5 CFR Part 838 — Court Orders Affecting Retirement Benefits

law://us/cfr/5/838@2026-11-12

Contents

Subpart A · Subpart A—Court Orders Generally

838.101Purpose and scope.#

(a)(1) This part regulates the Office of Personnel Management's handling of court orders affecting the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), both of which are administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Generally, OPM must comply with court orders, decrees, or court-approved property settlement agreements in connection with divorces, annulments of marriage, or legal separations of employees, Members, or retirees that award a portion of the former employee's or Member's retirement benefits or a survivor annuity to a former spouse.

(2)In executing court orders under this part, OPM must honor the clear instructions of the court. Instructions must be specific and unambiguous. OPM will not supply missing provisions, interpret ambiguous language, or clarify the court's intent by researching individual State laws. In carrying out the court's instructions, OPM performs purely ministerial actions in accordance with these regulations. Disagreement between the parties concerning the validity or the provisions of any court order must be resolved by the court.

(b)This part prescribes—

(1)The requirements that a court order must meet to be acceptable for processing under this part;

(2)The procedures that a former spouse or child abuse creditor must follow when applying for benefits based on a court order under sections 8341(h), 8345(j), 8445 or 8467 of title 5, United States Code;

(3)The procedures that OPM will follow in honoring court orders and in making payments to the former spouse or child abuse creditor; and

(4)The effect of certain words and phrases commonly used in court orders affecting retirement benefits.

(c)(1) Subparts A through I of this part apply only to court orders received by OPM on or after January 1, 1993.

(2)Subpart J of this part applies only to court orders received by OPM before January 1, 1993.

(3)Subpart K of this part applies only to court orders received by OPM on or after October 14, 1994.

(d)This part has no application to the Thrift Savings Plan described in subchapter III of chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code.

838.102Regulatory structure.#

(a)This part is organized as follows:

(1)Subpart A contains information and rules of general application to all court orders directed at CSRS or FERS retirement benefits.

(2)Subparts B and C of this part contain information about court orders directed at ongoing employee annuity payments.

(3)Subparts D and E of this part contain information about court orders directed at refunds of employee contributions.

(4)Subpart F of this part contains information about the effect of words and phrases commonly used in court orders affecting ongoing employee annuity payments and refunds of employee contributions.

(5)Subparts G, H, and I of this part contain information about court orders awarding former spouse survivor annuities.

(6)Subpart J of this part contains the rules applicable to court orders filed under procedures in effect prior to the implementation of this part. These rules continue to apply to court orders received by OPM before January 1, 1993.

(7)Subpart K of this part contains rules applicable to court orders for the enforcement of judgments rendered against employees or annuitants for physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of a child.

(b)Part 890 of this chapter contains information about coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

(c)Part 581 of this chapter contains information about garnishment of Government payments including salary and CSRS and FERS retirement benefits.

(d)Parts 294 and 297 of this chapter and §§ 831.106 and 841.108 contain information about disclosure of information from OPM records.

(e)Subpart V of part 831 of this chapter and subpart G of part 842 of this chapter contain information about how court orders affect eligibility to make an alternative form of annuity election.

(f)Part 1600 of this title contains information about court orders affecting the Federal Employees Thrift Savings Plan.

(g)Subpart F of part 831 of this chapter, subpart F of part 841 of this chapter, and part 843 of this chapter contain information about entitlement to survivor annuities.

(h)Subpart T of part 831 of this chapter and subpart B of part 843 of this chapter contain information about refunds of employee contributions and lump-sum death benefits.

(i)Parts 870, 871, 872, and 873 of this chapter contain information about the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program.

838.103Definitions.#

In this part (except subpart J)— Child abuse creditor means an individual who applies for benefits under CSRS or FERS based on a child abuse judgment enforcement order. Child abuse judgment enforcement order means a court or administrative order requiring OPM to pay a portion of an employee annuity or a refund of employee contributions to a child abuse creditor as a means of collection of a “judgment rendered for physically, sexually, or emotionally abusing a child” as defined in sections 8345(j)(3)(B) and 8467(c)(2) of title 5, United States Code. Civil Service Retirement System or CSRS means the retirement system for Federal employees described in subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code. Composite retirement annuity means the annuity computed when a phased retiree attains full retirement status. Court order means any judgment or property settlement issued by or approved by any court of any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, The Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands, or any Indian court in connection with, or incident to, the divorce, annulment of marriage, or legal separation of a Federal employee or retiree. Court order acceptable for processing means a court order as defined in this section that meets the requirements of subpart C of this part to affect an employee annuity, subpart E of this part to affect a refund of employee contributions, or subpart H of this part to award a former spouse survivor annuity. Employee means an employee or Member covered by CSRS or FERS and a phased retiree as defined under this part. Employee annuity means the recurring payments under CSRS or FERS made to a retiree, the recurring phased retirement annuity payments under CSRS or FERS made to a phased retiree in phased retirement status, and recurring composite retirement annuity payments under CSRS or FERS made to a phased retiree when he or she attains full retirement status. Employee annuity does not include payments of accrued and unpaid annuity after the death of a retiree or phased retiree under 5 U.S.C. 8342(g) or 8424(h). ERISA means the Employees Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. 1001 et seq. Federal Employees Retirement System or FERS means the retirement system for Federal employees described in chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code. Former spouse means (1) in connection with a court order affecting an employee annuity or a refund of employee contributions, a living person whose marriage to an employee has been subject to a divorce, annulment of marriage, or legal separation resulting in a court order, or (2) in connection with a court order awarding a former spouse survivor annuity, a living person who was married for at least 9 months to an employee or retiree who performed at least 18 months of civilian service covered by CSRS or who performed at least 18 months of civilian service creditable under FERS, and whose marriage to the employee of retiree was terminated prior to the death of the employee or retiree. Former spouse survivor annuity means a recurring benefit under CSRS or FERS, or the basic employee death benefit under FERS as described in part 843 of this chapter, that is payable to a former spouse after the employee's or retiree's death. Gross annuity means the amount of monthly annuity payable to a retiree or phased retiree after reducing the self-only annuity to provide survivor annuity benefits, if any, but before any other deduction. Unless the court order expressly provides otherwise, gross annuity also includes any lump-sum payments made to the retiree under 5 U.S.C. 8343a or 8420a. Member means a Member of Congress covered by CSRS or FERS. Net annuity means the amount of monthly annuity payable to a retiree or phased retiree after deducting from the gross annuity any amounts that are—

(1)Owed by the retiree to the United States;

(2)Deducted for health benefits premiums under 5 U.S.C.8906 and 5 CFR 891.401 and 891.402;

(3)Deducted for life insurance premiums under 5 U.S.C. 8714a(d);

(4)Deducted for Medicare premiums;

(5)Properly withheld for Federal income tax purposes, if the amounts withheld are not greater than they would be if the retiree claimed all dependents he or she was entitled to claim;

(6)Properly withheld for State income tax purposes, if the amounts withheld are not greater than they would be if the retiree claimed all dependents he or she was entitled to claim; or

(7)Already payable to another person based on a court order acceptable for processing or a child abuse judgment enforcement order. Unless the court order expressly provides otherwise, net annuity also includes any lump-sum payments made to the retiree under 5 U.S.C. 8343a or 8420a. Phased retiree means a retirement-eligible employee who—

(1)With the concurrence of an authorized agency official, enters phased retirement status in accordance with 5 CFR part 831, subpart Q, or part 848; and

(2)Has not entered full retirement status; For the purpose of this part, when the term employee is used it also refers to a phased retiree. Phased retirement annuity means the annuity payable under 5 U.S.C. 8336a or 8412a, and 5 CFR part 831, subpart Q, or part 848, before full retirement. Phased retirement status means that a phased retiree is concurrently employed in phased employment and eligible to receive a phased retirement annuity. Reduction to provide survivor benefits means the reduction required by section 8339(j)(4) or section 8419(a) of title 5, United States Code. Refund of employee contributions means a payment of the lump-sum credit to a separated employee under section 8342(a) or section 8424(a) of title 5, United States Code. Refund of employee contributions does not include lump-sum payments made under section 8342(c) through (f) or section 8424(d) through (g) of title 5, United States Code. Retiree means a former employee, including a phased retiree who has entered full retirement status, or a Member who is receiving recurring payments under CSRS or FERS based on his or her service as an employee or Member. Retiree does not include an employee receiving a phased retirement annuity or a person receiving an annuity only as a current spouse, former spouse, child, or person with an insurable interest. Retirement means a retirement other than a phased retirement. Self-only annuity means the recurring unreduced payments under CSRS or FERS to a retiree with no survivor annuity payable to anyone. Self-only annuity also includes the recurring unreduced phased retirement annuity payments under CSRS or FERS to a phased retiree before any other deduction. Unless the court order expressly provides otherwise, self-only annuity also includes any lump-sum payments made to the retiree under 5 U.S.C. 8343a or 8420a. Separated employee means a former employee or Member who has separated from a position in the Federal Government covered by CSRS and FERS under subpart B of part 831 of this chapter or subpart A of part 842 of this chapter, respectively, and is not currently employed in such a position, and who is not a retiree.

838.111Exemption from legal process except as authorized by Federal law.#

(a)Employees, retirees, and State courts may not assign CSRS and FERS benefits except as provided in this part.

(b)CSRS and FERS benefits are not subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal process except as expressly provided by Federal law.

838.121OPM's responsibilities.#

OPM is responsible for authorizing payments in accordance with clear, specific and express provisions of court orders acceptable for processing.

838.122State courts' responsibilities.#

State courts are responsible for—

(a)Providing due process to the employee or retiree;

(b)Issuing clear, specific, and express instructions consistent with the statutory provisions authorizing OPM to provide benefits to former spouses or child abuse creditors and the requirements of this part for awarding such benefits;

(c)Using the terminology defined in this part only when it intends to use the meaning given to that terminology by this part;

(d)Determining when court orders are invalid; and

(e)Settling all disputes between the employee or retiree and the former spouse or child abuse creditor.

838.123Claimants' responsibilities.#

Claimants are responsible for—

(a)Filing a certified copy of court orders and all other required supporting information with OPM;

(b)Keeping OPM advised of their current mailing addresses;

(c)Notifying OPM of any changes in circumstances that could affect their entitlement to benefits; and

(d)Submitting all disputes with employees or retirees to the appropriate State court for resolution.

838.124Employees' and retirees' responsibilities.#

Employees and retirees are responsible for—

(a)Raising any objections to the validity of a court order in the appropriate State court; and

(b)Submitting all disputes with former spouses to the appropriate State court for resolution.

838.131Computation of time.#

(a)The rules applicable for computation of time under §§ 831.107 and 841.109 of this chapter apply to this part.

(b)(1) Appendix A of this subpart lists the proper addresses for submitting court orders affecting CSRS and FERS benefits.

(2)A former spouse or child abuse creditor should submit the documentation required by this part to the address provided in appendix A of this subpart. The component of OPM responsible for processing court orders will note the date of receipt on court orders that it receives.

(3)If a court order is delivered to OPM at an address other than the address in appendix A of this subpart, the recipient will forward the court order to the component of OPM responsible for processing court orders. However, OPM is not considered to have received the court order until the court order is received in the component of OPM responsible for processing orders.

838.132Payment schedules.#

(a)Under CSRS and FERS, employee annuities and survivor annuities are payable on the first business day of the month following the month in which the benefit accrues.

(b)In honoring and complying with a court order, OPM will not disrupt the payment schedule described in paragraph (a) of this section, despite any provision in the court order directing a different schedule of accrual or payment of amounts due the former spouse or child abuse creditor.

838.133Minimum awards.#

Payments under this part will not be less than one dollar per month. Any court order that awards a former spouse a portion of an employee annuity or a former spouse survivor annuity in an amount of less than one dollar per month will be treated as an award of an annuity equal to one dollar per month.

838.134Receipt of multiple court orders.#

(a)Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, for court orders affecting employee annuities or awarding former spouse survivor annuities, in the event that OPM receives two or more court orders acceptable for processing—

(1)When the court orders relate to two or more individuals (former spouses or child abuse creditors), the court orders will be honored in the order in which they were received by OPM to the maximum extent possible under § 838.211 or § 838.711.

(2)When two or more court orders relate to the same former spouse, separated spouse, or child abuse creditor the one issued last will be honored.

(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, for court orders affecting refunds of employee contributions, in the event that OPM receives two or more court orders acceptable for processing—

(c)With respect to issues relating to the validity of a court order or to the amount of payment—

(1)If the employee, separated employee, retiree, or other person adversely affected by the court order and former spouse submit conflicting court orders from the same jurisdiction, OPM will consider only the latest court order; or

(2)If the employee, separated employee, retiree, or other person adversely affected by the court order and former spouse submit conflicting court orders from different jurisdictions—

(i)If one of the court orders is from the jurisdiction shown as the employee's, separated employee's, or retiree's address in OPM's records, OPM will consider only the court order issued by that jurisdiction; or

(ii)If none of the court orders is from the jurisdiction shown as the employee's, separated employee's, or retiree's address in OPM's records, OPM will consider only the latest court order.

