CSRS Court Orders FERS i 

Chapter 5

Table of Contents

Subchapter 5A CSRS and FERS 

Part 5A1 General Information 

Section 5A1.1-1 Overview ........................................ 1

A. Introduction ............................................... 1

B. Requests for Advice/Information .................................. 1

C. Handbook for Attorneys ....................................... 2

D. Topics Covered ............................................. 2

E. Organization of Chapter ........................................ 3

F. Statement of Authority ........................................ 3

Part 5A2 Garnishment Orders 

Section 5A2.1-1 Definitions ....................................... 4

A. Child Support .............................................. 4

B. Alimony .................................................. 4

C. Disposable Annuity .......................................... 4

Section 5A2.1-2 Garnishment Orders ................................ 6

A. General Rule ............................................... 6

B. Restrictions on Amount to be Garnished ............................. 6

C. Payments Under a Garnishment Order .............................. 6

D. Where to File Garnishment Orders ................................. 7

Part 5A3 Child Abuse Judgment Enforcement Orders 

Section 5A3.1-1 Definitions ....................................... 8

A. Child Abuse Judgment Enforcement Order ............................ 8

B. Child Abuse Creditor ......................................... 8

C. Disposable Annuity .......................................... 8

Section 5A3.1-2 Child Abuse Judgment Enforcement Orders ................ 9

A. General .................................................. 9

B. Payments Under Child Abuse Judgment Enforcement Orders ................ 9

C. Where to File Child Abuse Judgment Enforcement Orders ................. 9

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Chapter 5

Part 5A4 Apportionment Orders 

Section 5A4.1-1 Definitions ...................................... 10

A. Self-Only Annuity .......................................... 10

B. Gross Annuity .............................................. 10

C. Net Annuity .............................................. 10

D. Former Spouse ............................................ 10

Section 5A4.1-2 Apportionment Orders .............................. 11

A. General Rule .............................................. 11

Section 5A4.1-3 Preparing an Apportionment Order ...................... 12

A. Applicability of State Law ..................................... 12

B. Which Courts Can Issue Order .................................. 12

C. Content of Order ........................................... 12

D. Maximum Benefits Payable .................................... 12

Section 5A4.1-4 Filing an Apportionment Order ......................... 13

A. General .................................................. 13

B. Application Must be in Writing ................................... 13

C. Information to Include in Application ............................... 13

D. Certification of Marital Status .................................... 14

E. OPM Address .............................................. 14

Section 5A4.1-5 Miscellaneous ..................................... 15

A. Health Benefits Coverage ....................................... 15

B. Alternative Annuity Election ..................................... 15

Part 5A5 Survivor Benefit Orders 

Section 5A5.1-1 Definitions ....................................... 16

A. Former Spouse ............................................. 16

B. Former Spouse Survivor Annuity .................................. 16

Section 5A5.1-2 Survivor Benefit Orders .............................. 17

A. General .................................................. 17

B. Which Courts Can Issue Order ................................... 17

C. Content of Order ............................................ 17

D. Which Court Orders Can Award CSRS Survivor Benefits .................. 17

E. Modification Restrictions ....................................... 18

F. Maximum Benefits Payable ..................................... 19

G. Filing the Order ............................................. 19

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS iii

Chapter 5

Section 5A5.1-3 Miscellaneous ..................................... 20

A. Health Benefits Coverage ....................................... 20

B. Alternative Annuity Election ..................................... 20

Part 5A6 Release of Information 

Section 5A6.1-1 Orders for Release of Retirement and Insurance Records ........ 21

A. General .................................................. 21

B. Where to Serve When Individual Is No Longer an Employee ................ 21

C. Where to Serve When Individual Employed by Only One Agency

 With No Break in Service ..................................... 21

D. Where to Serve When Individual Employed by More Than One Agency

 or Has a Break in Service ..................................... 21

E. Information to Include in a Court Order ............................. 21

F. OPM Address .............................................. 22

Subchapter 5B Job Aid 

Section 5B1.1-1 Order Form for Attorney's Handbook .................... 23

Order Form for Attorney's Handbook .................................. 24

Appendix -- Model Language for Use in Court Orders ........................... 25

Introduction .................................................. 25

000 Series--Special Technical Provisions ............................... 27

001 Language required in Qualified Domestic Relations Orders ................. 27

100 Series--Identification of the benefits and instructions that OPM pay the

former spouse ....................................... 28

101 Identifying retirement benefits and directing OPM to pay the former

 spouse ........................................... 28

111 Protecting a former spouse entitled to military retired pay .................. 28

200 Series--Computing the amount of the former spouse's benefit .............. 29

201 Award of a fixed monthly amount ................................. 29

202 Award of a percentage ......................................... 29

203 Award of a fraction .......................................... 29

204 Award of a prorata share ....................................... 30

211 Award based on a stated formula .................................. 30

231 Awarding COLA's on fixed monthly amounts ......................... 31

232 Excluding COLA's on awards other than fixed monthly amounts ............. 31

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Chapter 5 

300 Series--Type of annuity ....................................... 32

301 Awards based on benefits actually paid .............................. 32

311 Awards of earned annuity in cases where the actual annuity is based on disability ... 32

400 Series--Refunds of employee contributions ........................... 34

401 Barring payment of a refund of employee contributions ................... 34

402 Dividing a refund of employee contributions .......................... 34

500 Series--Death of the former spouse ................................ 35

501 Full annuity restored to the retiree ................................. 35

502 Former spouse share paid to children ............................... 35

503 Former spouse share paid to the court ............................... 35

700 Series--Computing the amount of the former spouse's benefit .............. 36

701 Award of the maximum survivor annuity ............................. 36

702 Award that continues the pre-divorce survivor annuity benefits ............... 37

703 Award of a prorata share ....................................... 37

704 Award of a fixed monthly amount ................................. 37

711 Award of a percentage or fraction of the employee annuity ................. 38

712 Award based on a stated formula as a share of employee annuity ............. 38

721 Award of a percentage or fraction of the maximum survivor annuity ........... 38

722 Award based on a stated formula as a share of maximum survivor annuity ....... 39

751 Changing amount of former spouse survivor annuity based on remarriage

 before retirement .................................... 39

752 Changing amount of former spouse survivor annuity based on remarriage

 after retirement ..................................... 39

800 Series--Paying the cost of a former spouse survivor annuity ............... 41

801 Costs to be paid from the employee annuity ........................... 41

802 Costs to be paid from former spouse's share of the employee annuity .......... 41

900 Series--Refunds of employee contributions ........................... 42

901 Barring payment of a refund of employee contributions ................... 42

902 Dividing a refund of employee contributions .......................... 42

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
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Chapter 5 

Subchapter 5A CSRS and FERS

Part 5A1 General Information

Section 5A1.1-1 Overview

A. Introduction Courts can issue orders that award benefits to legally separated spouses, 

former spouses, and children of current employees, former employees, and 

retirees under CSRS and FERS. Courts can also issue orders to collect 

amounts awarded in child abuse cases. The purpose of this Chapter is to 

provide agency personnel with general information about the different kinds 

of court orders and benefits that can be awarded, as well as guidance on 

how to respond to requests for information and assistance.

B. Requests for 

Advice/ 

Information 

Agency personnel should not attempt to advise an employee, an employee's 

spouse, or an attorney on how to draft a court order to award CSRS or 

FERS benefits. This is the task of the attorneys involved. The 

requirements that must be satisfied for OPM to honor a court order are set 

out in the law and regulations cited in this Chapter. 

NOTE: The appendix to this Chapter contains model language to use in 

court orders, and attorneys can purchase a Handbook for 

Attorneys (see paragraph C below). 

An agency's efforts to advise individuals in legal matters involving 

domestic disputes can, despite good intentions, harm more than help. 

Instead, agency personnel should provide a copy of this Chapter to any 

individual seeking help in this area. 

With regard to requests for an individual's records, agency personnel must 

consult Privacy Act rules and applicable regulations before disclosing the 

information. This may require that you consult with your agency's legal 

counsel. (See part 5A6 concerning court orders for retirement and 

insurance information.) Commonly requested information includes a 

statement of retirement system coverage, the amount of money to the 

employee's credit in the retirement fund, and an annuity estimate using the 

employee's service history to date. If an agency provides an annuity 

estimate, as agencies generally do for employees at or near retirement, it 

should clearly state that the benefit calculation is only an estimate, and is 

not binding on the Government. Agencies should not speculate about 

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2 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A1.1-1 Overview (Cont.) 

