Uniformed Services Divorce Equity Act of 2003

The Uniformed Services Divorce Equity Act of 2003 proposes a standardized federal formula for dividing military retired pay during divorce proceedings. Under this bill, a former spouse would be entitled to 50 percent of a member’s retirement pay if they were married for the member's entire length of service, with that amount decreasing proportionately for shorter marriages.

For citizens, the bill establishes specific timelines for these benefits: payments would last for a duration equal to the length of the marriage if it lasted less than 20 years, while marriages of 20 years or more would qualify for lifetime payments. Additionally, the bill protects service members by ensuring that disability compensation is excluded from divisible assets and prevents courts from awarding a portion of future retirement pay before the member actually retires.