Travis County, TX · Free Consultation
Wells Branch, TX Military Divorce Lawyer
What Our Clients Say
Reserve and National Guard retirements are divided differently from active-duty pensions, and missing the difference can distort the split. In Wells Branch, SMB Law, PC divides a reservist’s pension the right way. A Wells Branch military divorce lawyer knows Reserve and Guard retirements use a points-based division that active-duty rules do not. Shane M. Boasberg has handled Central Texas divorces for more than twenty years and personally divides a reservist’s pension correctly.
Central Texas has a large Guard and Reserve community, so around Wells Branch the points-based pension and the wait until age 60 come up more often than people expect.
Where a Wells Branch military divorce is handled
Wells Branch is in Travis County, so the divorce is filed with the Travis County District Clerk at the Civil and Family Courthouse on Guadalupe Street in Austin.
Dividing a Reserve or National Guard pension
Guard and Reserve retirements work differently from active-duty pensions. Members earn retirement points rather than simply counting full years, and they usually do not begin drawing retired pay until age 60 — the stretch between leaving service and age 60 is called the ‘gray area.’ Dividing a reservist’s pension therefore requires the order to use the points-based formula — the marital share is based on points earned during the marriage over total points — not the active-duty time formula, and both parties must plan for payments that may not start for years. Using the wrong formula, or ignoring the timing, produces an order that either miscalculates the share or fails when retired pay finally begins. We make sure a Wells Branch reservist’s divorce order uses the correct points formula and squarely addresses the gray-area wait, so the division holds up when payments start.
Planning for the gray-area years
Because a reservist’s pension may not pay for years, a Wells Branch order has to bridge the gap between divorce and age 60. We draft the award so the points-based share is clearly fixed as of the divorce and can be applied later without another fight, and we address survivor coverage so the former spouse is protected if the member dies before or after retired pay begins. We also build in practical steps for the gray area: keeping records of points and status, and providing notice so the former spouse knows when payments start and can claim their share. Reservist divorces reward this kind of forward planning, because the money is real but distant. Getting the formula and the timing right now spares a Wells Branch client a scramble — and possible litigation — a decade down the road.
Working with us from Wells Branch
Our office is about 12 miles south in downtown Austin via I-35 and Mopac. We handle most Wells Branch military divorce matters by phone, video, and e-signature. Our Austin divorce page covers the civilian side of a Texas divorce, from filing to final decree.
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 Reserve or Guard pension divided?
Using a points-based formula — the marital share reflects retirement points earned during the marriage over total points — rather than the active-duty time formula.
What is the gray area for reservists?
The period between when a Guard or Reserve member stops serving and when they begin drawing retired pay, usually at age 60.
When does a reservist’s pension start paying?
Typically at age 60, so a division order must account for a wait that can last years after the divorce.
Where is a Wells Branch military divorce filed?
With the Travis County District Clerk at the Civil and Family Courthouse on Guadalupe Street in Austin.