What is a National Guard Retirement System and how does it apply to a military divorce?

The National Guard Retirement System (NGRS) is the pension system for members of the National Guard and their families. It provides benefits to those who have served in the Guard for at least 20 years. In the case of a military divorce in Washington, the NGRS may be used to divide retirement benefits equitably between both parties. When a divorce is finalized, a court may order one spouse to receive a portion of the other’s National Guard Retirement System benefits. This is known as “military retirement division”. It is important to note that the spouse must have served in the military for at least 10 years to be eligible for a portion of the other’s retirement benefits. There are three main ways to divide a National Guard Retirement System: an offset, a lump-sum payment, or a direct court-ordered payment. An offset means that a portion of the benefits from one spouse is subtracted from the other spouse’s benefits in order to make up the difference. A lump-sum payment is a one-time payment to a spouse in exchange for a portion of the other’s military retirement benefits. Finally, a direct court-ordered payment is a payment that is ordered directly by the court, with both spouses having agreed to the amount. It is important to remember that all decisions regarding the National Guard Retirement System, as well as other military benefits, must be made with the help of a qualified military divorce attorney. This is due to the complexity of the process and because the rules may vary from state to state.

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What is a National Guard Retirement System and how does it apply to a military divorce?

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