B. Requests for future promotions, program changes, or any other non-factual information, 

Advice/ and should avoid giving annuity estimates for employees who are not near 

Information retirement. Official computations are made by OPM only at the time

(Cont) benefits become payable. It is not appropriate for agency personnel to 

attempt a "present value" computation of an employee's future benefits. 

Present value computations should be prepared by a qualified private 

actuary. Such computations of the total actuarial value of retirement 

benefits require application of various economic and mortality assumptions 

and are beyond the scope of an employing agency's or OPM's 

responsibility. Also, agencies should not attempt to determine the proper 

division of benefits between the employee and spouse. 

C. Handbook for

Attorneys

Attorneys may want to order "A Handbook for Attorneys on Court-ordered 

Retirement, Health Benefits, and Life Insurance Under the Civil Service 

Retirement System, Federal Employees Retirement System, Federal 

Employees Health Benefits Program, and Federal Employees Group Life 

Insurance Program". An order form for local reproduction is included in 

Subchapter 5B. In addition to the printed text of the law and regulations, 

the Handbook includes extensive model paragraphs that can be used to draft 

orders that will meet OPM's requirements. Also included is a computer 

diskette containing the model language in several formats. 

The Handbook for Attorneys is also available on OPM Mainstreet, OPM's 

bulletin board system. > (See Chapter 1, Section 1B3.1-1 for instructions 

on downloading from the Bulletin Board.) < The telephone number is 

(202) 606-4800. 

D. Topics Covered This Chapter covers the rules and procedures that govern:

• Garnishment of Federal retirement benefits; 

• Apportionment of Federal retirement benefits; 

• Survivor benefit orders; and 

• Serving court orders on OPM and/or the employing agency. 

• Payments of amounts of Federal retirement benefits subject to child 

abuse judgment enforcement orders. 

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 3 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A1.1-1 Overview (Cont.) 

E. Organization of This Chapter has five parts.

Chapter

Part Name of Part Page 

5A1 General Information 1 

5A2 Garnishment Orders 4 

5A3 Child Abuse Judgment Enforcement Orders 8 

5A4 Apportionment Orders 10 

5A5 Survivor Benefit Orders 16 

5A6 Release of Information 21 

F. Statement of This Chapter and its contents are based on the laws and regulations cited

Authority below.

• United States Code: 5 U.S.C. 8341(h), 8342(j), 8345(j), and 8424(b); 5 

U.S.C. 8445 and 8467; 42 U.S.C. 659 et seq.; 5 U.S.C. 8905(c) 

• Code of Federal Regulations: 5 CFR Part 581; 

5 CFR 831, Subparts A, Q, and T; 5 CFR 831.106; 5 CFR 841, 

Subparts A and I, and 5 CFR 841.108; 5 CFR 890, Subpart H 

CSRS and FERS Handbook April 1998 
4 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

Part 5A2 Garnishment Orders

Section 5A2.1-1 Definitions

A. Child Support "Child support" means periodic payments of funds for the support and 

maintenance of a child or children, and, subject to and in accordance with 

State or local law, includes, but is not limited to, payments to provide for 

health care, education, recreation, clothing, or to meet other specific needs 

of the child or children. The term also includes attorney's fees, interest, 

and court costs, if they are expressly made recoverable as child support 

under a decree, order, or judgment issued in accordance with applicable 

State or local law by a court of competent jurisdiction.

B. Alimony "Alimony" means periodic payments of funds for the support and 

maintenance of a spouse or former spouse, and, subject to and in 

accordance with State or local law, includes, but is not limited to, separate 

maintenance, alimony pendente lite, maintenance, and spousal support. 

Alimony also includes attorney's fees, interest, and court costs, if they are 

expressly made recoverable as alimony under a decree, order, or judgment 

issued in accordance with applicable State or local law by a court of 

competent jurisdiction.

This term does not include any payments or transfer of property or its value 

by an individual to his or her spouse in compliance with any community 

property settlement, equitable distribution of property, or other division of 

property between spouses or former spouses. 

NOTE: Attorney's fees, interest, and court costs, may be recovered only 

if they are considered alimony or child support under State or 

local law. OPM cannot comply with a garnishment order for 

payment of these items unless it expressly states that they 

constitute alimony or child support. 

C. Disposable "Disposable annuity" means the amount of annuity payable after deducting

Annuity from the gross annuity any amounts that are-­

• Owed by the retiree to the United States; 

• Deducted for health benefits premiums; 

• Deducted for basic life insurance premiums; 

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 5 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A2.1-1 Definitions (Cont.) 

C. Disposable • Deducted for Medicare premiums;

Annuity (Cont.) 

• Already payable to another person based on a court order acceptable for 

processing or a child abuse judgment enforcement order; and 

• Properly withheld for Federal, State, or local income tax purposes, if 

the withholding of the amounts is authorized or required by law and if 

amounts withheld are not greater than would be the case if the 

individual claimed all dependents to which he or she was entitled. The 

withholding of additional amounts pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 3402(i) may 

be permitted only when the individual presents evidence of tax 

obligation that supports the additional withholding. 

CSRS and FERS Handbook April 1998 
6 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A2.1-2 Garnishment Orders

A. General Rule Garnishment is a legal process for enforcing existing legal obligations. 

CSRS and FERS benefits can be garnished only for alimony or child 

support. The garnishment order must conform with all State law 

requirements for garnishment actions involving private employers. 

Public Law 93-647 (effective January 1, 1975) and Public Law 95-30 

(effective June 1, 1977) amended the Social Security Act (title 42, United 

States Code) to provide that the United States Government will comply with 

the terms of a valid court order for garnishment or attachment (or other 

legal process) of remuneration for employment where the order is based 

upon an obligation to provide alimony or child support. These are the same 

provisions that require agencies to comply with similar garnishment orders 

against employees' salaries. 

The information provided in this section outlines the most important aspects 

of the requirements concerning apportionment orders. The governing 

regulations are found at 5 CFR Part 581, Garnishment Orders. 

B. Restrictions on Public Law 95-30 sets up limitations on garnishments issued to enforce a

Amount to be support obligation.

Garnished

1. An individual who has remarried and who is supporting his or her 

current spouse or a dependent child other than a child awarded support 

under the garnishment order may be garnished up to 50 percent of the 

disposable annuity, or 55 percent if the garnishment is for a support 

payment that is more than 3 months in arrears. 

2. An individual who has not remarried, or is not supporting a dependent 

child other than a child awarded support under the garnishment order 

may be garnished up to 60 percent of the disposable annuity, or 65 

percent if the garnishment is for a support payment that is more than 3 

months in arrears. 

C. Payments Under a OPM cannot vary its normal payment cycles to comply with a garnishment 

Garnishment order. Garnishment payments are made on the first business day of the 

Order month for benefits that accrued during the previous month.

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 7 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A2.1-2 Garnishment Orders (Cont.) 

D. Where to File Send garnishment orders for annuitants to OPM at the following address:

Garnishment

Orders Office of Personnel Management 

Office of Retirement Programs

Court Order Benefit Section

Post Office Box 17 

Washington, DC 20044 

For individuals still employed, send garnishment orders to the employing 

agency.

CSRS and FERS Handbook April 1998 
8 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

Part 5A3 Child Abuse Judgment Enforcement Orders

Section 5A3.1-1 Definitions

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's annuity or a refund 

of employee contributions to a child abuse creditor as a means of collecting 

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. 

B. Child Abuse "Child abuse creditor" means an individual who applies for benefits under

Creditor CSRS or FERS based on a child abuse judgment enforcement order.

