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Sasso Guerrero & Henderlite Addresses Military Deployment Impact on Divorce and Custody Proceedings

On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, Jacksonville-based Sasso Guerrero and Henderlite highlighted the complex intersection between military deployment and family law, noting that service members in Northeast Florida face distinct legal hurdles regarding divorce and custody proceedings.
Deployment creates unprecedented challenges for maintaining parent-child relationships, as service members may be unable to attend court hearings or participate in mediation, forcing courts to balance children's best interests with military service realities.
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act provides certain protections for deployed personnel, allowing them to request stays in divorce proceedings when military duties prevent court participation. Jay Henderlite said military parents face "extraordinary circumstances that civilian families rarely encounter."
Permanent change of station orders often compound these complexities, as relocation can trigger jurisdictional questions and require modifications to existing custody arrangements, while military compensation structures demand specialized financial expertise.
Families benefit from legal representation familiar with both the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act and state-specific statutes, as successful custody arrangements must account for military service unpredictability while maintaining stability for children across Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns.

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