(i)When the court orders affect two or more former spouses—

(A)The refund will not be paid if either court order prohibits payment of the refund of contributions; otherwise,

(B)The court orders will be honored in the order in which they were issued until the contributions have been exhausted.

(ii)When two or more court orders relate to the same former spouse, the one issued last will be honored first.

(2)In no event will the amount paid out exceed the amount of the refund of employee contributions.

838.135Settlements.#

(a)OPM must comply with the terms of a properly filed court order acceptable for processing even if the retiree and the former spouse agree that they want OPM to pay an amount different from the amount specified in the court order. Information about OPM's processing of amended court orders is contained in §§ 838.225 and 838.806.

(b)(1) OPM will not honor a request from the former spouse that an amount less than the amount provided in the court order be withheld from an employee annuity or a refund of employee contributions.

(2)OPM will not honor a request from the retiree that an amount greater than the amount provided in the court order be withheld from an employee annuity or a refund of employee contributions.

Subpart B · Subpart B—Procedures for Processing Court Orders Affecting Employee Annuities

838.201Purpose and scope.#

(a)This subpart regulates the procedures that the Office of Personnel Management will follow upon the receipt of claims arising out of State court orders directed at employee annuities under CSRS or FERS. OPM must comply with qualifying court orders, decrees, or court-approved property settlements in connection with divorces, annulments of marriages, or legal separations of employees or retirees that award a portion of an employee annuity to a former spouse.

(b)This subpart prescribes—

(1)The circumstances that must occur before employee annuities are available to satisfy a court order acceptable for processing; and

(2)The procedures that a former spouse must follow when applying for a portion of an employee annuity based on a court order under section 8345(j) or section 8467 of title 5, United States Code.

(c)(1) Subpart C of this part contains the rules that a court order must satisfy to be a court order acceptable for processing to affect an employee annuity.

(2)Subpart F of this part contains definitions that OPM uses to determine the effect on employee annuity of a court order acceptable for processing.

838.211Amounts subject to court orders.#

(a)(1) Employee annuities other than phased retirement annuities are subject to court orders acceptable for processing only if all of the conditions necessary for payment of the employee annuity to the former employee have been met, including, but not limited to—

(b)(1) Phased retirement annuities are subject to court orders acceptable for processing only if all of the conditions necessary for payment of the phased retirement annuity to the phased retiree have been met, including, but not limited to—

(i)Entry of the employee into phased retirement status under 5 CFR part 831, subpart Q, or part 848 of this chapter, respectively;

(ii)Application for payment of the phased retirement annuity by the phased retiree; and

(c)Waivers of employee annuity payments under the terms of section 8345(d) or section 8465(a) of title 5, United States Code, exclude the waived portion of the annuity from availability for payment under a court order if such waivers are postmarked or received before the date that OPM receives a court order acceptable for processing.

(iii)The phased retiree's entitlement to a phased retirement annuity.

(2)Money held by an employing agency or OPM that may be payable at some future date is not available for payment under court orders directed at phased retirement annuities.

(3)OPM cannot pay a former spouse a portion of a phased retirement annuity before the employee annuity begins to accrue.

(4)Payment to a former spouse under a court order may not exceed the phased retirement annuity.

838.221Application requirements.#

(a)A former spouse (personally or through a representative) must apply in writing to be eligible for a court-awarded portion of an employee annuity. No special form is required.

(b)The application letter must be accompanied by—

(1)A certified copy of the court order acceptable for processing that is directed at employee annuity;

(2)A certification from the former spouse or the former spouse's representative that the court order is currently in force and has not been amended, superseded, or set aside;

(3)Information sufficient for OPM to identify the employee or retiree, such as his or her full name, CSRS or FERS claim number, date of birth, and social security number;

(4)The current mailing address of the former spouse; and

(5)If the employee has not retired under CSRS or FERS or died, the mailing address of the employee.

(c)(1) When court-ordered payments are subject to termination (under the terms of the court order) if the former spouse remarries, no payment will be made until the former spouse submits to OPM a statement in the form prescribed by OPM certifying—

(i)That a remarriage has not occurred;

(ii)That the former spouse will notify OPM within 15 calendar days of the occurrence of any remarriage; and

(iii)That the former spouse will be personally liable for any overpayment to him or her resulting from a remarriage.

(2)OPM may subsequently require periodic recertification of the statements required under paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

838.222OPM action on receipt of a court order acceptable for processing.#

(a)If OPM receives a court order acceptable for processing that is directed at an employee annuity that is in pay status, OPM will inform—

(1)The former spouse—

(i)That the court order is acceptable for processing;

(ii)Of the date on which OPM received the court order, the date on which the former spouse's benefit begins to accrue, and if known, the date on which OPM commences payment under the order;

(iii)Of the amount of the former spouse's monthly benefit and the formula OPM used to compute the monthly benefit; and

(iv)That, if he or she disagrees with the amount of the monthly benefits, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, an amended court order clarifying the amount; and

(2)The retiree or phased retiree—

(i)That the former spouse has applied for benefits under this subpart;

(ii)That the court order is acceptable for processing and that OPM must comply with the court order;

(iii)Of the date on which OPM received the court order, the date on which the former spouse's benefit begins or accrue, and if known, the date on which OPM commences payment under the court order;

(iv)Of the amount of the former spouse's monthly benefit and the formula OPM used to compute the monthly benefit;

(v)That, if he or she contests the validity of the court order, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, a court order invalidating the court order submitted by the former spouse; and

(vi)That, if he or she disagrees with the amount of the former spouse's monthly benefits, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, an amended court order clarifying the amount.

(b)If OPM receives a court order acceptable for processing that is directed at an employee annuity but the employee has died, or if a retiree or phased retiree dies after payments from the retiree or phased retiree to a former spouse have begun, OPM will inform the former spouse that the employee, or retiree, or phased retiree has died and that OPM can only honor court orders dividing employee annuities during the lifetime of the retiree or phased retiree.

(c)If OPM receives a court order acceptable for processing that is directed at an employee annuity that is not in pay status, OPM will inform—

(1)The former spouse—

(i)That the court order is acceptable for processing;

(ii)That benefits cannot begin to accrue until the employee retires, or enters phased retirement status;

(iii)To the extent possible, the formula that OPM will use to compute the former spouse's monthly benefit; and

(iv)That, if he or she disagrees with the formula, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, an amended court order clarifying the amount; and

(2)The employee, separated employee, retiree, or phased retiree—

(i)That the former spouse has applied for benefits under this subpart;

(ii)That the court order is acceptable for processing and that OPM must comply with the court order;

(iii)To the extent possible, the formula that OPM will use to compute the former spouse's monthly benefit;

(iv)That, if he or she contests the validity of the court order, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, a court order invalidating the court order submitted by the former spouse; and

(v)That, if he or she disagrees with the amount of the former spouse's monthly benefits, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, an amended court order clarifying the amount.

(d)The failure of OPM to provide, or of the employee, separated employee, retiree, phased retiree or the former spouse to receive, the information specified in this section prior to the commencing date of a reduction or accrual does not affect—

(1)The validity of payment under the court order; or

(2)The commencing date of the reduction in the employee annuity or the commencing date of the accrual of former spouse benefits as determined under § 838.231.

838.223OPM action on receipt of a court order not acceptable for processing.#

If OPM receives an application from a former spouse not based on a court order acceptable for processing, OPM will inform the former spouse that OPM cannot approve the application and provide the specific reason(s) for disapproving the application. Examples of reasons for disapproving an application include that the court order does not meet the definition of court order in § 838.103 or does not meet one or more of the requirements of subpart C of this part.

838.224Contesting the validity of court orders.#

(a)An employee, separated employee, or retiree who alleges that a court order is invalid must prove the invalidity of the court order by submitting a court order that—

(1)Declares the court order submitted by the former spouse is invalid; or

(2)Sets aside the court order submitted by the former spouse.

(b)OPM must honor a court order acceptable for processing that appears to be valid and that the former spouse has certified is currently in force and has not been amended, superseded, or set aside, until OPM receives a court order described in paragraph (a) of this section or a court order amending or superseding the court order submitted by the former spouse.

838.225Processing amended court orders.#

(a)If the employee, separated employee, retiree, or former spouse submits an amended court order pertaining to payment of a portion of the employee annuity, OPM will process the amended court order prospectively only, effective against employee annuity accruing beginning the first day of the second month after OPM receives the amended court order.

(b)A court order is not effective to adjust payments prior to the first day of the second month after OPM receives the court order unless—

(1)The court order—

(i)Expressly directs OPM to adjust for payment made under the prior court order; and

(ii)Determines the total amount of the adjustment or the length of time over which OPM will make the adjustment; and

(iii)Provides a specific monthly amount of the adjustment or a formula to compute the amount of the monthly adjustment; and

(2)Annuity continues to be available from which to make the adjustment.

838.231Commencing date of payments.#

(a)A court order acceptable for processing is effective against employee annuity accruing beginning the first day of the second month after OPM receives the court order.

(b)(1) OPM will not begin payments to the former spouse until OPM receives all the documentation required by § 838.221 (b) and (c).

(2)If payments are delayed under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, after OPM receives all required documentation, it will authorize payment of the annuity that has accrued since the date determined under paragraph (a) of this section but the payment of which was delayed under paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

838.232Suspension of payments.#

(a)Payments from employee annuities under this part will be discontinued whenever the employee annuity payments are suspended or terminated. If employee annuity payments to the retiree or phased retiree are restored, payments to the former spouse will also resume, subject to the terms of any court order acceptable for processing in effect at that time.

(b)Paragraph (a) of this section will not be applied to permit a retiree or phased retiree to deprive a former spouse of payment by causing suspension of payment of employee annuity.

838.233Termination of payments.#

A former spouse portion of an employee annuity stops accruing at the earliest of—

(a)The date on which the terms of the court order require termination;

(b)(1) The last day of the first month before OPM receives a court order invalidating, vacating, or setting aside the court order submitted by the former spouse if OPM receives the latest court order no later than 20 days before the end of the month; or

(2)The last day of the month in which OPM receives a court order invalidating, vacating, or setting aside the court order submitted by the former spouse if OPM receives the latest court order than 20 days before the end of the month; or

(c)The last day of the first month after OPM receives an amended court order;

(d)The last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the retiree or phased retiree dies; or

(e)Except as provided in § 838.237, the date on which the former spouse dies.

838.234Collection of arrearages.#

Specific instructions are required before OPM may pay any arrearage. Except as provided in § 838.225(b), OPM will not increase a former spouse's share of employee annuity to satisfy an arrearage due the former spouse. However, under § 838.225, OPM will prospectively honor the terms of an amended court order that either increases or decreases the court order's entitlement.

838.235Payment of lump-sum awards.#

If a court order acceptable for processing awards a former spouse a lump-sum amount from the employee annuity and does not state the monthly rate at which OPM should pay the lump-sum, OPM will pay the former spouse equal monthly installments at 50 percent of the gross annuity (subject to the limitations under § 838.211) at the time of retirement or the date of the order, whichever comes later, until the lump-sum amount is paid.

838.236Court orders barring payment of annuities.#

(a)State courts lack authority to prevent OPM from paying employee annuities as required by section 8345(a) or section 8463 of title 5, United States Code. OPM will not honor court orders directing that OPM delay or otherwise not pay employee annuities at the time or in the amount required by statute.

(b)Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, OPM will honor court orders acceptable for processing that direct OPM to pay the employee annuity to the court, an officer of the court acting as a fiduciary, or a State or local government agency during the pendency of a divorce or legal separation proceeding.

838.237Death of the former spouse.#

(a)Unless the court order acceptable for processing expressly provides otherwise, the former spouse's share of an employee annuity terminates on the last day of the month immediately preceding the death of the former spouse, and the former spouse's share of employee annuity reverts to the retiree or phased retiree.

(b)Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, OPM will honor a court order acceptable for processing or an amended court order acceptable for processing that directs OPM to pay, after the death of the former spouse, the former spouse's share of the employee annuity to—

(1)The court;

(2)An officer of the court acting as fiduciary;

(3)The estate of the former spouse; or

(4)One or more of the retiree's or phased retiree's children as defined in 5 U.S.C. 8342(c) or 8424(d).

838.241Cost-of-living adjustments.#

Unless otherwise provided in the court order, when the terms of the court order or § 838.621 provide for cost-of-living adjustments on the former spouse's payment from employee annuity, the cost-of-living adjustment will be effected at the same time and at the same percentage rate as the cost-of-living adjustment in the employee annuity.

838.242Computing lengths of service.#

(a)(1) The smallest unit of time that OPM will calculate in computing a formula in a court order is a month, even where the court order directs OPM to make a more precise calculation.

(2)If the court order states a formula using a specified simple or decimal fraction other than twelfth parts of a year, OPM will use the specified number to perform simple mathematical computations.

(b)Unused sick leave is counted as “creditable service” on the date of separation for an immediate CSRS or FERS annuity. The unused sick leave of a phased retiree is counted as “creditable service” on the date of separation of the phased retiree to enter full retirement status. Unused sick leave is not apportioned over the time when earned.

