Airman Granted Default Divorce After Spouse Maxed Out Credit Cards, Jeopardizing his Military Career

An Air Force servicemember and his spouse were separated, but the spouse continued to open accounts and max out credit cards in both of their names without the Airman’s consent. This put the couple in crushing debt. The spouse had also recently been involved in a DUI car crash that is affected the Airman’s ability to get car insurance. The Airman was also informed that he is at risk of losing his security clearance due to the debt. He sought help from his legal assistance office for help.

The Airman’s military attorney referred his case to the ABA Military Pro Bono Project, which then connected him with a pro bono attorney. The attorney worked diligently to secure a default judgment against the Airman’s spouse, due to her failure to participate in the case, and the Airman ultimately secured a divorce to protect his career and prevent further financial loss.