C. Disposable "Disposable annuity" means the amount of annuity payable after deducting

Annuity from the gross annuity any amounts that are-­

• Owed by the retiree to the United States; 

• Deducted for health benefits premiums; 

• Deducted for basic life insurance premiums; 

• Deducted for Medicare premiums; 

• Already payable to another person based on a court order acceptable for 

processing or a child abuse judgment enforcement order; and 

• Properly withheld for Federal, State, or local income tax purposes, if 

the withholding of the amounts is authorized or required by law and if 

amounts withheld are not greater than would be the case if the 

individual claimed all dependents to which he or she was entitled. The 

withholding of additional amounts pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 3402(i) may 

be permitted only when the individual presents evidence of a tax 

obligation that supports the additional withholding. 

Unless the court order expressly provides otherwise, net annuity also 

includes a lump-sum payment made to a retiree under section 8343a of title 

5, U.S.C. 

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 9 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A3.1-2 Child Abuse Judgment Enforcement Orders

A. General The Child Abuse Accountability Act (P.L. 103-358), signed October 14, 

1994, requires OPM to comply with certain court orders for the 

enforcement of judgments rendered against employees or retirees for 

physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of a child. The Act applies to court 

orders OPM receives on or after October 14, 1994. OPM's regulations 

affect only benefits payable under CSRS and FERS, not the Thrift Savings 

Plan, which OPM does not administer.

OPM will apply the procedure established in the regulations for 

garnishment orders found in 5 CFR Part 581, when processing child abuse 

judgment enforcement orders. The specific governing regulations are found 

at 5 CFR Part 838, Subpart K, Child Abuse Judgment Enforcement Orders. 

B. Payments Under OPM cannot vary its normal payment cycles to comply with a child abuse 

Child Abuse judgment enforcement order. Payments are made on the first business day 

Judgment of the month for benefits that accrued during the previous month.

Enforcement

Orders 

C. Where to File 

Child Abuse 

Judgment 

Enforcement 

Orders 

Send child abuse judgment enforcement orders against annuitants to OPM at 

the following address: 

Office of Personnel Management

Office of Retirement Programs

Court Order Benefit Section

Post Office Box 17

Washington, DC > 20044-0017 <

For judgments against individuals still employed, send orders to the 

employing agency. 

CSRS and FERS Handbook April 1998 
10 CSRS Court Orders 

Chapter 5 

FERS 

Part 5A4 Apportionment Orders 

Section 5A4.1-1 Definitions 

A. Self-Only Annuity "Self-only annuity" means the recurring unreduced payments to a retiree 

whose annuity is not being reduced to provide a survivor annuity to anyone.

B. Gross Annuity "Gross annuity" means the amount of self-only annuity less any applicable 

survivor reduction, but before any deductions.

C. Net Annuity "Net annuity" under CSRS means the amount of annuity payable after 

deducting from the gross annuity deductions for any amounts that are-­

1. Owed by the retiree to the United States; 

2. Deducted for health benefits premiums; 

3. Deducted for life insurance premiums; 

4. Deducted for Medicare premiums; 

5. Already payable to another person based on a court order acceptable for 

processing or a child abuse judgment enforcement order; or 

6. Properly withheld for Federal, State, or local 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. The 

withholding of additional amounts pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 3402(i) may 

be permitted only when the individual presents evidence of a tax 

obligation that supports the additional withholding. 

NOTE: "Net annuity" under FERS refers to the amount of annuity payable 

after deducting from the gross annuity any amounts listed in 1 

through 4 above, but before the Federal income tax deduction 

listed in 6. 

D. Former Spouse "Former spouse" means, in connection with a court order affecting 

employee retirement benefits, a living person whose marriage to an 

employee or retiree has been subject to a divorce, annulment, or legal 

separation resulting in a court order.

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 11 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A4.1-2 Apportionment Orders 

A. General Rule Apportionment orders are orders that divide an employee's annuity or 

refund in accordance with a court order related to a divorce or legal 

separation.

Sections 8345(j) and 8467 of title 5, United States Code, authorizes OPM to 

comply with apportionment orders that meet certain specifications. In 

particular, the law requires OPM to apportion an annuity or refund in 

accordance with the express provisions of a qualifying order, decree, or 

property settlement. OPM is authorized to make payments directly to the 

former or separated spouse if the terms of the court order expressly provide 

for payment in such a manner. 

The information provided in this section outlines the most important aspects 

of the requirements concerning apportionment orders. The governing 

regulations are found at 5 CFR Part 831, Subparts Q and T and 5 CFR Part 

841, Subpart I. 

CSRS and FERS Handbook April 1998 
12 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A4.1-3 Preparing an Apportionment Order

A. Applicability of The division of an employee's, former employee's or retiree's annuity or 

State Law contributions is governed by State law.

B. Which Courts For purposes of this section, "court" means any court of any State, the 

Can Issue Order District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the 

Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands, and any Indian court.

C. Content of Order The court order should specify exactly what it wants OPM to do.

1. The court order must expressly provide for payment of a portion of the 

employee's or retiree's monthly annuity (or contributions); and 

2. The spouse's share must be stated as fixed amount, a percentage or a 

fraction of the annuity, or be expressed as a formula whose value is 

readily apparent from the face of the order or normal OPM files. 

3. If the apportionment amount is derived using a formula, percentage, or 

fraction, the order must specify the type of annuity to which the 

formula, percentage, or fraction is to be applied--self-only, gross, or 

net. 

NOTE: Apportionment orders concerning CSRS and FERS are not subject 

to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). 

ERISA forms should not be used. 

D. Maximum There is no percentage limitation on how much of a retirement annuity 

Benefits Payable payment can be awarded to a former spouse. However, payment under a 

court order may not exceed:

• The net annuity, in cases involving annuities; or 

• The amount of the lump-sum credit, in cases involving refunds of 

contributions. 

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 13 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A4.1-4 Filing an Apportionment Order

A. General Before any benefits can be paid to the former spouse, the former spouse 

must:

• Submit a written request to OPM; and 

• Provide proper documentation so that OPM can establish the validity of 

the court order. 

• OPM's regulations on this subject are found at Appendix A through Q 

of Part 831--Guidelines for Interpreting State Court Orders Dividing 

Civil Service Retirement Benefits. 

B. Application Must A former spouse, personally or through a representative, must apply in 

Be In Writing writing to be eligible for a portion of the retiree's annuity. A special form 

is not required.

C. Information to The former spouse must include the following information in his or her 

Include in letter of application: 

Application

• Full name; 

• Mailing address; 

• A certified copy of the court order granting benefits; 

IMPORTANT: A certified copy is a copy of the order signed and certified 

by an official of the court that issued the order, verifying 

that it is a true copy of the original--usually by means of a 

seal or raised stamp and the official's signature or initials. 

A photocopy of a certified copy is not acceptable. 

• A signed statement that the court order has not been amended, 

superseded, or set aside; 

• Identifying information concerning the employee or retiree, including 

his or her full name, date of birth, civil service annuity (CSA) claim 

number if retired, and a Social Security number; and 

• If the employee is not yet retired, his or her mailing address. 

Section 5A4.1-4 Filing an Apportionment Order (Cont.) 

D. Certification of When payments are subject to termination upon remarriage, no payment 

CSRS and FERS Handbook April 1998 
14 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

Marital Status may be made until the former spouse submits, on a prescribed form, a 

statement to OPM that he or she:

• Has not remarried; 

• Will notify OPM within 15 calendar days of the date of any remarriage; 

and 

• Acknowledges personal liability for any overpayment to him or her 

resulting from a remarriage. 

OPM may require recertification of these statements. 

E. OPM Address Send applications for court-awarded CSRS or FERS benefits and requests 

for information to:

Office of Personnel Management 

Office of Retirement Programs 

Court Order Benefit Section 

Post Office Box 17 

Washington, DC > 20044-0017 < 

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 15 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A4.1-5 Miscellaneous 

A. Health Benefits

Coverage

A former spouse who is awarded a portion of an employee's or retiree's 

CSRS or FERS annuity by a qualifying court order, regardless of whether 

that benefit is payable now or in the future, is eligible to enroll for health 

benefits coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) 

program under certain conditions. These conditions and other rules that 

apply to FEHB coverage of former spouses are covered in 5 CFR 890.801 

et seq. and in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Handbook for 

Personnel and Payroll Offices (formerly FPM Supplement 890-1). 

B. Alternative An employee who, at time of retirement, has a former spouse who is 

Annuity Election entitled by court order to a portion of the employee's annuity, or to a 

survivor annuity, may not elect the alternative annuity, regardless of when 

the marriage ended. 

