Opinion ID: 2552151
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Conditional Withholding Order

Text: [¶ 12] The USFSPA also authorizes the payor of military benefits to make direct payments or garnishments of up to fifty percent of disposable retired pay pursuant to state court orders related to spousal support. See 10 U.S.C.S. § 1408(d), (e); Koszegi, 2004 ME 113, ¶ 20, 855 A.2d at 1172-73; see also 19-A M.R.S. § 2604. [¶ 13] Because Robert's VA disability pay is not disposable retired pay pursuant to 10 U.S.C.S. § 1408(a)(4)(C), the court did not have authority to allocate a portion of the disability pay or to order conditional withholding or garnishment of any of Robert's disability benefits. See 19-A M.R.S. § 2604. The record, however, does not indicate that the conditional withholding order has been served on the payor of Robert's disability benefits. Accordingly, any error related to the conditional withholding order is harmless. See M.R. Civ. P. 61. To the extent that it may become necessary to serve the withholding order on other payors of Robert's income, the order remains valid.