with us from Liberty Hill
Our office is about 35 miles southeast in downtown Austin via US-183. We handle most Liberty Hill military divorce matters by phone, video, and e-signature.
At SMB Law, PC you work directly with attorney Shane M. Boasberg, who has represented Texans for more than two decades and has been licensed by the State of Texas since 2003. We explain the federal and state rules in plain English, bring in the right experts, and keep you informed from your first confidential consultation through final resolution.
Why clients choose SMB Law, PC
- Direct attorney access — you talk to Shane, licensed since 2003, not a call center.
- Honest advice — if a fight is not worth the cost, we say so.
- Transparent fees explained before you commit.
What working with us looks like
- Confidential consultation to understand your goals and the law that applies.
- Strategy and records tailored to your situation.
- Negotiation or court — we settle when we can and litigate when we must.
- Resolution implemented correctly so you can move on.
Frequently asked questions
How is a military pension divided after 2016?
Under the frozen-benefit rule, the spouse’s share is based on the member’s rank and creditable service at the time of divorce, not at retirement.
What is the frozen benefit rule?
A federal method, effective for divorces after December 23, 2016, that fixes the divisible pension amount to the member’s status at divorce rather than at retirement.
Why would DFAS reject our pension order?
Usually because it lacks the specific data the frozen-benefit rule requires, such as the retired-pay base and creditable service at divorce, or uses an outdated formula.
Where is a Liberty Hill military divorce filed?
With the Williamson County District Clerk at the Justice Center in Georgetown.