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16 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

Part 5A5 Survivor Benefit Orders

Section 5A5.1-1 Definitions

A. Former Spouse In connection with a court order awarding a former spouse survivor 

annuity, "former spouse" means 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 creditable under CSRS or FERS, and whose marriage to 

the employee or retiree was terminated prior to the death of the employee 

or retiree.

B. Former Spouse "Former spouse survivor annuity" means a recurring benefit that is payable 

Survivor Annuity after the employee's or retiree's death to a former spouse who has not 

remarried before becoming 55 years of age.

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 17 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A5.1-2 Survivor Benefit Orders 

A. General 1. The former spouse of a CSRS employee or retiree may be awarded a 

survivor annuity pursuant to a court order.

NOTE: The former spouse of a separated CSRS employee entitled to a 

deferred annuity may be awarded survivor benefits. However, no 

former spouse survivor annuity benefits are payable unless the 

employee dies after becoming age 62 and filing an application for 

retirement benefits.

2. The former spouse of a FERS employee or retiree, or of a separated 

FERS employee with title to deferred annuity, may be awarded a 

survivor annuity and/or basic employee death benefit pursuant to a 

court order.

NOTE: A court order that awards a FERS survivor annuity also awards a 

corresponding share of the basic employee death benefit unless the 

order expressly provides otherwise. 

For a detailed discussion of former spouse survivor benefits, see 

Chapter 74. 

OPM's regulations on this subject are found at Appendix B to Subpart Q of 

5 CFR Part 831--Guidelines for Interpreting State Court Orders Awarding 

Survivor Annuity Benefits to Former Spouses. 

B. Which Courts For purposes of this section, "court" means any court of any State, the 

Can Issue Order District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the 

Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands, and any Indian court.

C. Content of Order For purposes of awarding a former spouse survivor annuity, the court order 

must state the former spouse's entitlement to a survivor annuity or direct an 

employee or retiree to provide a former spouse survivor annuity.

D. Which Court For purposes of affecting or awarding a CSRS former spouse survivor 

Orders Can annuity, a court order is not a qualifying court order whenever:

Award CSRS

Survivor Benefits 1. The marriage was terminated before May 7, 1985; or

2. The marriage was terminated on or after May 7, 1985, and:

CSRS and FERS Handbook April 1998 
18 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A5.1-2 Survivor Benefit Orders (Cont.) 

D. Which Court • The employee retired under CSRS before May 7, 1985; and

Orders Can 

Award CSRS • The retiree did not elect to provide a current spouse annuity for that 

Survivor Benefits spouse on or before May 7, 1985.

(Cont.) 

NOTE: These restrictions do not apply to FERS.

E. Modification For purposes of awarding, increasing, reducing, or eliminating a former 

Restrictions 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. The first order terminating the marital relationship between the retiree 

and the former spouse. This is the original written order that first ends 

the marriage; or 

2. Issued on a day prior to the date of retirement or death of the 

employee. 

NOTE 1: "The first order terminating the marital relationship" does not 

include-­

• Any order that amends, explains, clarifies, or interprets the 

original written order regardless of the effective date of the 

order making the amendment, explanation, clarification, or 

interpretation; or 

• Any order issued under reserve jurisdiction or any other 

orders issued subsequent to the original written order 

terminating the marriage that divide marital property (even 

though no division of marital property was made in the 

order terminating the marriage) regardless of the effective 

date of the order. 

NOTE 2: "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 (for example, an order issued nunc pro 

tunc). 

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 19 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A5.1-2 Survivor Benefit Orders (Cont.) 

E. Modification NOTE 3: "Date of retirement" means the later of:

Restrictions 

(Cont.) • The date that the employee files an application for 

retirement; or

• The date that employee's annuity commences (that is, 

begins to accrue).

F. Maximum

Benefits Payable

The maximum combined total of all current and former spouse survivor 

annuities (not including any benefits based on an election of an insurable 

interest annuity) payable based solely on the service of the employee or 

former employee equals 55 percent (or 50 percent if based on a separation 

under FERS or a separation under CSRS that occurred before October 11, 

1962) of the rate of the self-only annuity that otherwise would have been 

paid to the employee or retiree. 

G. Filing the Order The requirements and procedures outlined in section 5A4.1-4 above apply 

to the submission of survivor benefit orders to OPM.

CSRS and FERS Handbook April 1998 
20 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A5.1-3 Miscellaneous 

A. Health Benefits 

Coverage

A former spouse who is awarded a survivor annuity under CSRS or FERS 

by a qualifying court order may be eligible to enroll for health benefits 

coverage under the FEHB program if he or she meets certain requirements. 

These conditions and other rules that apply to FEHB coverage of former 

spouses are covered in 5 CFR 890.801 et seq., and in the Federal 

Employees Health Benefits Handbook for Personnel and Payroll Offices 

(formerly FPM Supplement 890-1). 

B. Alternative An employee who, at the time of retirement, has a former spouse who is 

Annuity Election entitled by court order to a survivor annuity, or to a portion of the 

employee's annuity, may not elect the alternative annuity, regardless of 

when the marriage ended.

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 21 

Chapter 5 

Part 5A6 Release of Information 

Section 5A6.1-1 Orders for Release of Retirement and Insurance Records 

A. General Any agency or OPM may release information from retirement and 

insurance records in response to a court order or subpoena issued with the 

specific approval of a judge. > We will also release information on the 

basis of the individual's written consent. < 

The proper place to submit the order is determined by whether the person 

has been separated from Federal service. 

The information provided in this section outlines the most important aspects 

of the requirements concerning release of information in response to court 

order. OPM's regulations on this subject are found at 8312.106 (CSRS) 

and 8431.108 (FERS). 

B. Where to Serve If the individual about whom the information is sought is not a current 

When Individual Federal employee, the court order should be addressed to OPM at the 

Is No Longer an address in Paragraph F. 

Employee

C. Where to Serve If the individual is still an active Federal employee, and all of his or her 

When Individual Federal service has been continuous and with the same agency, the records 

Employed by are with that agency. Service must be made upon the individual's 

Only One Agency employing agency.

With No Break in

Service NOTE: Agencies may release information in response to court orders only 

in accordance with OPM regulations in Parts 294 and 297 of Title 

5, Code of Federal Regulations, and agency procedures.

D. Where to Serve If the individual is currently a Federal employee but has had a break in 

When Individual service or has worked for more than one agency, some of the records will 

Employed by be in OPM files, while others will be in the employing agency's files. In 

More Than One this situation both OPM and the agency must be served with an order. See 

Agency or Has a paragraphs C and F.

Break in Service

E. Information to It takes OPM approximately 30 days to respond to an order. Submissions 

Include in a Court must include the employee's or former employee's full name, date of birth 

Order and Social Security number, if available, or OPM will not be able to locate 

the records. 

CSRS and FERS Handbook April 1998 
22 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

Section 5A6.1-1 Orders for Release of Retirement and Insurance Records (Cont.) 

F. OPM Address A court order > or subpoena signed by a judge < for release of retirement 

and insurance records in OPM's possession should be submitted to the 

following address: 

Office of Personnel Management 

Reconsideration and Appeal Division 

> 1900 E Street NW., Room 3457 

Washington, DC 20015 

A signed release from the individual that specifically details the records 

needed, should be submitted to the following address: 

Office of Personnel Management 

P. O. Box 45 

Boyers, PA 16017 < 

April 1998 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 23 

Chapter 5 

Subchapter 5B Job Aid

Section 5B1.1-1

A. Order Form for This subchapter contains a copy of the order form for the Handbook for 

Attorney's Attorneys on Court-ordered Retirement, Health Benefits, and Life Insurance 

Handbook Under CSRS, FERS, FEHB Program, and FEGLI Program, RI 38-116, for 

local reproduction.

CSRS and FERS Handbook April 1998 
 

 

Attorneys whose family law practice includes Federal (or postal) employees or retirees will be interested 

in a publication prepared by the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM). "A Handbook 

for Attorneys on Court-ordered Retirement, Health Benefits, and Life Insurance under the Civil Service 

Retirement System, Federal Employees Retirement System, Federal Employees Health Benefits 

Program, and Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program" contains the laws and regulations 

that apply to court orders in divorces and legal separations affecting benefits under these programs. 

