Service men and women face an unusual set of problems when deployed, particularly if leaving behind a spouse and minor children. Often the spouse will move out of state to stay with extended family during the deployment. Arizona has passed a law requiring that no custody determination can be based on the deployment of military personnel. Marilyn served on the committee which wrote this law and she also advised Arizona Rep. John Shaddeg’s office on a similar law to be introduced into the U.S. congress.

Issues you may wish to discuss with Marilyn include what to do when a husband or wife remaining in Arizona files for dissolution of the marriage during a deployment, what laws affect jurisdiction (which state can make custody decisions), and what help the U.S. State Department can offer to deployed service people.