838.243Minimum amount of awards.#

OPM will treat any court order that awards a former spouse a portion of an employee annuity equal to less than $12 per year as awarding the former spouse $1 per month.

Subpart C · Subpart C—Requirements for Court Orders Affecting Employee Annuities

838.301Purpose and scope.#

This subpart regulates the requirements that a court order directed at employee annuity must meet to be a court order acceptable for processing.

838.302Language not acceptable for processing.#

(a)Qualifying Domestic Relations Orders. (1) Any court order labeled as a “qualified domestic relations order” or issued on a form for ERISA qualified domestic relations orders is not a court order acceptable for processing unless the court order expressly states that the provisions of the court order concerning CSRS or FERS benefits are governed by this part.

(2)When a court order is required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section to state that the provisions of a court order concerning CSRS or FERS benefits are governed by this part the court order must expressly—

(i)Refer to part 838 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, and

(ii)State that the provisions of the court order concerning CSRS or FERS benefits are drafted in accordance with the terminology used in this part.

(3)Although any language satisfying the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of this section is sufficient to prevent a court order from being unacceptable under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, OPM recommends the use of the language provided in ¶ 001 in appendix A to subpart F of this part to state that the provisions of the court order concerning CSRS or FERS benefits are governed by this part.

(4)A court order directed at employee annuity that contains the language described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section must also satisfy all other requirements of this subpart to be a court order acceptable for processing.

(b)Benefits for the lifetime of the former spouse. Any court order directed at employee annuity that expressly provides that the former spouse's portion of the employee annuity may continue after the death of the employee or retiree, such as a court order providing that the former spouse's portion of the employee annuity will continue for the lifetime of the former spouse, is not a court order acceptable for processing.

838.303Expressly dividing employee annuity.#

(a)A court order directed at employee annuity is not a court order acceptable for processing unless it expressly divides the employee annuity as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b)To expressly divide employee annuity as required by paragraph (a) of this section the court order must—

(1)Identify the retirement system using terms that are sufficient to identify the retirement system as explained in § 838.611; and

(2)Expressly state that the former spouse is entitled to a portion of the employee annuity using terms that are sufficient to identify the employee annuity as explained in § 838.612.

838.304Providing for payment to the former spouse.#

(a)A court order directed at employee annuity is not a court order acceptable for processing unless it provides for OPM to pay the former spouse a portion of an employee annuity as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b)To provide for OPM to pay the former spouse a portion of an employee annuity as required by paragraph (a) of this section the court order must—

(1)Expressly direct OPM to pay the former spouse directly;

(2)Direct the retiree to arrange or to execute forms for OPM to pay the former spouse directly; or

(3)Be silent concerning who is to pay the portion of the employee annuity awarded to the former spouse.

(c)Except when the court order directed at employee annuity contains a provision described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, a court order directed at employee annuity that instructs the retiree to pay a portion of the employee annuity to the former spouse is not a court order acceptable for processing.

(d)Although paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section provide acceptable methods for satisfying the requirement that a court order directed at employee annuity provide for OPM to pay the former spouse, OPM strongly recommends that any court order directed at employee annuity expressly direct OPM to pay the former spouse directly.

838.305OPM computation of formulas.#

(a)A court order directed at employee annuity is not a court order acceptable for processing unless the court order provides sufficient instructions and information that OPM can compute the amount of the former spouse's monthly benefit using only the express language of the court order, subparts A, B, and F of this part, and information from normal OPM files.

(b)(1) To provide sufficient instructions and information for OPM to compute the amount of the former spouse's share of the employee annuity as required by paragraph (a) of this section the court order must state the former spouse's share as—

(e)A court order directed at employee annuity is not a court order acceptable for processing if the court order directs OPM to determine a rate of employee annuity that would require OPM to determine a salary or average salary, other than a salary or average salary actually used in computing the employee annuity, as of a date prior to the date of the employee's entry into phased retirement or separation and to adjust that salary for use in computing the former spouse share unless the adjustment is by—

(1)A fixed amount or fixed annual amounts that are stated in the order;

(2)The rate of cost-of-living or salary adjustments as those terms are described in § 838.622;

(3)The percentage change in pay that the employee actually received excluding changes in grade and/or step; or

(4)The percentage change in either of the national indices used to compute cost-of-living or salary adjustments as those terms are described in § 838.622.

(i)A fixed amount;

(ii)A percentage or a fraction of the employee annuity; or

(c)(1) A court order directed at employee annuity is not a court order acceptable for processing if OPM would have to examine a State statute or court decision (on a different case) to understand, establish, or evaluate the formula for computing the former spouse's share of the employee annuity.

(2)A court order directed at employee annuity is not a court order acceptable for processing if it awards the former spouse a “community property” fraction, share, or percentage of the employee annuity and does not provide a formula by which OPM can compute the amount of the former spouse's share of the employee annuity from the face of the court order or from normal OPM files.

(d)A court order directed at employee annuity is not a court order acceptable for processing if the court order awards a portion of the “present value” of an annuity unless the amount of the “present value” is stated in the court order.

(i)The dates of employment for all periods of creditable civilian and military service;

(ii)The rate of basic pay for all periods of creditable civilian service;

(iii)The annual rates of basic pay for each grade and step under the General Schedule since 1920;

(2)Normal OPM files include information about—

(iv)The amount of premiums for basic and optional life insurance under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program;

(ix)The provision of law under which a retiree has retired; and

(v)The amount of the Government and the employee shares of premiums for any health insurance plan under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program;

(vi)The standard Federal income tax withholding tables;

(vii)The amount of cost-of-living adjustments under section 8340 or section 8462 of title 5, United States Code, and the amount of the percentage change in the national index on which the adjustment is based;

(viii)The amount of pay adjustments to the General Schedule under section 5303 (or section 5305 prior to November 5, 1990) of title 5, United States Code, and the amount of the percentage change in the national index on which the adjustment is based;

(x)Whether a retiree has elected to provide survivor benefits for a current spouse, former spouse, or a person with an insurable interest.

838.306Specifying type of annuity for application of formula, percentage or fraction.#

(a)A court order directed at an employee annuity that states the former spouse's share of employee annuity as a formula, percentage, or fraction is not a court order acceptable for processing unless OPM can determine the type of annuity (i.e., phased retirement annuity, composite retirement annuity, net annuity, gross annuity, or self-only annuity) on which to apply the formula, percentage, or fraction.

(b)The standard types of annuity to which OPM can apply the formula, percentage, or fraction are phased retirement annuity of a phased retiree, or net annuity, gross annuity, or self-only annuity of a retiree. Unless the court order otherwise directs, OPM will apply to gross annuity the formula, percentage, or fraction directed at annuity payable to either a retiree or a phased retiree. Section 838.625 contains information on other methods of describing these types of annuity.

(c)(1) A court order may include provisions directed at:

(i)Phased retirement annuity payable to a phased retiree, to address the possibility that an employee will enter phased retirement status;

(ii)Composite retirement annuity payable to a phased retiree at entry into full retirement status, to address the possibility that an employee will enter phased retirement status and then enter full retirement status; and

(iii)Annuity payable to an employee who retires without having elected phased retirement status.

(2)To separately provide for division of phased retirement annuity or composite retirement annuity, a provision of a court order must expressly state that it is directed at “phased retirement annuity” or “composite retirement annuity,” and must meet the requirements of paragraph (a). That is, it must state the type of annuity to be divided (e.g., “net phased retirement annuity”). If such a provision is unclear as to whether it is directed at gross, net, or self-only phased retirement annuity or composite retirement annuity, the provision will be applied to gross phased retirement annuity or gross composite retirement annuity, as described in paragraph (b) of this section.

(3)Unless a court order expressly states that phased retirement annuity or composite retirement annuity is not to be divided, a court order meeting the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and that generally provides for division of annuity, without meeting the requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of this section, regarding the specific type of annuity being divided, will be applied to divide any employee annuity, including phased retirement annuity and composite retirement annuity.

Subpart D · Subpart D—Procedures for Processing Court Orders Affecting Refunds of Employee Contributions

838.401Purpose and scope.#

(a)This subpart regulates the procedures that the Office of Personnel Management will follow upon the receipt of claims arising out of State court orders that affect refunds of employee contributions under CSRS or FERS. OPM must comply with court orders, decrees, or court-approved property settlements in connection with divorces, annulments of marriages, or legal separations of employees or retirees that—

(1)Award a portion of a refund of employee contributions to a former spouse; or

(2)If the requirements of §§ 838.431 and 838.505 are met, bar payment of a refund of employee contributions.

(b)This subpart prescribes—

(1)The circumstances that must occur before refunds of employee contributions are available to satisfy a court order acceptable for processing; and

(2)The procedures that a former spouse must follow when applying for a portion of a refund of employee contributions based on a court order under section 8345(j) or section 8467 of title 5, United States Code.

(c)(1) Subpart E of this part contains the rules that a court order directed at a refund of employee contributions must satisfy to be a court order acceptable for processing.

(2)Subpart F of this part contains definitions that OPM uses to determine the effect on a refund of employee contributions of a court order acceptable for processing.

838.411Amounts subject to court orders.#

(a)(1) Refunds of employee contributions are subject to court orders acceptable for processing only if all of the conditions necessary for payment of the refund of employee contributions to the separated employee have been met, including, but not limited to—

(b)Payment under a court order may not exceed the amount of the refund of employee contributions.

(i)Separation from a covered position in the Federal service;

(ii)Application for payment of the refund of employee contributions by the separated employee; and

(iii)Immediate entitlement to a refund of employee contributions.

(2)Money held by an employing agency or OPM that may be payable at some future date is not available for payment under court orders directed at refunds of employee contributions.

838.421Application requirements.#

(a)A former spouse (personally or through a representative) must apply in writing to be eligible for a court-awarded portion of a refund of employee contributions. No special form is required.

(b)The application letter must be accompanied by—

(1)A certified copy of the court order acceptable for processing that is directed at a refund of employee contributions.

(2)A certification from the former spouse or the former spouse's representative that the court order is currently in force and has not been amended, superseded, or set aside;

(3)Information sufficient for OPM to identify the employee or separated employee, such as his or her full name, date of birth, and social security number;

(4)The current mailing address of the former spouse; and

(5)If the employee or separated employee has not applied for a refund of employee contributions, the current mailing address of the employee or separated employee.

838.422Timeliness of application.#

(a)Except as provided in § 838.431 and paragraph (b) of this section, a court order acceptable for processing that is directed at a refund of employee contributions is not effective unless OPM receives the documentation required by § 838.421 not later than—

(1)The last day of the second month before payment of the refund; or

(2)Twenty days after OPM receives the Statement required by § 831.2007(c) or § 843.208(b) of this chapter if the former spouse has indicated on that Statement that such a court order exists.

(b)If OPM receives a copy of a court order acceptable for processing that is directed at a refund of employee contributions but not all of the documentation required by § 838.421, OPM will notify the former spouse that OPM must receive the missing items within 15 days after the date of the notice or OPM cannot comply with the court order.

838.423OPM action on receipt of a court order acceptable for processing.#

(a)If OPM receives a court order acceptable for processing that is directed at a refund of employee contributions, OPM will inform—

(1)The former spouse—

(i)That the court order is acceptable for processing;

(ii)Of the date on which OPM received the court order;

(iii)Whether OPM has a record of unrefunded employee contributions on the employee;

(iv)That the former spouse's share of the refund of employee contributions cannot be paid unless the employee separates from the Federal service and applies for a refund of employee contributions;

(v)To the extent possible, the formula that OPM will use to compute the former spouse's share of a refund of employee contributions; and

(vi)That, if the former spouse disagrees with the formula, the former spouse must obtain, and submit to OPM, an amended court order clarifying the amount; and

(2)The employee or separated employee—

(i)That the former spouse has applied for benefits under this subpart;

(ii)That the court order is acceptable for processing and that OPM must comply with the court order;

(iii)Of the date on which OPM received the court order;

(iv)That the former spouse's share of the refund of employee contributions cannot be paid unless the employee separates from the Federal service and applies for a refund of employee contributions;

(v)To the extent possible, the formula that OPM will use to compute the former spouse's share of the refund of employee contributions;

(vi)That, if he or she contests the validity of the court order, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, a court order invalidating the court order submitted by the former spouse; and

(vii)That, if he or she disagrees with the formula, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, an amended court order clarifying the amount.

(b)The failure of OPM to provide, or of the employee or separated employee or the former spouse to receive, the information specified in this section does not affect the validity of payment under the court order.

838.424OPM action on receipt of a court order not acceptable for processing.#

If OPM receives an application from a former spouse not based on a court order acceptable for processing, OPM will inform the former spouse that OPM cannot approve the application and provide the specific reason(s) for disapproving the application. Examples of reasons for disapproving an application include that the order does not meet the definition of court order in § 838.103 or does not meet one or more of the requirements of subpart E of this part.