Since ERISA rules do not apply to Federal employees and retirees, this handbook is a must for anyone 

who works with court orders involving this group. 

The retirement regulations spell out in detail what constitutes a court order that OPM can accept for 

processing, and even include extensive model paragraphs that can be used to draft orders that will 

meet OPM's requirements. OPM urges attorneys to use these model paragraphs. The January 1995 

update of the handbook also includes information about recent legislation that allows employees and 

retirees to assign their Federal Employees Group Life Insurance benefits. 

In addition to the printed text of the law and regulations, the handbook includes a 3.5 inch diskette 

containing the model language in Wordperfect 5.1, Word, and generic word processing formats. The 

handbook is available from the Superintendent of Documents at a cost of $14.00 per copy. A copy of 

the order form is reproduced below. 

Order Processing Code: Superintendent of Documents Publication Order Form 

*7612* Charge your order. 

It's easy! 

To fax your orders (202) 512-2250 

To phone your orders (202) 512-1800 

GYES, please send me copies of the Handbook For Attorneys on Court-Ordered 

Retirement, Health Benefits, and Life Insurance Under Civil Service Retirement System, Federal 

Employees Retirement System, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and Federal 

Employees Group Life Insurance Program, RI 38-116, Revised Jan. 95, S/N 006-000-01408-9 

$14.00 each ($17.50 foreign). 

The total cost of my order is $ . Price includes regular shipping and handling and is subject 

to change. International customers please add 25%.

Check method of payment

G Check payable to Superintendent Documents

G GPO Deposit AccountGGGGGGG-G Company or personal name (Please type or print) G VISA G MasterCard

Additional address/attention line GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

GGGG (expiration date) Thank you for your order!

Street address

City, State, Zip code

Daytime phone including area code Authorizing signature 1/95 

Purchase order number (optional) Mail To: Superintendent of Documents 

P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954 

Update 14 Chapter 5 Court Orders p. 24 For Local Reproduction

August 15, 1995 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 25 

Chapter 5 

Appendix -- Model Language for Use in Court Orders 

Introduction 

This appendix contains the model language that is contained in the appendix to OPM's regulations on 

court orders. OPM encourages attorneys to use this model language. By using the model language, 

courts will know that the court order will have the effect described in this appendix. 

Paragraphs 001 through 599 concern court orders that attempt to divide employee annuity. The model 

language in these paragraphs does not award a benefit that is payable after the death of the employee. 

A separate, distinct award of a former spouse survivor annuity is necessary to award a former spouse a 

benefit that is payable after the death of the employee. A court order directed at an employee annuity 

should include five elements: 

• Identification of the benefits; 

• Instructions that OPM pay the former spouse; 

• A method for computing the amount of the former spouse's benefit; 

• Identification of the type of annuity to which to apply a fraction, percentage or formula; and 

• Instructions on what OPM should do if the employee leaves Federal service before retirement and

applies for a refund of employee contributions.

The court order may also include instructions for disposition of the former spouse's share if the former 

spouse dies before the employee. 

Paragraphs 701 through 999 contain model language for awarding survivor annuities and contain some 

examples that award a survivor annuity, but do not award benefits payable to the former spouse during the 

lifetime of the employee. A former spouse survivor annuity is not a continuation of a former spouse's 

share of an employee annuity after the death of the employee. A former spouse's entitlement to a portion 

of an employee annuity cannot continue after the death of the employee. A court order that attempts to 

extend the former spouse's entitlement to a portion of an employee annuity past the death of the employee 

is not effective. A separate, distinct award of a portion of the employee annuity is necessary to award a 

former spouse a benefit during the lifetime of the employee. 

Attorneys should exercise great care in preparing provisions concerning former spouse survivor annuities 

because sections 8341(h)(4) and 8445(d) of title 5, United States Code, prohibit OPM from accepting 

modifications after the retirement or death of the employee. (See section 838.806 concerning 

unacceptable modifications.) A court order awarding a former spouse survivor annuity should include 

four elements: 

• Identification of the retirement system; 

• Explicit award of the former spouse survivor annuity; 

• Method for computing the amount of the former spouse's benefit; and 

• Instructions on what OPM should do if the employee leaves Federal service before retirement and 

applies for a refund of employee contributions. 

Update 14 

CSRS and FERS Handbook August 15, 1995 
26 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

The model language uses the terms "former spouse" to identify the spouse who is receiving a former 

spouse's portion of an employee annuity and "employee" to identify the Federal employee whose 

employment was covered by the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees Retirement 

System. Obviously, in drafting an actual court order the appropriate terms, such as "Petitioner" and 

"Respondent," or the names of the parties should replace "former spouse" and "employee." 

Similarly, except when the provision applies only to the basic employee death benefit (defined in section 

843.103 of this chapter) that is available only under the Federal Employees Retirement System, the 

models are drafted for employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (5 U.S.C.8331 et seq.). 

The name of the retirement system should be changed for employees covered by the Federal Employees 

Retirement System (5 U.S.C. chapter 84). Statutory references used in the models are to CSRS 

provisions (such as 8341(h) of title 5, United States Code). When appropriate, the corresponding FERS 

provision (such as section 8445 of title 5, United States Code) should be used. 

Update 14 

August 15, 1995 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 27 

Chapter 5 

000 Series--Special Technical Provisions

001 Language 

required in 

Qualified 

Domestic 

Relations Orders

Using the following paragraph will expressly state that the provisions of the 

court order concerning CSRS or FERS benefits are governed by this part. 

A court order directed at employee annuity (or awarding a survivor annuity) 

that is labelled a "Qualified Domestic Relations Order" or is issued on an 

ERISA form will not be automatically rendered unacceptable under 

§ 838.302(a) or § 838.803(a) if the court order contains the following 

paragraph. 

"The court has considered the requirements and standard terminology 

provided in part 838 of Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations. The 

terminology used in the provisions of this order that concern benefits 

under the Civil Service Retirement System are governed by the 

standard conventions established in that part." 

Update 14 

CSRS and FERS Handbook August 15, 1995 
28 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

100 Series--Identification of the benefits and instructions that OPM pay the former spouse 

101 Identifying Using the following paragraph will expressly divide employee annuity to 

retirement satisfy the requirements of § 838.303 and direct OPM to pay the former 

benefits and spouse a share of an employee annuity to satisfy the requirements of 

directing OPM to § 838.304. 

pay the former

spouse "[Employee] is (or will be) eligible for retirement benefits under the 

Civil Service Retirement System based on employment with the United 

States Government. [Insert language for computing the former 

spouse's share from 200 series of this appendix.] The United States 

Office of Personnel Management is directed to pay [former spouse]'s 

share directly to [former spouse]." 

111 Protecting a Using the following paragraph will protect the former spouse interest in 

former spouse military retired pay in the event that the employee waives the military 

entitled to retired pay to allow crediting the military service under CSRS or FERS. 

military retired The paragraph should be used only if the former spouse is awarded a 

pay portion of the military retired pay. "If [Employee] waives military retired 

pay to credit military service under the Civil Service Retirement System, 

[insert language for computing the former spouse's share from 200 series of 

this appendix.]. The United States Office of Personnel Management is 

directed to pay [former spouse]'s share directly to [former spouse]." 

Update 14 

August 15, 1995 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 29 

Chapter 5 

200 Series--Computing the amount of the former spouse's benefit 

Paragraphs 201 through 204 contain model language for the most common types of awards that court 

orders make to former spouses. Subsequent paragraphs in the 200 series contain model language for less 

common, more complex awards. 

Awards other than fixed amounts require that the court order specify the type of annuity ("gross," "net," 

or self-only) on which the award is computed. The types of annuity are defined in § 838.103. Variations 

on type of annuity are covered by the 300 series of this appendix. 

201 Award of a fixed 

monthly amount

Using the following paragraph will award the former spouse a fixed 

monthly amount. OPM will not apply COLA's to a fixed monthly amount 

unless the court order expressly directs that OPM add COLA's using the 

language in paragraph 231 of this appendix or similar language. 

