Posted on Aug 12, 2019
PFC Don Jenks
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My buddy currently enlisted in the army and he wants to fight for a court ordered paternity test. Could Jag assist him or does he need to hire a private attorney?
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Responses: 3
SFC Ralph E Kelley
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Edited >1 y ago
When I divorced my 1st wife she came back two years later with a 4 month old baby wanting support payments. It was cut and dry for me since I had been deployed for 20 months without having taken any leave time.
The JAG helped me rebut her claims by notarizing my deployment dates, assignment locations (we had several MTTs out of Panama) plus JAG drafted a letter that stated the Army needed to verify paternity through a MD consented to by both (her and I) parties before support payments would be approved.
I did have to pay for the paternity test but that was no problem. As you can already tell - it wasn't my kid.
Use what the JAG can do for you because it will save you a lot of money. I spoke with a JAG officer today about this and he said there should not be a problem with them helping you draft the letters.
You do know they have enlisted personnel to do the typing - correct?
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
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JAG doesn't get involved with any domestic issues like family law. They only tell you what your (his) legal responsibilities are toward dependents.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
>1 y
That is absolutely true, but the older I get, the more I think we abandon young solders with family issues to a court system that can be devastatingly unfair to soldiers and sailors, and men in general. Maybe it's time we didn't protect our soldiers in civil court.
This guy can come off rude, but he's got a point. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=terrance+pop+to+donald+trump&&view=detail&mid=B18CE9469FCEA7A46A0EB18CE9469FCEA7A46A0E&&FORM=VRDGAR
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
CPT Lawrence Cable family courts are extremely one-sided against service members. In my case, I lucked out by coming to an agreement with my ex to allow me to have custody. But, if we had gone to court, it would have taken thousands of dollars in lawyer fees and expenses, and I would have had to prove that she was a negligent parent, in order for a court to give me custody.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
>1 y
Exactly my point. An E-8 may have the financial resources to fund that lawyer if he has to do it, but PFC John Doe is probably screwed when it comes to paying for one. If there is a single family issue that messes up more soldiers, it's divorce and maybe the Service needs to show some guts and support them. My experience around military post has been that the wives are often represented by ex-JAG Officers and the husband has no one.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
>1 y
SFC (Join to see) - And I do understand that I am in a safer position to shoot off my mouth about these type of things and others are not.
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SSgt CASS Test Station IMA Advanced Maintenance Technician, IMA
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They can provide advise and some may assist in drafting or reviewing a petition to the court but they can not represent, so their name will not be on any paperwork and they will not go with you to court.
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