Legal Question in Military Law in New York

I recently Met someone that is in the Service....(Army) and is Now deployed in Afgainstan....We Did the Marriage by Proxy, so that I can be Put Down as His Wife....However, they are telling Us that We Must pay well over $3000.00 to be Added as His Beneficary! And that they will Not release Our Marriage Certificate Until the Amount is Paid!! Has anyone EVER heard of Having to Pay that Kind of Money just so their name can be Added to a piece of paper that says.....Said Officer has a Wife?? Can they Just Put down we are Married....and that I am Not his Beneficary? They tell us....with His Up-coming Retirement....If He does Not have a "Beneficary" then they may Not grant his Retirement! Sounds kinda dumb and "Odd" to Me/Us....But I dont know how the Military think or work. Can anyone out there help us with this situation??? Thanks a Bunch


Asked on 9/03/12, 10:17 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
William J. Holmes Attorney at Military Law

This is not right. If you are legally married, they should change his records to reflect that fact. There is no fee to be added as a beneficiary on his insurance or to be listed in his service record. That is his choice who to select as his beneficiary. I have never heard of this in more than 30 years of practicing muilitary law.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] or 757-420-9321.

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Answered on 9/04/12, 7:33 am


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