"[Employee] is (or will be) eligible for retirement benefits under the 

Civil Service Retirement System based on employment with the United 

States Government. [Former spouse] is entitled to $[insert a number] 

per month from [employee]'s civil service retirement benefits. The 

United States Office of Personnel Management is directed to pay 

[former spouse]'s share directly to [former spouse]." 

202 Award of a 

percentage

Using the following paragraph will award the former spouse a stated 

percentage of the employee annuity. Unless the court order expressly 

directs that OPM not add COLA's to the former spouse's share of the 

employee annuity, OPM will add COLA's to keep the former spouse's 

share at the stated percentage. Paragraph 232 of this appendix provides 

language for excluding COLA's. 

"[Employee] is (or will be) eligible for retirement benefits under the 

Civil Service Retirement System based on employment with the United 

States Government. [Former spouse] is entitled to [insert a number] 

percent of [employee]'s [insert "gross," "net," or "self-only"] monthly 

annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. The United States 

Office of Personnel Management is directed to pay [former spouse]'s 

share directly to [former spouse]." 

203 Award of a 

fraction

Using the following paragraph will award the former spouse a stated 

fraction of the employee annuity. Unless the court order expressly directs 

that OPM not add COLA's to the former spouse's share of the employee 

annuity, OPM will add COLA's to keep the former spouse's share at the 

stated percentage. Paragraph 232 of this appendix provides language for 

excluding COLA's. 

Update 14 

CSRS and FERS Handbook August 15, 1995 
30 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

203 Award of a 

fraction (cont.) 

204 Award of a 

prorata share

211 Award based on 

a stated formula

"[Employee] is (or will be) eligible for retirement benefits under the 

Civil Service Retirement System based on employment with the United 

States Government. [Former spouse] is entitled to [insert fraction]ths 

of [employee]'s [insert "gross," "net," or "self-only"] monthly annuity 

under the Civil Service Retirement System. The United States Office 

of Personnel Management is directed to pay [former spouse]'s share 

directly to [former spouse]." 

Using the following paragraph will award the former spouse a prorata share 

of the employee annuity. Prorata share is defined in § 838.621. To award 

a prorata share the court order must state the date of the marriage. Unless 

the court order specifies a different ending date, the marriage ends for 

computation purposes on the date that the court order is filed with the court 

clerk. Unless the court order expressly directs that OPM not add COLA's 

to the former spouse's share of the employee annuity, OPM will add 

COLA's to keep the former spouse's share at the stated percentage. 

Paragraph 232 of this appendix provides language for excluding COLA's. 

"[Employee] is (or will be) eligible for retirement benefits under the 

Civil Service Retirement System based on employment with the United 

States Government. [Former spouse] is entitled to a prorata share of 

[employee]'s [insert "gross," "net," or self-only] monthly annuity 

under the Civil Service Retirement System. The marriage began on 

[insert date]. The United States Office of Personnel Management is 

directed to pay [former spouse]'s share directly to [former spouse]." 

Using the following paragraphs will award the former spouse a share of the 

employee annuity based on a formula stated in the court order. The 

formula must be stated in the court order (including a court-approved 

property settlement agreement). The formula may not be incorporated by 

reference to a statutory provision or a court decision in another case. If the 

court order uses a formula, the court order must include any data that is 

necessary for OPM to apply the formula unless the necessary data is 

contained in normal OPM files. 

"[Employee] is (or will be) eligible for retirement benefits under the 

Civil Service Retirement System based on employment with the United 

States Government. [Former spouse] is entitled to a share of 

[employee]'s [insert "gross," "net," or self-only] monthly annuity 

under the Civil Service Retirement System to be computed as follows: 

"[Insert formula for computing the former spouse's share.] 

"The United States Office of Personnel Management is directed to pay 

[former spouse]'s share directly to [former spouse]." 

Update 14 

August 15, 1995 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 31 

Chapter 5 

231 Awarding 

COLA's on fixed 

monthly amounts

Using the following paragraph will award COLA's in addition to a fixed 

monthly amount to the former spouse. The model awards COLA's at the 

same rate applied to the employee annuity. 

"[Employee] is (or will be) eligible for retirement benefits under the 

Civil Service Retirement System based on employment with the United 

States Government. [Former spouse] is entitled to $[insert a number] 

per month from [employee]'s civil service retirement benefits. When 

COLA's are applied to [employee]'s retirement benefits, the same 

COLA applies to [former spouse]'s share. The United States Office of 

Personnel Management is directed to pay [former spouse]'s share 

directly to [former spouse]." 

232 Excluding 

COLA's on 

awards other 

than fixed 

monthly amounts

Using the following paragraph will prevent application of COLA's to a 

former spouse's share of an employee annuity in cases where the former 

spouse has been awarded a percentage, fraction or prorata share of the 

employee annuity, rather than a fixed dollar amount.

"[Employee] is (or will be) eligible for retirement benefits under the 

Civil Service Retirement System based on employment with the United 

States Government. [Insert language for computing the former 

spouse's share from paragraph 202, 203, 204, or 211 of this 

appendix.] The United States Office of Personnel Management is 

directed to determine the amount of [former spouse]'s share on the date 

[insert "when [employee] retires" if the employee has not retired, or 

"of this order" if the employee is already retired] and not to apply 

COLA's to that amount. The United States Office of Personnel

Management is directed to pay [former spouse]'s share directly to 

[former spouse]." 

Update 14 

CSRS and FERS Handbook August 15, 1995 
32 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

300 Series--Type of annuity 

Awards of employee annuity to a former spouse (other than awards of fixed dollar amounts) must specify 

whether OPM will use the "gross," "net," or self-only annuity as defined in § 838.103 in determining the 

amount of the former spouse's entitlement. The court order may contain a formula that has the effect of 

creating other types of annuity, but the court order may only do this by providing a formula that starts 

from "gross," "net," or self-only annuity as defined in § 838.103. 

301 Awards based on 

benefits actually 

paid

The court order may include a formula that effectively uses the court's 

definition of net annuity rather than the one provided by § 838.103. For 

example, using the following paragraph will award the former spouse a 

prorata share of the employee annuity reduced only by the amount deducted 

as premiums for basic life insurance under the Federal Employee Group 

Life Insurance Program. 

"[Employee] is (or will be) eligible for retirement benefits under the 

Civil Service Retirement System based on employment with the United 

States Government. [Former spouse] is entitled to a prorata share of 

[employee]'s monthly annuity under the Civil Service Retirement 

System, where monthly annuity means the self-only annuity less the 

amount deducted as premiums for basic life insurance under the 

Federal Employee Group Life Insurance Program. The marriage 

began on [insert date]. The United States Office of Personnel 

Management is directed to pay [former spouse]'s share directly to 

[former spouse]." 

311 Awards of earned Using the following paragraph will award a former spouse a prorata share 

annuity in cases of what the employee annuity would have been based on only the 

where the actual employee's actual service in cases where the actual employee annuity is 

annuity is based based on disability. The paragraph also allows the court order to provide 

on disability for the former spouse's share to begin when the employee reaches a stated 

age, using age 62 as an example. As with all other formulas the court order 

must specify whether the computation applies to "gross," "net," or self-only 

annuity. OPM will apply COLA's that occurred after the date of the 

disability retirement to the former spouse's share. The following paragraph 

should be used only for disability retirees under CSRS. Under FERS, 

section 8452 of title 5, United States Code, provides a formula for 

recomputation of disability annuities at age 62 to approximate an earned 

annuity. Therefore to award a portion of the "earned" benefit under FERS 

add the introductory phrase, "Starting when [employee] reaches age 62," to 

the paragraph describing how to compute the amount. 

Update 14 

August 15, 1995 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 33 

Chapter 5 

311 Awards of earned "[Employee] is (or will be) eligible for retirement benefits under the 

annuity in cases Civil Service Retirement System based on employment with the United 

where the actual States Government. Starting when [employee] reaches age 62, [former 

annuity is based spouse] is entitled to a prorata share of [employee]'s [insert "gross," 

on disability "net," or self-only] monthly annuity under the Civil Service Retirement 

(cont.) System, where monthly annuity means the amount of [employee]'s 

monthly annuity computed as though [employee] had retired on an 

immediate, nondisability annuity on the commencing date of 

[employee]'s annuity based on disability. In computing the amount of 

the immediate annuity, the United States Office of Personnel 

Management will deem [employee] to have been age 62 at the time that 

[employee] retired on disability. The marriage began on [insert date]. 