838.425Contesting the validity of court orders.#

(a)An employee or separated employee who alleges that a court order is invalid must prove the invalidity of the court order by submitting a court order that—

(1)Declares invalid the court order submitted by the former spouse; or

(2)Sets aside the court order submitted by the former spouse.

(b)OPM must honor a court order acceptable for processing that appears to be valid and that the former spouse has certified is currently in force and has not been amended, superseded, or set aside, until the employee or separated employee submits a court order described in paragraph (a) of this section or a court order amending or superseding the court order submitted by the former spouse.

838.431Correcting failures to provide required spousal notification.#

The interests of a former spouse with a court order acceptable for processing that is directed at a refund of employee contributions who does not receive notice of an application for refund of employee contributions because the employee or separated employee submits fraudulent proof of notification or fraudulent proof that the former spouse's whereabouts are unknown are protected if, and only if—

(a)The former spouse files a court order acceptable for processing that affects or bars the refund of employee contributions with OPM no later than the last day of the second month before the payment of the refund; or

(b)The former spouse submits proof that—

(1)The evidence submitted by the employee was fraudulent; and

(2)Absent the fraud, the former spouse would have been able to submit the necessary documentation required by § 838.421 within the time limit prescribed in § 838.422.

838.432Court orders barring payment of refunds.#

A court order, notice, summons, or other document that attempts to restrain OPM from paying a refund of employee contributions is not effective unless it meets all the requirements of § 838.505 or part 581 of this chapter.

838.441Computing lengths of service.#

(a)The smallest unit of time that OPM will calculate in computing a formula in a court order is a month, even where the court order directs OPM to make a more precise calculation.

(b)If the court order states a formula using a specified simple or decimal fraction other than twelfth parts of a year, OPM will use the specified number to perform simple mathematical computations.

Subpart E · Subpart E—Requirements for Court Orders Affecting Refunds of Employee Contributions

838.501Purpose and scope.#

This subpart regulates the requirements that a court order directed at or barring a refund of employee contributions must meet to be a court order acceptable for processing.

(a)A court order is directed at a refund of employee contributions if it awards a former spouse a portion of a refund of employee contributions.

(b)A court order bars a refund of employee contributions if it prohibits payment of a refund of employee contributions to preserve a former spouse's court-awarded entitlement to a portion of an employee annuity or to a former spouse survivor annuity.

838.502Expressly dividing a refund of employee contributions.#

(a)A court order directed at a refund of employee contributions is not a court order acceptable for processing unless it expressly awards a former spouse a portion of a refund of employee contributions as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b)To expressly award a former spouse a portion of a refund of employee contributions as required by paragraph (a) of this section, the court order must—

(1)Identify the retirement system using terms that are sufficient to identify the retirement system as explained in § 838.611; and

(2)Expressly state that the former spouse is entitled to a portion of a refund of employee contributions using terms that are sufficient to identify the refund of employee contributions as explained in § 838.612.

838.503Providing for payment to the former spouse.#

(a)A court order directed at a refund of employee contributions is not a court order acceptable for processing unless it provides for OPM to pay a portion of a refund of employee contributions to the former spouse as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b)To provide for OPM to pay a portion of a refund of employee contributions to the former spouse as required by paragraph (a) of this section, the court order must—

(1)Expressly direct OPM to pay the former spouse directly;

(2)Direct the employee or separated employee to arrange or to execute forms for OPM to pay the former spouse directly; or

(3)Be silent concerning who is to pay the portion of the refund of employee contributions awarded to the former spouse.

(c)Although paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section provide acceptable methods for satisfying the requirement that the court order provide for OPM to pay the former spouse, OPM strongly recommends that the court order expressly direct OPM to pay the former spouse directly.

838.504OPM computation of formulas.#

(a)A court order directed at a refund of employee contributions is not a court order acceptable for processing unless the court order provides sufficient instructions and information so that OPM can compute the amount of the former spouse's share of the refund of employee contributions using only the express language of the court order, subparts A, D, and F of this part, and information from normal OPM files.

(b)To provide sufficient instructions and information that OPM can compute the amount of the former spouse's share of the refund of employee contributions as required by paragraph (a) of this section requires that the court order state the former spouse's share as—

(1)A fixed amount;

(2)A percentage or a fraction of the refund of employee contributions; or

(3)A formula that does not contain any variables whose values are not readily ascertainable from the face of the court order or normal OPM files.

(c)A court order directed at a refund of employee contributions is not a court order acceptable for processing if OPM would have to examine a State statute or court decision (on a different case) to understand, establish, or evaluate the formula for computing the former spouse's share of the refund of employee contributions.

838.505Barring payment of refunds.#

A court order barring payment of a refund of employee contributions is not a court order acceptable for processing unless—

(a)It expressly directs OPM not to pay a refund of employee contributions;

(b)It awards, or a prior court order acceptable for processing has awarded, the former spouse a former spouse survivor annuity or a portion of the employee annuity; and

(c)Payment of the refund of employee contributions would prevent payment to the former spouse under the court order described in paragraph (b) of this section.

Subpart F · Subpart F—Terminology Used in Court Orders Affecting Employee Annuities or Refunds of Employee Contributions

838.601Purpose and scope.#

(a)This subpart regulates the meaning of terms necessary to award benefits in a court order directed at an employee annuity or a refund of employee contributions. OPM applies the meanings to determine whether a court order directed at an employee annuity or a refund of employee contributions is a court order acceptable for processing and to establish the amount of the former spouse's share of an employee annuity or a refund of employee contributions.

(b)(1) This subpart establishes a uniform meaning to be used for terms and phrases frequently used in awarding a former spouse a portion of an employee annuity or a refund of employee contributions.

(2)This subpart informs the legal community about the definitions to apply terms used in drafting court orders so that the resulting court orders contain the proper language to accomplish the aims of the court.

(c)(1) To assist attorneys and courts in preparing court orders that OPM can honor in the manner that the court intends, appendix A of this subpart contains model language to accomplish many of the more common objectives associated with the award of a former spouse's share of an employee annuity or a refund of employee contributions.

(2)By using the language in appendix A of this subpart, the court, attorneys, and parties will know that the court order will be acceptable for processing and that OPM will treat the terminology used in the court order in the manner stated in the appendix.

838.611Identifying the retirement system.#

(a)To satisfy the requirements of § 838.303(b)(1) or § 838.502(b)(1), a court order must contain language identifying the retirement system to be affected. For example, “CSRS,” “FERS,” “OPM,” or “Federal Government” benefits, or benefits payable “based on service with the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” etc., are sufficient identification of the retirement system.

(b)Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section, language referring to benefits under another retirement system, such as military retired pay, Foreign Service retirement benefits or Central Intelligence Agency retirement benefits, does not satisfy the requirements of § 838.303(b)(1) or § 838.502(b)(1).

(1)A court order that mistakenly labels CSRS benefits as FERS benefits and vice versa satisfies the requirements of §§ 838.303(b)(1) and 838.502(b)(1).

(2)Unless the court order expressly provides otherwise, for employees transferring to FERS, court orders directed at CSRS benefits apply to the entire FERS basic benefit, including the CSRS component, if any. Such a court order satisfies the requirements of §§ 838.303(b)(1) and 838.502(b)(1).

(c)A court order affecting military retired pay, even when military retired pay has been waived for inclusion in CSRS annuities, does not award a former spouse a portion of an employee annuity or a refund of employee contributions under CSRS or FERS. Such a court order does not satisfy the requirements of § 838.303(b)(1) or § 838.502(b)(1).

838.612Distinguishing between annuities and contributions.#

(a)A court order that uses terms such as “annuities,” “pensions,” “retirement benefits,” or similar terms, without distinguishing between phased retirement annuity payable to a phased retiree, or composite retirement annuity payable to a phased retiree upon entry into full retirement status, and employee annuity payable to a retiree, satisfies the requirements of §§ 838.303(b)(2) and 838.502(b)(2) for purposes of dividing any employee annuity or a refund of employee contributions.

(b)(1) A court order using “contributions,” “deductions,” “deposits,” “retirement accounts,” “retirement fund,” or similar terms satisfies the requirements of § 838.502(b)(2) and may be used only to divide the amount of contributions that the employee has paid into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund.

(2)Unless the court order specifically states otherwise, when an employee annuity is payable, a court order using the terms specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section satisfies the requirements of § 838.303(b)(2) and awards the former spouse a benefit to be paid in equal monthly installments at 50 percent of the gross annuity beginning on the date the employee annuity commences or the date of the court order, whichever comes later, until the specific dollar amount is reached.

838.621Prorata share.#

(a)Pro rata share means one-half of the fraction whose numerator is the number of months of Federal civilian and military service that the employee performed during the marriage and whose denominator is the total number of months of Federal civilian and military service performed by the employee through the day before the effective date of phased retirement or separation for retirement, as applicable to the annuity calculation. In the computation of the division of phased retirement annuity and a composite retirement annuity, a pro rata share will be computed through the day before the effective date of an employee's phased retirement for the computation of the division of a phased retirement annuity and then recomputed for division of the composite retirement annuity under §§ 831.1742 and 848.502.

(b)A court order that awards a former spouse a prorata share of an employee annuity or a refund of employee contributions by using the term “prorata share” and identifying the date when the marriage began satisfies the requirements of §§ 838.305 and 838.504 and awards the former spouse a prorata share as defined in paragraph (a) of this section.

(c)A court order that awards a portion of an employee annuity as of a specified date before the employee's phased retirement or retirement awards the former spouse a pro rata share as defined in paragraph (a) of this section.

(d)A court order that awards a portion of the “value” of an annuity as of a specific date before retirement, without specifying what “value” is, awards the former spouse a prorata share as defined in paragraph (a) of this section.

838.622Cost-of-living and salary adjustments.#

(a)(1) A court order that awards adjustments to a former spouse's portion of an employee annuity stated in terms such as “cost-of-living adjustments” or “Cola's” occurring after the date of the decree but before the date of phased retirement or retirement provides increases equal to the adjustments described in or effected under 5 U.S.C. 8340 or 8462.

(2)A court order that awards adjustments to a former spouse's portion of an employee annuity stated in terms such as “salary adjustments” or “pay adjustments” occurring after the date of the decree provides increases equal to the adjustments described in or effected under 5 U.S.C. 5303, until the date the individual enters phased retirement status or retires.

(b)(1) Unless the court order directly and unequivocally orders otherwise, a court order that awards a former spouse a portion of an employee annuity either on a percentage basis or by use of a fraction or formula provides that the former spouse's share of the employee annuity will be adjusted to maintain the same percentage or fraction whenever the employee annuity changes as a result of—

(c)(1)(i) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a court order that contains a general instruction to calculate the former spouse's share effective at the time of divorce or separation entitles the former spouse to the benefit of salary adjustments occurring after the specified date to the same extent as the employee.

(i)Salary adjustments occurring after the date of the decree and before the employee retires; and

(ii)To award cost-of-living adjustments between a specified date and the employee's phased retirement or retirement, the court order must specifically instruct OPM to adjust the former spouse's share of the employee annuity by any cost-of-living adjustments occurring between the specified date and the date the employee enters phased retirement status or retires (if the employee does not enter phased retirement status first).

(2)(i) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a court order that requires OPM to compute a benefit as of a specified date before the employee's phased retirement or retirement, and specifically instructs OPM not to apply salary adjustments after the specified date in computing the former spouse's share of an employee annuity, provides that the former spouse is entitled to the application of cost-of-living adjustments after the date the individual enters phased retirement status or retires (if the employee does not enter phased retirement status first), in the manner described in § 838.241.

(iii)To prevent the application of cost-of-living adjustments that occur after the employee annuity begins to accrue to the former spouse's share of the employee annuity, the decree must either state the exact dollar amount of the award to the former spouse or specifically instruct OPM not to apply cost-of-living adjustments occurring after the date the employee enters phased retirement status or retires (if the employee does not enter phased retirement status first).

838.623Computing lengths of service.#

(a)Sections 838.242 and 838.441 contain information on how OPM calculates lengths of service.

(b)Unless the court order otherwise expressly directs—

(1)For the purpose of describing a period of time to be excluded from any element of a computation, the term “military service” means military service as defined in section 8331(13) of title 5, United States Code, and does not include civilian service with the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard; and

(2)For the purpose of describing a period of time to be included in any element of a computation, the term “military service” means all periods of military and civilian service performed with the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard.

(c)(1) When a court order directed at employee annuity (other than a phased retirement annuity or a composite retirement annuity) contains a formula for dividing employee annuity that requires a computation of service worked as of a date prior to separation and using terms such as “years of service,” “total service,” “service performed,” or similar terms, the time attributable to unused sick leave will not be included.

(2)When a court order directed at employee annuity other than a phased retirement annuity or a composite retirement annuity contains a formula for dividing employee annuity that requires a computation of “creditable service” (or some other phrase using “credit” or its equivalent) as of a date prior to retirement, unused sick leave will be included in the computation as follows:

(i)If the amount of unused sick leave is specified, the court order awards a portion of the employee annuity equal to the monthly employee annuity at retirement times a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months of “creditable service” as of the date specified plus the number of months of unused sick leave specified (which sum is rounded to eliminate partial months) and whose denominator is the months of “creditable service” used in the retirement computation.

