Coast Guard Family Support Requirements

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Coast Guard Policy

“The Coast Guard will not be a haven or refuge for personnel who disregard or evade their obligations to their families. All members of the Coast Guard are expected to conduct their personal affairs honorably and lawfully. This obligation specifically includes the responsibility to provide adequate and continuous support for lawful dependents, and to comply with the terms of support clauses which may be contained in separation agreements and divorce decrees.” COMDTINST M1600.2, Discipline and Conduct, Chapter 2.E Support of Dependents, section 2.E.1.a.

“Mandatory & Universal Interim Obligation”

Section 2.E.3.c sets forth a member’s support obligation in the absence of a court order or agreement to the contrary. The scale utilizes base pay and BAH-Diff (loosely related to the difference between Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at the With-Dependents Rate and BAH at the Without-Dependents Rate) as follows:

  • Spouse only:  BAH-Diff, plus 20% of base pay
  • Spouse & 1 child:  BAH-Diff, plus 25% of base pay
  • Spouse & 2 or more children:  BAH-Diff, plus 30% of base pay
  • 1 child: 1/6 of base pay
  • 2 children: 1/4 of base pay
  • 3 or more children: 1/3 of base pay

(Child includes handicapped children of any age).

Relief From Obligation

A member may seek relief from the obligation to support children only (not spouse) on the grounds that:

There are still two grounds for relief from the obligation to support a child:

  • When the child's whereabouts & welfare cannot be ascertained
  • When the person requesting support does not have physical custody of the child

The member’s obligation to support a is not affected by misconduct by the child’s parent. In other words, the member must still pay the parent for the children even if that other parent committed infidelity or desertion. Section 2.E.3.d.

An enlisted member may seek relief from the obligation to support a separated spouse on three grounds that the other spouse engaged in:

  • Desertion without cause
  • Infidelity
  • Spousal abuse against the member

Section 2.E.4.a Note that these grounds only apply to enlisted members - section 2.e.4.b, pertaining to officers, contain no such grounds for relief!

Enforcement of Obligation

Upon receiving a complaint, the member’s commander must counsel him/her as to the Coast Guard’s support requirements, including the possibility of adverse action for family to comply. Section 2.E.4.a. Officers who are the subject of a non-support complaint have the additional requirement to prove past support for the preceding 12 months, and have a plan for future support. Section 2.E.4.b.

A Coast Guard member who fails to comply may face adverse evaluations, non-judicial punishment, or court-martial charges. Moreover, the member’s security clearance may be in jeopardy! Section 2.E.4.c.