The United States Office of Personnel Management is directed to pay 

[former spouse]'s share directly to [former spouse]."

Update 14 

CSRS and FERS Handbook August 15, 1995 
34 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

400 Series--Refunds of employee contributions 

Court orders that award a former spouse a portion of a future employee annuity of an employee who is 

not then eligible to retire should include an additional paragraph containing instructions that tell OPM 

what to do if the employee separates before becoming eligible to retire and requests a refund of employee 

contributions. The court order may award the former spouse a portion of the refund of employee 

contributions or bar payment of the refund of employee contributions. 

401 Barring payment 

of a refund of 

employee 

contributions

Using the following paragraph will bar payment of the refund of employee 

contributions if payment of the refund of employee contributions would 

extinguish the former spouse's entitlement to a portion of the employee 

annuity. 

"The United States Office of Personnel Management is directed not to 

pay [employee] a refund of employee contributions." 

402 Dividing a refund 

of employee 

contributions

Using the following paragraph will allow the refund of employee 

contributions to be paid but will award a prorata share of the refund of 

employee contributions to the former spouse. The sentence on the 

beginning date of the marriage is unnecessary if the beginning is stated 

elsewhere in the order. The award of a prorata share is used only as an 

example; the court order could provide another fraction, percentage, or 

formula, or a fixed amount. Note that a refund of employee contributions 

voids the employee's rights to an employee annuity and the former spouse's 

right to any portion of that annuity. 

"If [employee] becomes eligible and applies for a refund of employee 

contributions, [former spouse] is entitled to a prorata share of the 

refund of employee contributions. The marriage began on [insert 

date]. The United States Office of Personnel Management is directed 

to pay [former spouse]'s share directly to [former spouse]." 

Update 14 

August 15, 1995 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 35 

Chapter 5 

500 Series--Death of the former spouse 

501 Full annuity No special provision is necessary to restore the entire annuity to the retiree

restored to the upon the death of the former spouse. Unless the court order expressly

retiree provides otherwise, OPM will pay the former spouse's share to the retiree 

after the death of the former spouse.

502 Former spouse

share paid to

children

Using the following paragraph will award the former spouse's share of an 

employee annuity to the children, including any adopted children, of the 

employee and former spouse. 

"If [former spouse] dies before [employee], the United States Office of 

Personnel Management is directed to pay [former spouse]'s share of 

[employee]'s civil service retirement benefits to surviving children of 

the marriage including any adopted children, in equal shares. Upon 

the death of any child, that child's share will be distributed among the 

other surviving children." 

The language may be modified to terminate the payments to the children 

when they reach a stated age. A court order that includes such a provision 

for termination must include sufficient information (such as the children's 

dates of birth) to permit OPM to determine when the children's interest 

terminates. OPM will not consider evidence outside the court order (and 

normal OPM files) to establish the children's dates of birth. 

503 Former spouse 

share paid to the 

court

Using the following paragraph will provide for payment of the former 

spouse's share of an employee annuity to the court after the death of the 

former spouse. This would allow a court officer to administer the funds. 

"If [former spouse] dies before [employee], the United States Office of 

Personnel Management is directed to pay [former spouse]'s share of 

[employee]'s civil service retirement benefits to this court at the following 

address: "[Insert address where checks should be sent. The address may be 

up to six lines and should include sufficient information for court officials 

to credit the correct account.]" 

Update 14 

CSRS and FERS Handbook August 15, 1995 
36 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

700 Series--Computing the amount of the former spouse's benefit 

Paragraphs 701 through 704 contain model language for awards of former spouse survivor annuities in 

amounts that do not require specification of the base on which the former spouse's share will be 

computed. Situations in which the computational base need not be specified include amounts defined by 

law or regulation. For example, the maximum former spouse survivor annuity is fixed by statute 

generally at 55 percent of the employee annuity under CSRS and 50 percent of the employee annuity 

under FERS. 

Paragraphs 711 and 712 contain model language for awards of former spouse survivor annuities that use 

the employee annuity as the base on which the portion awarded will be computed (that is, on which 

percentage, fraction or formula will be applied). Paragraphs 721 and 722 contain model language for 

awards of former spouse survivor annuities that use the maximum possible survivor annuity as the base on 

which the portion awarded will be computed (that is, on which percentage, fraction or formula will be 

applied). Using the maximum possible survivor annuity as the base will generally award 55 percent under 

CSRS and 50 percent under FERS of the amount that using the employee annuity as the base would 

produce. Paragraphs 750 and higher contain model language to implement the most common other types 

of awards. 

Each model paragraph includes a reference to the statutory provision under CSRS that authorizes OPM to 

honor court orders awarding former spouse survivor annuities. The FERS statutory provision that 

corresponds to section 8341(h) (mentioned in the first sentence of each example) is section 8445. 

701 Award of the For a spouse who was married to a retiree at the time of retirement and 

maximum consented to an election of less than a full survivor annuity, the maximum 

survivor annuity is the amount elected at retirement. For a spouse acquired after retirement 

and for whom the retiree elected less than the maximum survivor benefit, 

this language should be used only if the intent is to increase the survivor 

benefit to the maximum.

Using the following paragraph will award the maximum possible former 

spouse survivor annuity. Under CSRS, the maximum possible survivor 

annuity is 55 percent of the employee annuity unless the surviving spouse 

or former spouse was married to the retiree at retirement and agreed to a 

lesser amount at that time. Under FERS, the maximum possible survivor 

annuity is 50 percent of the employee annuity unless the surviving spouse 

or former spouse was married to the retiree at retirement and agreed to a 

lesser amount at that time.

"Under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, United States Code, [former 

spouse] is awarded the maximum possible former spouse survivor 

annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System." 

Update 14 

August 15, 1995 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 37 

Chapter 5 

702 Award that If a survivor benefit election of less than the full amount is in effect at the 

continues the 

pre-divorce 

survivor annuity 

benefits 

time of divorce, use of this language will emphasize that the lower benefit 

will remain in effect after the divorce. In all other instances this language 

will produce the maximum survivor annuity. 

Using the following paragraph will award a former spouse survivor annuity 

equal to the amount that the former spouse would have received if the 

marriage were never terminated by divorce. 

"Under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, United States Code, [Former 

spouse] is awarded a former spouse survivor annuity under the Civil 

Service Retirement System in the same amount to which [former 

spouse] would have been entitled if the divorce had not occurred." 

703 Award of a 

prorata share

Using the following paragraph will award the former spouse a prorata share 

of the maximum possible survivor annuity. Prorata share is defined in 

§ 838.922. To award a prorata share the court order must state the date of 

the marriage. Unless the court order specifies a different ending date, the 

marriage ends for computation purposes on the date that the court order is 

filed with the court clerk. 

"Under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, United States Code, [former 

spouse] is awarded a former spouse survivor annuity under the Civil 

Service Retirement System. The amount of the former spouse survivor 

annuity will be equal to a prorata share. The marriage began on [insert 

date]." 

704 Award of a fixed 

monthly amount

Using the following paragraph will award a former spouse survivor annuity 

that will start at the amount stated in the order when the employee or retiree 

dies, unless the stated amount exceeds the maximum possible former spouse 

survivor annuity. If the amount stated in the order exceeds the maximum 

possible former spouse survivor annuity, the court order will be treated as 

awarding the maximum. After payment of the former spouse survivor 

annuity has begun, COLA's will be applied in accordance with § 838.735. 

If the final sentence of this model paragraph is omitted, OPM will add 

COLA's occurring after the date of the employee's retirement or the date of 

issuance of the court order, whichever is later. 

"Under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, United States Code, [former 

spouse] is awarded a former spouse survivor annuity under the Civil 

Service Retirement System. The amount of the former spouse survivor 

annuity will be equal to $[insert a number] per month. The Office of 

Personnel Management is ordered not to increase this amount by 

COLA's occurring before death of [employee or retiree]." 