(ii)If the amount of unused sick leave is not specified, the court order awards a portion of the employee annuity equal to the monthly rate at the time of retirement times a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months of “creditable service” as of the date specified (no sick leave included) and whose denominator is the number of months of “creditable service” used in the retirement computation (sick leave included).

(d)(1) General language such as “benefits earned as an employee with the U.S. Postal Service * * *” provides only that CSRS or FERS retirement benefits are subject to division and does not limit the period of service included in the computation (i.e., service performed with other Government agencies will be included).

(2)To limit the computation of benefits other than a phased retirement annuity or a composite retirement annuity to a particular period of employment, the court order must—

(i)Use language expressly limiting the period of service to be included in the computation (e.g., “only U.S. Postal Service” or “exclusive of any service other than U.S. Postal Service employment”); or

(ii)Specify the number of months to be included in the computation; or

(iii)Describe specifically the period of service to be included in the computation (e.g., “only service performed during the period Petitioner and Defendant were married” or “benefits based on service performed through the date of divorce”).

(e)A court order directed at a phased retirement annuity or a composite retirement annuity cannot limit the computation and division of a phased retirement annuity or composite retirement annuity to a particular period of employment or service. A phased retirement annuity is based on an employee's service as of phased retirement and a “fully retired phased component,” described in §§ 831.1742 and 848.502, of a composite retirement annuity is based on a phased retiree's service as of his or her full retirement. A court order that attempts to limit the computation of a phased retirement annuity or a composite retirement annuity to a particular period of employment or service is not a court order acceptable for processing. If the former spouse's award of a portion of phased retirement annuity or a composite retirement annuity is to be limited, the limitation of the division must be accomplished in a manner other than by limiting the service to be used in the computation.

838.624Distinguishing between formulas and fixed amounts.#

(a)A court order that contains both a formula or percentage instruction and a dollar amount is deemed to include the dollar amount only as the court's estimate of the initial amount of payment. The formula or percentage instruction controls.

(b)A court order that awards a portion of the “present value” of an employee annuity and specifically states the amount of either the “present value” of the employee annuity or of the award is deemed to give the former spouse “a specific dollar amount” that is payable from a monthly employee annuity and will be paid as a lump-sum award in accordance with § 838.235.

838.625Types of annuity.#

(a)Terms that are synonymous with net annuity are—

(1)Disposable annuity; and

(2)Retirement check.

(b)Terms that are synonymous with self-only annuity are—

(1)Life rate annuity;

(2)Unreduced annuity; and

(3)Annuity without survivor benefit.

(c)All court orders that do not specify net annuity or self-only annuity apply to gross annuity.

Subpart G · Subpart G—Procedures for Processing Court Orders Awarding Former Spouse Survivor Annuities

838.701Purpose and scope.#

(a)This subpart regulates the procedures that the Office of Personnel Management will follow upon the receipt of claims arising out of State court orders awarding former spouse survivor annuities under CSRS or FERS (including the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in § 843.102 of this chapter). OPM must comply with qualifying court orders, decrees, or court-approved property settlements in connection with divorces, annulments of marriages, or legal separations of employees or retirees that award former spouse survivor annuities.

(b)This subpart prescribes—

(1)The commencing and terminating dates of former spouse survivor annuities based on court orders acceptable for processing; and

(2)The procedures that a former spouse must follow when applying for a former spouse survivor annuity based on a court order under section 8341(h) or section 8445 of title 5, United States Code.

(c)(1) Subpart H of this part contains the rules that a court order must satisfy to be a court order acceptable for processing to award a former spouse survivor annuity.

(2)Subpart I of this part contains definitions that OPM uses to determine the effect of a court order in connection with a former spouse survivor annuity.

838.711Maximum former spouse survivor annuity.#

(a)Under CSRS, payments under a court order may not exceed the amount provided in § 831.641 of this chapter.

(b)Under FERS, payments under a court order may not exceed amount provided in § 842.613 of this chapter plus the basic employee death benefit as defined in § 843.102 of this chapter.

838.721Application requirements.#

(a)(1) A former spouse (personally or through a representative) must apply in writing to be eligible for a former spouse survivor annuity based on a court order acceptable for processing. No special form is required to give OPM notice of the court order.

(2)OPM may require an additional application after the death of the employee, separated employee, or retiree. This additional application will be on a form prescribed by OPM.

(b)(1) The application letter under paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be accompanied by—

(i)A certified copy of the court order;

(ii)A certification from the former spouse or the former spouse's representative that the court order is currently in force and has not been amended, superseded, or set aside;

(iii)Information sufficient for OPM to identify the employee or retiree, such as his or her full name, CSRS or FERS claim number, date of birth, and social security number;

(iv)The current mailing address of the former spouse;

(v)If the employee has not retired or died, the mailing address of the employee; and

(vi)A statement in the form prescribed by OPM certifying—

(A)That the former spouse has not remarried before age 55;

(B)That the former spouse will notify OPM within 15 calendar days of the occurrence of any remarriage before age 55; and

(C)That the former spouse will be personally liable for any overpayment to him or her resulting from a remarriage before age 55.

(2)OPM may subsequently require recertification of the statements required by this paragraph.

838.722OPM action on receipt of a court order acceptable for processing.#

(a)If OPM receives a court order acceptable for processing that awards a former spouse survivor annuity based on the service of a living retiree, OPM will inform—

(1)The former spouse—

(i)That the court order is acceptable for processing;

(ii)Of the date on which OPM received the court order; and

(iii)Of the present amount of the monthly former spouse survivor annuity if the retiree were to die immediately and the formula OPM used to compute the monthly benefit; and

(2)The retiree—

(i)That the former spouse has applied for benefits under this subpart;

(ii)That the court order is acceptable for processing and that OPM must comply with the court order;

(iii)Of the date on which OPM received the court order;

(iv)Of the amount and commencing date of the reduction in the retiree's annuity;

(v)Of the present amount of the monthly former spouse survivor annuity if the retiree were to die immediately and the formula OPM used to compute the amount of the former spouse survivor annuity; and

(vi)That, if he or she contests the validity of the court order, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, a court order invalidating the court order submitted by the former spouse.

(b)If OPM receives a court order acceptable for processing that awards a former spouse survivor annuity, but the employee, separated employee, or retiree has died, OPM will inform—

(1)The former spouse—

(i)That the court order is acceptable for processing;

(ii)Of the date on which OPM received the court order, the date on which the former spouse's benefit will begin to accrue, and if known the date on which OPM will commence payment under the court order; and

(iii)Of the amount on the monthly former spouse survivor annuity and the formula OPM used to compute the former spouse survivor annuity.

(2)Anyone whom OPM knows will be adversely affected by the court order—

(i)That the former spouse has applied for benefits under this subpart;

(ii)That the court order is acceptable for processing and that OPM must comply with the court order;

(iii)Of the date on which OPM received the court order;

(iv)How the court order may adversely affect him or her; and

(v)That, if he or she contests the validity of the court order, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, a court order invalidating the court order submitted by the former spouse.

(c)If OPM receives a court order acceptable for processing that awards a former spouse survivor annuity and the employee or separated employee has not retired or died, OPM will attempt to inform—

(1)The former spouse—

(i)That the court order is acceptable for processing;

(ii)To the extent possible, the formula that OPM will use to compute the former spouse survivor annuity (including the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in § 843.102 of this chapter, if applicable); and

(iii)That, if he or she disagrees with the formula, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, an amended court order clarifying the amount before the employee or separated employee retires or dies; and

(2)The employee or separated employee—

(i)That the former spouse has applied for benefits under this subpart;

(ii)That the court order is acceptable for processing and the OPM must comply with the court order;

(iii)To the extent possible, the formula that OPM will use to compute the former spouse survivor annuity (including the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in § 843.102 of this chapter, if applicable); and

(iv)That, if he or she—

(A)Contests the validity of the court order, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, a court order invalidating the court order submitted by the former spouse; or

(B)Disagrees with the formula, he or she must obtain, and submit to OPM, an amended court order clarifying the amount before he or she retires or dies.

(d)The failure of OPM to provide, or of the employee, separated employee, or retiree, the former spouse, or anyone else to receive, the information specified in this section does not affect—

(1)The validity of payment under the court order; or

(2)The commencing date of the reduction in the employee annuity or the commencing date of the former spouse's entitlement as determined under § 838.731.

838.723OPM action on receipt of a court order not acceptable for processing.#

If OPM receives an application from a former spouse not based on a court order acceptable for processing, OPM will inform the former spouse that OPM cannot approve the application and provide the specific reason(s) for disapproving the application. Examples of reasons for disapproving an application include that the order does not meet the definition of court order in § 838.103 or does not meet one or more of the requirements of subpart H of this part.

838.724Contesting the validity of court orders.#

(a)An employee, retiree or person adversely affected by a court order who alleges that a court order is invalid must prove the invalidity of the court order by submitting to OPM a court order that—

(1)Declares invalid the court order submitted by the former spouse; or

(2)Sets aside the court order submitted by the former spouse.

(b)OPM must honor a court order acceptable for processing that appears to be valid and that the former spouse has certified is currently in force and has not been amended, superseded, or set aside, until the employee, separated employee, retiree, or person adversely affected by the court order submits to OPM a court order described in paragraph (a) of this section or, if issued before the retirement or death of the employee or separated employee, a court order acceptable for processing amending or superseding the court order submitted by the former spouse.

838.725Effect on employee and retiree election rights.#

(a)A court order acceptable for processing that awards a former spouse survivor annuity does not affect a retiring employee's or retiree's rights and obligations to make survivor elections under subpart F of part 831 of this chapter or subpart F of part 842 of this chapter.

(b)A court order acceptable for processing that awards a former spouse survivor annuity requires OPM to pay a former spouse survivor annuity and prevents OPM from paying an elected survivor benefit to a widow or widower or another former spouse if the election is inconsistent with the court order.

838.731Commencing date of payments.#

(a)A former spouse survivor annuity based on a court order acceptable for processing begins to accrue in accordance with the terms of the court order but no earlier than the later of—

(1)The first day after the date of death of the employee, separated employee, or retiree; or

(2)The first day of the second month after OPM receives a copy of the court order acceptable for processing.

(b)OPM will not authorize payment of the former spouse survivor annuity until it receives an application and supporting documentation required under § 838.721.

838.732Termination of entitlement.#

(a)A former spouse survivor annuity (other than the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in § 843.102 of this chapter) or the right to a future former spouse survivor annuity based on a court order acceptable for processing terminates in accordance with the terms of the court order but no later than the last day of the month before the former spouse remarries before age 55 or dies.

(b)If the employee dies before the former spouse remarries before age 55 or dies, the former spouse's entitlement to the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in § 843.102 of this chapter based on a court order acceptable for processing terminates in accordance with the terms of the court order.

838.733Rights of current and other former spouses after termination of a former spouse's entitlement.#

(a)If a former spouse of a retiree loses entitlement to a former spouse survivor annuity based on a court order acceptable for processing while the retiree is living and—

(1)If court orders acceptable for processing award former spouse survivor annuities to other former spouses, OPM will continue the reduction to comply with court orders in the order specified in § 838.135;

(2)If paragraph (a)(1) of this section does not obligate the entire entitlement lost by he former spouse, OPM will continue the reduction to provide a current spouse survivor annuity or a former spouse survivor annuity based on a timely-filed election under § 831.611, § 831.612, § 831.631, § 831.632, § 842.603, § 842.604, § 842.611, or § 842.612 of this chapter; or

(3)If paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section do not obligate the entire entitlement lost by the former spouse, the retiree (except a retiree under CSRS who retired before May 7, 1985 and who remarried before February 27, 1986) may elect within 2 years after the former spouse loses entitlement to continue the reduction to provide a survivor annuity for a spouse acquired after retirement.

(b)(1) If a former spouse of an employee or retiree loses entitlement to a former spouse survivor annuity based on a court order acceptable for processing after the death of the employee or retiree and—

(c)OPM will not authorize payment of the former spouse survivor annuity until it receives an application and supporting documentation required under § 838.721.

(i)The former spouse survivor annuity based on paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section begins to accrue in accordance with the terms of the court order but no earlier than the later of—

(A)The first day of the month in which the former spouse with the earlier-issued court order loses entitlement; or

(B)The first day of the second month after OPM receives a copy of the court order acceptable for processing; or

(ii)The current spouse annuity under paragraph (b)(1) (ii) of this section begins to accrue on the first day of the month in which the former spouse loses entitlement.

(A)Retiree who had elected a reduced annuity to provide a current spouse annuity (as defined in § 831.603 or § 842.602); or

(B)Employee.

(2)Except as provided in § 838.734—

838.734Payment of lump-sum awards by survivor annuity.#

OPM will not honor court orders awarding lump-sum payments (other than the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in § 843.102 of this chapter) to a former spouse upon the death of an employee or retiree.

838.735Cost-of-living adjustments.#

(a)OPM applies cost-of-living adjustments to all former spouse survivor annuities in pay status at the time of the adjustment and in the amount provided by Federal statute.

