If DFAS gets more than one court order and the orders have different amounts of child support, then DFAS will withhold the larger amount from your retired pay. However, DFAS will only pay to the other party the lower amount that is listed. DFAS will keep the difference of the amounts until you send them an order that is certified to be valid by you and the other party. Then DFAS will pay the other funds per the court order.
If you send DFAS a court order that has different retired pay award amounts in the same court order, then DFAS
will pay the lower amount. If you disagree with the amount paid, then you must send DFAS a new court order that lists the correct amount.
If DFAS gets applications from more than one party with a child support order against you, then payments are made on a first-come, first-served basis.
If DFAS gets both an application for direct payments under USFSPA and a garnishment order for support from the same party, then DFAS will pay whichever is served first. Served means properly delivering the court papers. For more information about service, see Family Legal Care’s guide Serving Court Papers.