Without knowing what states you're talking about, it's rather impossible to answer your question specifically. Generally, if you have been living as husband and wife in Florida for more than 6 months, Florida will generally have jurisdiction over your divorce. In FL, you may be eligible for one or more types of alimony, including permanent alimony, depending on the facts of your case. Additionally, FL is an equitable distribution state, so you would generally each be entitled to presumptively half of the marital assets and liabilities, which would generally include half of the marital portion of the retirement benefits. However, certain police officer and firefighter pensions are exempt from Qualified Domestic Relations Orders issued by the family court in a divorce case, but there are other ways to compensate you for your half interest in the marital portion of his pension. Consult with an attorney to discuss the specifics of your situation and your options.
Answered on Jun 17th, 2015 at 1:46 PM