(b)OPM will not honor provisions of a court order that alters the time or amount of cost-of-living adjustments or that attempts to prevent OPM from applying cost-of-living adjustments to a former spouse survivor annuity in pay status.

Subpart H · Subpart H—Requirements for Court Orders Awarding Former Spouse Survivor Annuities

838.801Purpose and scope.#

This subpart regulates the requirements that a court order awarding a former spouse survivor annuity must meet to be a court order acceptable for processing.

838.802CSRS limitations.#

(a)A court order awarding a former spouse survivor annuity under CSRS is not a court order acceptable for processing unless the marriage terminated on or after May 7, 1985.

(b)In the case of a retiree who retired under CSRS before May 7, 1985, a court order awarding a former spouse survivor annuity under CSRS is not a court order acceptable for processing unless the retiree was receiving a reduced annuity to provide a survivor annuity to benefit that spouse on May 7, 1985.

838.803Language not acceptable for processing.#

(2)When a court order is required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section to state that the provisions of a court order concerning CSRS or FERS benefits are governed by this part the court order must—

(i)Expressly refer to part 838 of Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, and

(ii)Expressly state that the provisions of the court order concerning CSRS or FERS benefits are drafted in accordance with the terminology used in this part.

(3)Although any language satisfying the requirement of paragraph (a) (2) of this section is sufficient to prevent a court order from being unacceptable under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, OPM recommends the use of the language provided in ¶ 001 in appendix A to subpart F of this part to state that the provisions of the court order concerning CSRS or FERS benefits are governed by this part.

(b)Employee annuity cannot continue after the death of the retiree. Any court order that provides that the former spouse's portion of the employee annuity shall continue after the death of the employee or retiree, by using language such as “will continue to receive benefits after the death of” the employee, that the former spouse “will continue to receive benefits for his (or her) lifetime,” or “that benefits will continue after the death of” the employee, but does not use terms such as “survivor annuity,” “death benefits,” “former spouse annuity,” or similar terms is not a court order acceptable for processing.

(c)A court order that attempts to award a former spouse survivor annuity based on a phased retirement annuity or to reduce a phased retirement annuity to provide survivor benefits is not a court order acceptable for processing.

838.804Court orders must expressly award a former spouse survivor annuity or expressly direct an employee or retiree to elect to provide a former spouse survivor annuity.#

(a)A court order awarding a former spouse survivor annuity is not a court order acceptable for processing unless it expressly awards a former spouse survivor annuity or expressly directs an employee or retiree to elect to provide a former spouse survivor annuity as described in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b)To expressly award a former spouse survivor annuity or expressly direct an employee or retiree to elect to provide a former spouse survivor annuity as required by paragraph (a) of this section the court order must—

(1)Identify the retirement system using terms that are sufficient to identify the retirement system as explained in § 838.911; and

(2)(i) Expressly state that the former spouse is entitled to a former spouse survivor annuity using terms that are sufficient to identify the survivor annuity as explained in § 838.912; or

(ii)Expressly direct the retiree to elect to provide a former spouse survivor annuity using terms that are sufficient to identify the survivor annuity as explained in § 838.912.

838.805OPM computation of formulas in computing the designated base.#

(a)A court order awarding a former spouse survivor annuity is not a court order acceptable for processing unless the court order provides sufficient instructions and information so that OPM can determine the amount of the former spouse's monthly benefit using only the express language of the court order, subparts A, G and I of this part, and information from normal OPM files.

(b)To provide sufficient instructions and information for OPM to compute the amount of a former spouse survivor annuity as required by paragraph (a) of this section, if the court order uses a formula to determine the former spouse survivor annuity, it must not use any variables whose values are not readily ascertainable from the face of the court order or normal OPM files.

(c)A court order awarding a former spouse survivor annuity is not a court order acceptable for processing if OPM would have to examine a State statute or court decision (on a different case) to understand, establish, or evaluate the formula for computing the former spouse survivor annuity.

838.806Amended court orders.#

(a)A court order awarding a former spouse survivor annuity is not a court order acceptable for processing if it is issued after the date of retirement or death of the employee and modifies or replaces the first order dividing the marital property of the employee or retiree and the former spouse.

(b)For purposes of awarding, increasing, reducing, or eliminating a former spouse survivor annuity, or explaining, interpreting, or clarifying a court order that awards, increases, reduces or eliminates a former spouse survivor annuity, the court order must be—

(1)Issued on a day prior to the date of retirement or date of death of the employee; or

(2)The first order dividing the marital property of the retiree and the former spouse.

(c)A court order that awards a former spouse survivor annuity and that is issued after the first order dividing the marital property of the retiree and the former spouse has been vacated, set aside, or otherwise declared invalid is not a court order acceptable for processing if—

(1)It is issued after the date of retirement or death of the retiree;

(2)It changes any provision concerning a former spouse survivor annuity in the court order that was vacated, set aside or otherwise declared invalid; and

(3)(i) The court order is effective prior to the date when it is issued; or

(d)In this section, “date of retirement” means the later of—

(1)The date that the employee files an application for retirement; or

(2)The effective commencing date for the employee's annuity other than the commencing date of a phased retirement annuity.

(e)In this section, “issued” means actually filed with the clerk of the court, and does not mean the effective date of a retroactive court order that is effective prior to the date when actually filed with the clerk of the court (e.g., a court order issued nunc pro tunc).

(f)(1) In this section, the “first order dividing the marital property of the retiree and the former spouse” means—

(i)The original written order that first ends (or first documents an oral order ending) the marriage if the court divides any marital property (or approves a property settlement agreement that divides any marital property) in that order, or in any order issued before that order); or

(ii)The original written order issued after the marriage has been terminated in which the court first divides any marital property (or first approves a property settlement agreement that divides any marital property) if no marital property has been divided prior to the issuance of that order.

(2)The first order dividing marital property does not include—

(i)Any court order that amends, explains, clarifies, or interprets the original written order regardless of the effective date of the court order making the amendment, explanation, clarification, or interpretation; or

(ii)Any court order issued under reserved jurisdiction or any other court order issued subsequent to the original written order that divide any marital property regardless of the effective date of the court order.

838.807Cost must be paid by annuity reduction.#

(a)A court order awarding a former spouse survivor annuity is not a court order acceptable for processing unless it permits OPM to collect the annuity reduction required by 5 U.S.C. 8339(j)(4) or 8419 from annuity paid by OPM to a retiree. OPM will not honor a court order that provides for the retiree or former spouse to pay OPM the amount of the annuity reduction by any other means.

(b)The amount of the annuity reduction required by section 8339(j)(4) or section 8419 of title 5, United States Code, may be paid—

(1)By reduction of the former spouse's entitlement under a court order acceptable for processing that is directed at employee annuity payable to a retiree;

(2)By reduction of the employee annuity payable to a retiree; or

(3)By actuarial reduction of the former spouse survivor annuity in the event the reduction of the employee annuity is not made for any reason prior to the death of the annuitant.

(c)Unless the court order otherwise directs, OPM will collect the annuity reduction required by 5 U.S.C. 8339(j)(4) or 8419 from the employee annuity payable to a retiree.

Subpart I · Subpart I—Terminology Used in Court Orders Awarding Former Spouse Survivor Annuities

838.901Purpose and scope.#

(a)This subpart regulates the meaning of terms necessary to award a former spouse survivor annuity in a court order, and for OPM to determine whether a court order awarding a former spouse survivor annuity is a court order acceptable for processing and the amount of the former spouse survivor annuity.

(b)(1) This subpart establishes a uniform meaning to be used for terms and phrases frequently used in awarding a former spouse survivor annuity.

(2)This subpart informs the legal community about the definition to be applied to terms used in court orders, to permit the resulting orders to be more carefully drafted, using the proper language to accomplish the aims of the court.

838.911Identifying the retirement system.#

(a)To satisfy the requirements of § 838.804(b)(1), a court order must contain language identifying the retirement system affected. For example, “CSRS,” “FERS,” “OPM,” or “Federal Government” survivor benefits, or “survivor benefits payable based on service with the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” etc., are sufficient identification of the retirement system.

(b)Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section, language referring to benefits under another retirement system, such as military retired pay, Foreign Service retirement benefits and Central Intelligence Agency retirement benefits, does not satisfy the requirements of § 838.804(b)(1).

(1)A court order that mistakenly labels CSRS benefits as FERS benefits and vice versa satisfies the requirements of § 838.804(b)(1).

(2)Unless the court order expressly provides otherwise, for employees transferring to FERS, court orders directed at CSRS benefits apply to this entire FERS basic benefit, including the CSRS component, if any. Such a court order satisfies the requirements of § 838.804(b)(1).

(c)A court order affecting military retired pay, even when military retired pay has been waived for inclusion in CSRS annuities, does not award a former spouse survivor annuity under CSRS or FERS. Such a court order does not satisfy the requirements of § 838.804(b)(1).

(d)A court order that requires an employee or retiree to maintain survivor benefits covering the former spouse satisfies the requirements of § 838.804(b)(1), if the former spouse was covered by a CSRS or FERS survivor annuity or the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in § 843.102 of this chapter at the time of the divorce.

838.912Specifying an award of a former spouse survivor annuity.#

(a)To satisfy the requirements of § 838.804(b)(2), a court order must specify that it is awarding a former spouse survivor annuity. The court order must contain language such as “survivor annuity,” “death benefits,” “former spouse survivor annuity under 5 U.S.C. 8341(h)(1),” etc.

(b)(1) A court order that provides that the former spouse is to “continue as” or “be named as” the beneficiary of CSRS survivor benefits or similar language satisfies the requirements of § 838.804(b)(2).

(2)A court order that requires an employee or retiree to maintain survivor benefits covering the former spouse satisfies the requirements of § 838.804(b)(2), if the former spouse was covered by a CSRS or FERS survivor annuity or the FERS basic employee death benefit as defined in § 843.102 of this chapter at the time of the divorce.

(c)Two types of potential survivor annuities may be provided by retiring employees to cover former spouses. Under CSRS, section 8341(h) of title 5, United States Code, provides for “former spouse survivor annuities” and section 8339(k) of title 5, United States Code, provides for “insurable interest annuities.” These are distinct benefits, each with its own advantages. The corresponding FERS provisions are sections 8445 and 8444, respectively.

(1)OPM will enforce court orders to provide section 8341(h) or section 8445 annuities. These annuities are less expensive and have fewer restrictions than insurable interest annuities but the former spouse's interest will automatically terminate upon remarriage before age 55. To provide a section 8341(h) or section 8445 annuity, the court order must use terms such as “former spouse survivor annuity,” “section 8341(h) annuity,” or “survivor annuity.”

(2)OPM cannot enforce court orders to provide “insurable interest annuities” under section 8339(k) or section 8444. These annuities may only be elected at the time of retirement by a retiring employee who is not retiring under the disability provision of the law and who is in good health. The retirees may also elect to cancel the insurable interest annuity to provide a survivor annuity for a spouse acquired after retirement. The parties might seek to provide this type of annuity interest if the nonemployee spouse expects to remarry before age 55, if the employee expects to remarry a younger second spouse before retirement or if another former spouse has already been awarded a section 8341(h) annuity. However, the court will have to provide its own remedy if the employee is not eligible for or does not make the election. OPM cannot enforce the court order. Language including the words “insurable interest” or referring to section 8339(k) or section 8444 does not satisfy the requirements of § 838.804(b)(2).

(3)In court orders which contain internal contradictions about the type of annuity, such as “insurable interest annuity under section 8341(h),” the section reference will control.

838.921Determining the amount of a former spouse survivor annuity.#

(a)A court order that contains no provision stating the amount of the former spouse survivor annuity provides the maximum former spouse survivor annuity permitted under § 831.641 or § 842.613 of this chapter and satisfies the requirements of § 838.805.

(b)(1) A court order that provides that “a former spouse will keep” or “an employee or retiree will maintain” the survivor annuity to which he or she was entitled at the time of the divorce satisfies the requirements of § 838.805 and provides a former spouse survivor annuity in the same proportion to the maximum survivor annuity under § 831.641 or § 842.613 of this chapter as the former spouse had at the time of divorce. For example, a former spouse of an employee would be entitled to a maximum survivor benefit; a former spouse of a retiree (who was married to the retiree at retirement and continuously until the divorce resulting in the court order) would be entitled to the survivor benefit elected at retirement.

(2)If, at the time of divorce, the employee covered by FERS had at least 18 months of civilian service creditable under FERS but less than 10 years of service creditable under FERS, a former spouse with a court order described in paragraph (b)(1) or paragraph (b)(2) of this section may be entitled to the basic employee death benefit as defined in § 843.102 of this chapter, but is not entitled to any other former spouse survivor annuity based on the court order.

(c)(1) A court order that awards a former spouse survivor annuity of less than $12 per year satisfies the requirements of § 838.805 and provides an initial rate of $1 per month plus all cost-of-living increases occurring after the later of—

(d)(1) A court order that awards a former spouse survivor annuity while authorizing the employee or retiree to elect a lesser former spouse survivor annuity upon the employee's or retiree's remarriage satisfies the requirements of § 838.805, and provides the former spouse survivor annuity at the rate initially provided in the court order but does not allow the employee or retiree to elect a lesser benefit for the former spouse.

