Marriage of Angell v. Angell

OPINION

GILDEA, Chief Justice.

The question in this case is whether federal law preempts the district court’s award of death benefits to a non-beneficiary spouse. The court of appeals held that the award of federal death benefits to the non-beneficiary spouse conflicted with federal law. Because we hold that the anti-attachment provisions in 38 U.S.C. § 1970(g) (2006) and 38 U.S.C. § 5301(a)(1) (2006) preempt the court’s award made under state law, we affirm.

This action arises from the dissolution of the marriage between appellant Gordon William Angelí, Jr. (appellant), and respondent Loretta…