Wahl v. Wahl

Summary

The Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed the district court’s order that Leanne Wahl reimburse Charles Wahl for the cost of her survivor benefit plan (SBP) coverage, but modified the decree by striking the provision allowing Charles to replace Leanne as the SBP beneficiary if he remarries. The Court held that a trial court may order a service member to name either a former spouse or a future spouse as SBP beneficiary, but not both, and that the district court exceeded its discretion by permitting both. The decision rests on federal statutes governing SBPs and Nebraska law treating military retirement benefits as marital property.