(2)To provide full survivor annuity benefits to a former spouse while authorizing the employee or retiree to elect a lesser former spouse survivor annuity benefit in order to provide survivor annuity benefits for a subsequent spouse, the court order must provide for a reduction in the former spouse survivor annuity upon the employee's or retiree's election of survivor annuity benefits for a subsequent spouse.

(3)A reduction in the amount of survivor benefits provided to the former spouse does not satisfy the requirements of § 838.805 if it is contingent upon the employee's or annuitant's remarriage rather than his or her election of survivor annuity benefits for a subsequent spouse.

(i)The date of the court order; or

(ii)The date when the employee retires.

(2)The reduction in the employee annuity will be computed as though the court order provided a former spouse survivor annuity of $1 per month.

838.922Prorata share defined.#

(a)Prorata share means the fraction of the maximum survivor annuity allowable under § 831.641 or § 842.613 of this chapter whose numerator is the number of months of Federal civilian and military service that the employee performed during the marriage and whose denominator is the total number of months of Federal civilian and military service performed by the employee.

(b)A court order that awards a former spouse a “prorata share” of a survivor annuity by using that term and identifying the date when the marriage began satisfies the requirements of § 838.805 and awards the former spouse a former spouse survivor annuity equal to the prorata share as defined in paragraph (a) of this section.

(c)A court order that awards a portion of a survivor annuity, as of a specified date before the employee's retirement, awards the former spouse a former spouse survivor annuity equal to the prorata share as defined in paragraph (a) of this section.

(d)A court order that awards a portion of the “value” of a survivor annuity as of a specific date before retirement, without specifying what “value” is, awards the former spouse a former spouse survivor annuity equal to a prorata share as defined in paragraph (a) of this section.

838.923Cost-of-living adjustment before the death of a retiree.#

A court order that awards a former spouse survivor annuity is deemed to order OPM to add to the survivor annuity rate cost-of-living adjustments that occur before the death of a retiree (in the same manner as these adjustments are applied to the survivor rate generally) unless the court order contains an instruction expressly directing OPM not to add these adjustments to the survivor annuity rate. (See § 838.735 for information concerning cost-of-living adjustments after the death of an employee or retiree.)

838.931Court orders that provide temporary awards of former spouse survivor annuities.#

A provision in a court order that temporarily awards a former spouse survivor annuity satisfies the requirements of § 838.804(b)(2), but the temporary award becomes permanent on the date on which OPM is barred from honoring a modification of the court order (the date of retirement or death, or, in the case of a post-retirement divorce, the date of the initial court order), as provided in sections 8341(h)(4) and 8445(d) of title 5, United States Code.

838.932Court orders that permit the former spouse to elect to receive a former spouse survivor annuity.#

(a)Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a court order that gives the former spouse the right to elect a former spouse survivor annuity satisfies the requirements of § 838.804(b)(2) and provides a former spouse survivor annuity in the amount otherwise provided by the court order.

(b)A former spouse who has been awarded a former spouse survivor annuity by a court order that gives the former spouse the right to elect a former spouse survivor annuity may irrevocably elect not to be eligible for a former spouse survivor annuity based on the court order.

(c)The former spouse may make the election under paragraph (b) of this section at any time after the issuance of the court order. An election under paragraph (b) of this section—

(1)Must be in writing and in the form prescribed by OPM;

(2)Is effective on the first day of the month following the month in which OPM received the election; and

(3)Is irrevocable once it has become effective.

(d)The reduction in an employee annuity based on a court order that gives the former spouse the right to elect a former spouse survivor annuity terminates on the last day of the month in which OPM receives the former spouse's election under paragraph (b) of this section.

838.933Payment of the cost of a former spouse survivor annuity.#

(a)A court order that unequivocally awards a former spouse survivor annuity and directs the former spouse to pay for that benefit satisfies the requirements of § 838.805, and—

(1)If the former spouse has also been awarded a portion of the employee annuity then the cost of the survivor benefit will be deducted from the former spouse's share of the employee annuity (if sufficient to cover the total cost—there will be no partial withholding); otherwise,

(2)The reduction will be taken from the employee annuity and collection from the former spouse will be a private matter between the parties.

(b)a court order that conditions the award of a former spouse survivor annuity on the former spouse's payment of the cost of the benefit satisfies the requirements of § 838.805 only if a court order acceptable for processing also awards the former spouse a portion of the employee annuity sufficient to cover the cost.

Subpart J · Subpart J—Court Orders Affecting Civil Service Retirement Benefits

838.1001[Reserved]#

838.1002Relation to other regulations.#

(a)Part 581 of this chapter contains information about garnishment of Government payments including salaries and civil service retirement benefits.

(b)Parts 294 and 297 of this chapter and § 831.106 of this chapter contain information about disclosure of information from OPM records.

(c)Subpart F of part 831 of this chapter, subpart F of part 842 of this chapter, and subpart C of part 843 of this chapter contain information about entitlement to survivor annuities.

(d)Subpart T of part 831 of this chapter and subpart B of part 843 of this chapter contain information about entitlement to lump-sum death benefits.

(e)Parts 870, 871, 872, and 873 of this chapter contain information about coverage under the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program.

(f)Part 890 of this chapter contains information about coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

(g)Section 831.109 of this chapter contains information about the administrative review rights available to a person who has been adversely affected by an OPM action under this subpart.

838.1003Definitions.#

In this subpart: Associate Director means the Associate Director for Retirement and Insurance in the OPM or an OPM official authorized to act on his or her behalf. Court order means any judgment or property settlement issued by or approved by any court of any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands, and any Indian court in connection with, or incident to, the divorce, annulment of marriage, or legal separation of a Federal employee or retiree. CSRS means subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code. Employee retirement benefits means employees' and Members' annuities and refunds of retirement contributions but does not include survivor annuities or lump-sum payments made pursuant to section 8342 (c) through (f) of title 5, United States Code. Former spouse means (1) in connection with a court order affecting employee retirement benefits, a living person whose marriage to an employee, Member, or retiree has been subject to a divorce, annulment, or legal separation resulting in a court order; or (2) in connection with a court order awarding a former spouse annuity, a living person who was married for at least 9 months to an employee, Member, or retiree who performed at least 18 months of creditable service in a position covered by CSRS and whose marriage to the employee was terminated prior to the death of the employee, Member, or retiree. Former spouse annuity means a former spouse annuity as defined in § 831.603 of this chapter. Gross annuity means the amount of a self-only annuity less only applicable survivor reduction, but before any other deduction. Member means a Member of Congress. Net annuity means the amount of annuity payable after deducting from the gross annuity any amounts that are (1) owed by the retiree to the United States, (2) deducted for health benefits premiums pursuant to section 8906 of title 5, United States Code, and §§ 891.401 and 891.402 of this title, (3) deducted for life insurance premiums pursuant to section 8714a(d) of title 5, United States Code, (4) deducted for Medicare premiums, or (5) properly withheld for Federal income tax purposes, if amounts withheld are not greater than they would be if the individual claimed all dependents to which he or she was entitled. Qualifying court order means a court order that meets the requirements of § 838.1004. Retiree means a former employee or Member who is receiving recurring payments under CSRS based on service by the employee or Member. Retiree, as used in the subpart, does not include a current spouse, former spouse, child or person with an insurable interest. Self-only annuity means the recurring payment to a retiree who has elected not to provide a survivor annuity to anyone.

838.1004Qualifying court orders.#

(a)A former spouse is entitled to a portion of an employee's retirement benefits only to the extent that the division of retirement benefits is expressly provided for by the court order. The court order must divide employee retirement benefits, award a payment from employee retirement benefits, or award a former spouse annuity.

(b)The court order must state the former spouse's share as a fixed amount, a percentage or a fraction of the annuity, or by a formula that does not contain any variables whose value is not readily ascertainable from the face of the order or normal OPM files.

(c)(1) For purposes of payments from employee retirement benefits, OPM will review court orders as a whole to determine whether the language of the order shows an intent by the court that the former spouse should receive a portion of the employee's retirement benefits directly from the United States.

(d)For purposes of affecting or awarding a former spouse annuity, a court order is not a qualifying court order whenever—

(1)The marriage was terminated before May 7, 1985; or

(2)(i) The marriage was terminated on or after May 7, 1985; and

(e)(1) For purposes of awarding, increasing, reducing, or eliminating a former spouse survivor annuity, or explaining, interpreting, or clarifying a court order that awards, increases, reduces or eliminates a former spouse annuity, the court order must be—

(i)Issued on a day prior to the date of retirement or date of death of the employee; or

(ii)The first order dividing marital property does not include—

(2)In paragraph (e)(1) of this section, “date of retirement” means the later of—

(i)The date that the employee files an application for retirement; or

(ii)The effective commencing date for the employee's annuity.

(3)In paragraphs (e)(1) and (e)(4) of this section “issued” means actually filed with the clerk of the court, and does not mean the effective date of a retroactive court order that is effective prior to the date when actually filed with the clerk of the court (e.g., a court order issued nunc pro tunc).

(4)(i) In paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this section, the “first order dividing the marital property of the retiree and the former spouse” means—

(A)The original written order that first ends (or first documents an oral order ending) the marriage if the court divides any marital property (or approves a property settlement agreement that divides any marital property) in that order, or in any order issued before that order; or

(B)The original written order issued after the marriage has been terminated in which the court first divides any marital property (or first approves a property settlement agreement that divides any marital property) if no marital property has been divided prior to the issuance of that order.

(A)Any court order that amends, explains, clarifies, or interprets the original written order regardless of the effective date of the court order making the amendment, explanation, clarification, or interpretation; or

(B)Any court order issued under reserved jurisdiction or any other court orders issued subsequent to the original written order that divide any marital property regardless of the effective date of the court order.

(iii)(A) The employee or Member had elected not to provide a current spouse annuity for that spouse at the time of retirement; or,

(B)In the case of a post-retirement marriage, the annuitant had not elected to provide a survivor annuity for that spouse before May 7, 1985.

838.1005Applications by former spouse.#

(a)A former spouse (personally or through a representative) must apply in writing to be eligible for benefits under this subpart. No special form is required.

(b)The application letter must be accompanied by—

(1)A certified copy of the court order granting benefits under CSRS; and

(2)A statement that the court order has not been amended, superseded, or set aside; and

(3)Identifying information concerning the employee, Member, or retiree such as his or her full name, claim number, date of birth, and social security number, if available; and

(4)The mailing address of the former spouse.

(c)When payments are subject to termination upon remarriage, no payment shall be made until the former spouse submits to the Associate Director a statement on the form prescribed by OPM certifying—

(1)That a remarriage has not occurred; and

(2)That the former spouse will notify the Associate Director within 15 calendar days of the occurrence of any remarriage; and

(3)That the former spouse will be personally liable for any overpayment to him or her resulting from a remarriage. The Associate Director may subsequently require recertification of these statements.

838.1006Amounts payable.#

(a)Money held by an executive agency or OPM that may be payable at some future date is not available for payment under court orders unless all of the conditions necessary for payment of the money to the former employee or Member have been met, including, but not limited to—

(1)Separation from a covered position in the Federal service; and

(2)Application for payment of the money by the former employee or Member; and

(3)The former employee's or Member's immediate entitlement to payment of the money subject to the order.

(b)Waivers of employee or Member annuity payments under the terms of section 8345(d) of title 5, United States Code, exclude the waived portion of the annuity from availability for payment under a court order if such waivers are postmarked before the expiration of the 30-day notice period provided by § 838.1008.

(c)Payment under a court order may not exceed—

(1)In cases involving employee or Member annuities, the net annuity.

(2)In cases involving lump-sum payments (refunds), the amount of the lump-sum credit.

(3)In cases involving former spouse annuities, the amount provided in § 831.641 of this chapter.

(d)In cases in which court orders award former spouse annuities—

(1)Except as provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this section, former spouse annuities based on qualifying court orders will commence and terminate in accordance with the court order.

(2)A court order will not be honored to the extent it would require an annuity to commence prior to the day after the employee, Member, or retiree dies, or the first day of the second month beginning after the date on which OPM receives written notice of the court order together with the additional information required by § 838.1005. Further, a court order will not be honored to the extent it requires an annuity to be terminated contrary to section 8341(h)(3)(B) of title 5, United States Code.

(3)A court order will not be honored to the extent is is inconsistent with any joint designation or waiver previously executed under § 831.614 of this chapter with respect to the former spouse involved.

838.1007Preliminary review.#

(a)(1) Upon receipt of a court order and documentation required by § 838.1005 affecting the future civil service retirement benefits of an employee or Member who is living and has not applied for benefits under CSRS, the Associate Director will notify the former spouse that OPM has received the court order and documentation. The court order and documentation will be filed for further review when the employee or Member dies or funds become available under § 838.1006.

