In 2026, division of military retired pay in divorce is governed by federal law and must follow specific requirements for enforcement. The Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act is the key authority that permits certain state court orders to be honored for direct payment from retired pay. Orders that are unclear about the percentage, the disposable retired pay basis, or the identification information can cause significant processing delays. Timing issues also arise when the service member is not yet retired, so the order must be drafted to address future retirement accurately. Because military benefits interact with child support and maintenance, the overall financial plan needs to be coordinated rather than handled in isolated pieces. A lawyer familiar with military family cases can help you avoid drafting errors that prevent enforcement even when both parties intended a fair division.