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Timely military law panel precedes call-up“Military Family Law: Tips and Traps,” an ISBA Law Ed seminar, will cover a wide range of legal issues facing service personnel and their dependents during periods of active duty. The ISBA Committee on Military Affairs will conduct the program from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at The John Marshall Law School. Co-sponsors are the Chicago chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association. The seminar is timely in light of the fact that the largest mobilization of Illinois Guard members since World War II, as many as 3,500 troops, is expected to occur in the fall. Program coordinators are Mark E. Sullivan of the Law Offices of Mark E. Sullivan, Raleigh, N.C., and Patricia Apy of Paras Apy Reiss, Red Bank, N.J. At 8:30 a.m., a Family Law Overview will be provided by Sullivan and Cook County Judge Alexander P. White, a member of the Committee on Military Affairs. Speakers will examine divorce and domicile issues under general rules, Illinois statutes and cases. Among them are separation agreements, property settlements, former spouse benefits or loss of benefits, military medical coverage, and possible loss of basic allowance for housing. Other topics include separate jurisdictional tests for custody, military pension division, family support, foreign divorces, and related resources. At 9:45 a.m., the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act will be explored by committee member Thomas E. Digan, legal assistance attorney for the Naval Legal Service Office, North Central Detachment at Great Lakes. Specifics include breadth of application, Section 521 appearance issues, Section 522 notice issues, rent and lease protections, mortgages and foreclosures, contract and installing agreements, interest rate reductions, and domicile protection for tax and voting purposes. At 11 a.m., Child Support will be reviewed by Henry M. Dewoskin of St. Louis and Stephen T. Lynch, legal assistance attorney for the Ninth Coast Guard District in Cleveland, Ohio. Issues include guidelines on child support and military pay, reading the leave and earning statement, basic housing allowance, military medical insurance, uncovered health care expenses, service member domicile and jurisdiction, garnishment of pay, and other resources. At 1:30 p.m., Domestic Violence: civil remedies, military administrative and punitive remedies, and confidentiality issues will be discussed by Kathlene J. Somerville, a U.S. Navy civilian attorney from San Diego, Calif. At 2:15 p.m., Custody Jurisdiction and Family Care Plans will be covered by Patricia Apy. She will review interstate jurisdiction and procedures, give tips on reaching a settlement when deployment is approaching, and address such unique military issues as delegation of visitation rights and the Sullivan case. At 3:45 p.m., Military Pension Division will be the topic of Wm. J. John Camp of Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson, Warner Robins, Ga. Jurisdiction, roadblocks to pension division, and present value setoff and future payment division, and drafting the agreement or order will be discussed. The survivor benefit plan, thrift savings plan and accrued leave are included. This seminar is accredited for 6.75 hours of MCLE. The registration fees are $195 for civilian attorneys, and $25 for active duty, reserve and guard JAG officers and paralegals.
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