(2)When OPM has received a court order and documentation required by § 838.1005 affecting an employee or Member who retires, dies, or applies for a lump-sum benefit, the Associate Director will determine whether the court order is a qualifying court order under § 838.1004.

(3)Upon receipt of a court order and necessary documentation required by § 838.1005 affecting employee retirement benefits that are available under § 838.1006 or awarding a former spouse annuity to a former spouse of an employee who retired under CSRS or died, the Associate Director will determine whether the court order is a qualifying court order under § 838.1004.

(b)Upon preliminary determination that the court order is qualifying, the Associate Director will give the notifications required by § 838.1008.

(c)Upon preliminary determination that the court order is not qualifying, the former spouse will be notified of the basis for the determination and the right to reconsideration under § 831.109 of this chapter.

838.1008Notifications.#

(a)In a case in which the court order affects employee retirement benefits:

(1)The Associate Director will notify the employee, Member, or retiree that a court order has been received that appears to require that a portion of his or her retirement benefits be paid to a former spouse and provide the employee, Member, or retiree with a copy of the court order. The notice will inform the former employee or Member—

(i)That OPM intends to honor the court order; and

(ii)Of the effect that the court order will have on the former employee or Member's retirement benefits; and

(iii)That no payments will be made to the former spouse for a period of 30 days from the notice date to enable the former employee or Member to contest the court order.

(2)The Associate Director will notify the former spouse—

(i)That OPM intends to honor the court order; and

(ii)Of the amount that the former spouse is entitled to receive under the court order, and in cases that award a portion of the benefits on a percentage basis or by a formula, how the amount was computed; and

(iii)That payment is being delayed for a period of 30 days to give the former employee or Member an opportunity to contest the court order.

(b)In a case in which the court order awards a former spouse annuity—

(1)The Associate Director will notify the retiree, if living, or, if the employee, Member, or retiree is dead, his or her surviving spouse, or the person entitled to the lump-sum death benefit under section 8342 of title 5, United States Code, if possible, that a court order has been received that requires the payment of a former spouse annuity. The notice will include a copy of the court order. The notice will state—

(i)That OPM intends to honor the court order; and

(ii)The effect it will have on the potential retirement benefit of the person receiving the notice; and

(iii)That any objection to honoring the court order must be filed within 30 days from the notice date.

(2)The former spouse will be notified—

(i)That OPM intends to honor the court order; and

(ii)Of the amount of survivor annuity that he or she will be entitled to receive and how the amount was computed; and

(iii)That anyone adversely affected has a period of 30 days in which to contest the court order.

(c)In a case in which the court order affects employee retirement benefits and awards a former spouse annuity all of the notices under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section will be provided.

838.1009Decisions.#

(a)(1) When the individual does not respond within the 30-day notice period provided for by § 838.1008, the court order will be honored in accordance with the notification.

(2)When a timely response to the notification is received, the Associate Director will consider the response. The former spouse's claim will be denied and the former spouse will be notified of the right to request reconsideration under § 831.109 of this chapter whenever is is shown that—

(i)The court order is not a qualifying court order; or

(ii)The court order is inconsistent with a contemporaneous or subsequent court order.

(b)If any person who may lose benefits if OPM honors the court order objects to payment based on the validity of the court order and the record contains reasonable support for the objection, he or she will be granted 30 days to initiate legal action to determine the validity of the objection. If funds are available under § 838.1006 and evidence is submitted that legal action had been started before the 30 days have expired, money will continue to be withheld, but no payment will be made to the former spouse pending judicial determination of the validity of the court order.

838.1010Court orders or decrees preventing payment of lump sums.#

(a)Payment of the lump-sum credit to a former employee or Member will be subject to the terms of any court order or decree issued with respect to any former spouse or to any current spouse from whom the employee or Member was legally separated, if—

(1)The court order or decree expressly relates to any portion of the lump-sum credit involved; and

(2)Payment of the lump-sum credit would extinguish entitlement of the current or former spouse to a survivor annuity under section 8341(h) of title 5, United States Code, or to any portion of an annuity under section 8345(j) of title 5, United States Code.

(b)For paragraph (a) of this section to have effect, OPM must be in receipt of the court order or decree before authorizing payment of the refund.

(c)(1) In the event that OPM receives two or more court orders or decrees—

(d)OPM is not liable for any payment made from money due from or payable by OPM to any individual pursuant to a court order or decree regular on its face, if such payment is made in accordance with this subpart.

(e)Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, a court order or decree directed at a refund of retirement contributions is not effective unless the court order or decree and supporting documentation required by § 838.1005 are received by OPM not later than—

(1)The last day of the second month before payment of the refund; or

(2)Twenty days after OPM receives the Statement required by § 831.2007(c) of this chapter if the former spouse has indicated on that Statement that such an order exists.

(f)The interests of a former spouse with a court order or decree who does not receive notice of a refund application because the former employee or Member submits fraudulent proof of notification or fraudulent proof that the former spouse's whereabouts are unknown are protected if, and only if—

(1)The former spouse files the court order or decree with OPM no later than the last day of the second month before the payment of the refund; or

(2)The former spouse submits proof that—

(i)The evidence submitted by the employee was fraudulent; and

(ii)Absent the fraud, the former spouse would have been able to submit the necessary documentation required by § 838.1005 within the time limit prescribed in paragraph (e) of this section.

(g)Court orders, notices, summons, or other documents that attempt to restrain OPM from paying refunds of retirement contributions are not effective unless they meet all the requirements of—

(1)Paragraph (a) of this section, including the requirement that the court order or decree, or a prior court order or decree, has awarded the former spouse a former spouse annuity as defined in § 831.603 of this chapter or a portion of the employee's or Member's future annuity benefit; or

(2)Part 581 of this chapter.

(i)When there are two former spouses, the court orders or decrees will be honored in the order in which they were issued until the lump-sum has been exhausted.

(ii)When there are two or more court orders or decrees relating to the same former spouse, the one issued last will be honored first.

(2)In no event will the amount paid out exceed the amount of the lump-sum credit.

838.1011Effective dates.#

(a)(1) The provisions of this subpart apply to any employee retirement benefits regardless of the date of issuance of the court order or the date when the employee or Member retires.

(2)The Associate Director will not increase the amount apportioned from current retirement benefits to satisfy an arrearage due the former spouse unless the court order states the amount of the arrearage and directs that it be paid from the employee retirement benefit. However, the Associate Director will honor the terms of a new or revised court order that either increases or decreases the former spouse's entitlement. These changes will be prospective only.

(3)Benefits payable to a former spouse from a retiree's annuity begin to accrue no earlier than the beginning of the month after receipt of a qualifying court order and the documentation required by § 838.1005, and terminate no later than the last day of the month before the death of the retiree.

(b)(1) The provisions of this subpart concerning former spouse annuities apply only with respect to a former spouse of an employee, Member, or retiree who retires or dies while employed in a position covered by CSRS on or after May 7, 1985, or a former spouse whose marriage to an employee, Member, or retiree is terminated on or after May 7, 1985, regardless of the date the employee separates from a position covered by CSRS.

(2)The survivor annuity for a former spouse commences and terminates in accordance with the court order. However, a court order will not be honored to the extent it would require an annuity to commence before—

(i)The day after the employee, Member, or retiree dies; or

(ii)The first day of the second month beginning after OPM receives the court order, together with such additional information required by § 838.1005, whichever is later. Further, a court order will not be honored to the extent it requires an annuity to be terminated contrary to section 8341(h)(3)(B) of title 5, United States Code.

838.1012Death of the former spouse.#

(a)Unless the qualifying court order expressly provides otherwise, the former spouse's share of employee retirement benefits terminates on the last day of the month before the death of the former spouse, and the former spouse's share of employee retirement benefits reverts to the retiree.

(b)Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, OPM will honor a qualifying court order or an amended qualifying court order that directs OPM to pay, after the death of the former spouse, the former spouse's share of the employee annuity to—

(1)The court;

(2)An officer of the court acting as a fiduciary;

(3)The estate of the former spouse; or

(4)One or more of the retiree's children as defined in section 8342(c) or section 8424(d) of title 5, United States Code.

838.1013Limitations.#

(a)Employee retirement benefits are subject to apportionment by court order only while the former employee or Member is living. Payment of apportioned amounts will be made only to the former spouse and/or the children of the former employee or Member. Payment will not be made to any of the following:

(1)The heirs or legatees of the former spouse; or

(2)The creditors of the former employee or Member, or the former spouse; or

(3)Other assignees of the former employee or Member, or the former spouse.

(b)The amount of payment under this subpart will not be less than one dollar and, in the absence of compelling circumstances, will be in whole dollars.

(c)In honoring and complying with a court order, the Associate Director will not disrupt the scheduled method of accruing retirement benefits or the normal timing for making such payment, despite the existence of a special schedule of accrual or payment of amounts due the former spouse.

(d)Payments from employee retirement benefits under this subpart will be discontinued whenever the retiree's annuity payments are suspended or terminated. If annuity payments to the retiree are restored, payment to the former spouse will also resume.

(e)Since the former spouse is entitled to payments from employee retirement benefits only while the former employee or Member is living, the former spouse is personally liable for any payments from employee retirement benefits received after the death of the retiree.

838.1014Guidelines on interpreting court orders.#

As circumstances require, OPM will publish in the Federal Register a notice of the guidelines it uses in interpreting court orders. Upon publication of the notice in the Federal Register of such guidelines, they will become an appendix to this subpart.

838.1015Liability.#

OPM is not liable for any payment made from employee retirement benefits pursuant to a court order if such payment is made in accordance with the provisions of this subpart.

838.1016Receipt of multiple court orders.#

In the event that OPM receives two or more qualifying court orders—

(a)When there are two or more former spouses, the court orders will be honored in the order in which they were issued to the maximum extent possible under §§ 831.641 of this chapter and 838.1006.

(b)Where there are two or more court orders relating to the same former spouse, the one issued last will be honored.

838.1017Cost-of-living adjustments.#

In cases where the court order apportions a percentage of the employee retirement benefit, the Associate Director will initially determine the amount of proper payment. That amount will be increased by future cost-of-living increases unless the court directs otherwise.

838.1018Settlements.#

The former spouse may request that an amount be withheld from the retirement benefits that is less than the amount stipulated in the court order. This lower amount will be deemed a complete fulfillment of the obligation of OPM for the period in which the request is in effect.

Subpart K · Subpart K—Court Orders Under the Child Abuse Accountability Act

838.1101Purpose and scope.#

(a)This subpart regulates the procedures that the Office of Personnel Management will follow upon the receipt of claims arising out of child abuse judgment enforcement orders.

(b)This subpart prescribes—

(1)The circumstances that must occur before employee annuities or refunds of employee contributions are available to satisfy a child abuse judgment enforcement order; and

(2)The procedures that a child abuse creditor must follow when applying for a portion of an employee annuity or refund of employee contributions based on a child abuse judgment enforcement order.

838.1111Amounts subject to child abuse judgment enforcement orders.#

(a)(1) Employee annuities, other than phased retirement annuities, and refunds of employee contributions are subject to child abuse enforcement orders only if all of the conditions necessary for payment of the employee annuity or refund of employee contributions to the former employee have been met, including, but not limited to—

(b)(1) Phased retirement annuities are subject to child abuse enforcement orders only if all of the conditions necessary for payment of the phased retirement annuity to the phased retiree have been met, including, but not limited to—

(i)Entry of the employee into phased retirement status under subpart Q of part 831 of this chapter or part 848 of this chapter, respectively;

(ii)Application for payment of the phased retirement annuity by the phased retiree; and

(c)Waivers of employee annuity payments under the terms of section 8345(d) or section 8465(a) of title 5, United States Code, exclude the waived portion of the annuity from availability for payment under a child abuse judgment enforcement order if such waivers are postmarked or received before the date that OPM receives the child abuse judgment enforcement order.

(iii)The phased retiree's immediate entitlement to a phased retirement annuity.

(2)Money held by an employing agency or OPM that may be payable at some future date is not available for payment under child abuse judgment enforcement orders.

(3)OPM cannot pay a child abuse creditor a portion of a phased retirement annuity before the employee annuity begins to accrue.

838.1121Procedures and requirements.#

(a)Except as otherwise expressly provided in this part, the procedures and requirements applicable to legal process under part 581 of this chapter apply to OPM's administration of child abuse judgment enforcement orders.

(b)(1) OPM will accept for processing any legal process under part 581 of this chapter that appears valid on its face.

(2)(i) After OPM has determined that a child abuse judgment enforcement order is valid on its face, OPM will not entertain any complaint concerning the validity of the order. Such complaints must be presented to authorities having jurisdiction to review the validity of the legal process.

(c)(1) The address for service of a child abuse judgment enforcement order is provided in appendix A to subpart A of this part.

(2)(i) OPM considers service of legal process by mailing or delivery of the child abuse judgment enforcement order to the designated address appropriate service notwithstanding more formal requirements imposed on creditors under State law.

(ii)OPM will execute forms required under a State procedure to waive any right to more formal procedures for service of legal process than specified in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section.

United States Government work; public domain under 17 U.S.C. § 105.