Update 14 

CSRS and FERS Handbook August 15, 1995 
38 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

711 Award of a 

percentage or 

fraction of the 

employee annuity

Using the following paragraph will award a former spouse survivor annuity 

equal to the stated percentage or fraction of the employee annuity. The 

stated percentage or fraction may not exceed 55 percent under CSRS or 50 

percent under FERS. 

"Under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, United States Code, [former 

spouse] is awarded a former spouse survivor annuity under the Civil 

Service Retirement System. The amount of the former spouse survivor 

annuity will be equal to [insert a percentage or fraction] percent of the 

[employee]'s employee annuity." 

712 Award based on 

a stated formula 

as a share of 

employee annuity

Using the following paragraphs will award a former spouse survivor 

annuity in an amount to be determined by applying a stated formula to 

employee annuity. The amount of the former spouse survivor annuity may 

not exceed 55 percent of the employee annuity under CSRS or 50 percent 

under FERS. The formula must be stated in the court order (including a 

court-approved property settlement agreement). The formula may not be 

incorporated by reference to a statutory provision or a court decision in 

another case. If the court order uses a formula, the court order must 

include any data that is necessary for OPM to evaluate the formula unless 

the necessary data is contained in normal OPM files. 

"Under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, United States Code, [former 

spouse] is awarded a former spouse survivor annuity under the Civil 

Service Retirement System. The amount of the former spouse survivor 

annuity will be the portion of the [employee]'s employee annuity 

computed as follows: 

"[Insert formula.]"

721 Award of a

percentage or

fraction of the

maximum

Using the following paragraph will award a former spouse survivor annuity 

equal to the stated percentage or fraction of the maximum possible survivor 

annuity. The stated percentage or fraction may not exceed 100 percent. 

survivor annuity "Under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, United States Code, [former spouse] is 

awarded a former spouse survivor annuity under the Civil Service 

Retirement System. The amount of the former spouse survivor annuity will 

be equal to [insert a percentage or fraction] of the maximum possible 

survivor annuity. 

Update 14 

August 15, 1995 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 39 

Chapter 5 

722 Award based on 

a stated formula 

as a share of 

maximum 

survivor annuity

Using the following paragraphs will award a former spouse survivor 

annuity based on a stated formula to be applied to the maximum possible 

survivor annuity. The formula must be stated in the court order (including 

a court-approved property settlement agreement). The formula may not be 

incorporated by reference to a statutory provision or a court decision in 

another case. If the court order uses a formula, the court order must 

include any data that is necessary for OPM to evaluate the formula unless 

the necessary data is contained in normal OPM files. 

"Under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, United States Code, [former 

spouse] is awarded a former spouse survivor annuity under the Civil 

Service Retirement System. The amount of the former spouse survivor 

annuity will be the portion of the maximum possible survivor annuity 

computed as follows: 

"[Insert formula.]"

751 Changing amount 

of former spouse 

survivor annuity 

based on 

remarriage 

before retirement

Using the following paragraph will award the maximum possible former 

spouse survivor annuity unless the employee remarries before retirement. 

Upon the employee's remarriage before retirement the amount of the former 

spouse survivor annuity changes to a prorata share. The maximum possible 

and prorata share are used as examples only; other amounts may be 

substituted. Similar language is not acceptable for remarriages after 

retirement. 

"Under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, United States Code, [former 

spouse] is awarded the maximum possible former spouse survivor 

annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System unless [employee] 

remarries before retirement. If [employee] remarries before 

retirement, under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, United States Code, 

[former spouse] is awarded a former spouse survivor annuity under the 

Civil Service Retirement System. The amount of the former spouse 

survivor annuity will be equal to a prorata share. The marriage to 

[former spouse] began on [insert date]." 

752 Changing amount 

of former spouse 

survivor annuity 

based on 

remarriage after 

retirement

Using the following paragraph will award the maximum possible former 

spouse survivor annuity unless the employee remarries after retirement and 

elects to provide a survivor annuity for the spouse acquired after retirement. 

Upon the employee's remarriage after retirement and election to provide a 

survivor annuity for the spouse acquired after retirement, the amount of the 

former spouse survivor annuity changes to a prorata share. The maximum 

possible and prorata share are used as examples only; other amounts may be 

substituted. The change in the of the former spouse survivor annuity must 

be triggered by the election, which is a part of normal OPM files, rather 

than the remarriage, which is not documented in normal OPM files. 

Update 14 

CSRS and FERS Handbook August 15, 1995 
40 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

"Under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, United States Code, [former 

spouse] is awarded the maximum possible former spouse survivor 

annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System unless [employee] 

elects to provide a survivor annuity for a new spouse acquired after 

retirement. If [employee] elects to provide a survivor annuity to a new 

spouse acquired after retirement, under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, 

United States Code, [former spouse] is awarded a former spouse 

survivor annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. The 

amount of the former spouse survivor annuity will be equal to a 

prorata share. The marriage to [former spouse] began on [insert 

date]." 

Update 14 

August 15, 1995 CSRS and FERS Handbook 
 CSRS Court Orders FERS 41 

Chapter 5 

800 Series--Paying the cost of a former spouse survivor annuity 

A court order awarding a former spouse survivor annuity requires that the employee annuity be reduced. 

The reduction lowers the gross employee annuity. The costs associated with providing the former spouse 

survivor annuity must be paid by annuity reduction. Under § 838.807, if the former spouse is awarded a 

portion of the employee annuity sufficient to pay the cost associated with providing the survivor annuity, 

the former spouse's share may be reduced to pay the cost. 

801 Costs to be paid No special provision on payment of the costs associated with providing the 

from the former spouse survivor annuity is necessary if the court intends the cost to 

employee annuity be taken from the employee annuity.

802 Costs to be paid 

from former 

spouse's share of 

the employee 

annuity

Using the following paragraph will award the former spouse a prorata share 

of the employee annuity and a prorata share of the maximum possible 

survivor annuity and provide that the cost associated with the survivor 

annuity be deducted from the former spouses's share of the employee 

annuity. Prorata share and self-only annuity are used as examples only; 

another amount or type of annuity may be substituted. 

"[Employee] is (or will be) eligible for retirement benefits under the 

Civil Service Retirement System based on employment with the United 

States Government. [Former spouse] is entitled to a prorata share of 

[employee]'s self-only monthly annuity under the Civil Service 

Retirement System. [Former spouse]'s share of [employee]'s 

employee annuity will be reduced by the amount of the costs associated 

with providing the former spouse survivor annuity awarded in the next 

paragraph. The marriage began on [insert date]. The United States 

Office of Personnel Management is directed to pay [former spouse]'s 

share directly to [former spouse]." 

"Under section 8341(h)(1) of title 5, United States Code, [former 

spouse] is awarded a former spouse survivor annuity under the Civil 

Service Retirement System. The amount of the former spouse survivor 

annuity will be equal to a prorata share. 

Update 14 

CSRS and FERS Handbook August 15, 1995 
42 CSRS Court Orders FERS 

Chapter 5 

900 Series--Refunds of employee contributions 

Court orders that award a former spouse survivor annuity based on the service of an employee who is not 

then eligible to retire should include an additional paragraph containing instructions that tell OPM what to 

do if the employee requests a refund of employee contributions before becoming eligible to retire. The 

court order may award the former spouse a portion of the refund of employee contributions or bar 

payment of the refund of employee contributions. 

901 Barring payment 

of a refund of 

employee 

contributions

Using the following paragraph will bar payment of the refund of employee 

contributions if payment of the refund of employee contributions would 

extinguish the former spouse's entitlement to a former spouse survivor 

annuity. 

"The United States Office of Personnel Management is directed not to 

pay [employee] a refund of employee contributions." 

902 Dividing a refund Using the following paragraph will allow the refund of employee 

of employee contributions to be paid but will award a prorata share of the refund of 

contributions employee contributions to the former spouse. The award of a prorata share 

is used only an example; the court order could provide another fraction, 

percentage, or formula, or a fixed amount. A refund of employee 

contributions voids the employee's rights to an employee annuity unless the 

employee is reemployed under the retirement system. Payment of the 

refund of employee contributions will also extinguish the former spouse's 

right to a court-ordered portion of an employee annuity or a former spouse 

survivor annuity unless the employee is reemployed and reestablishes title 

to annuity benefits. 

"If [employee] becomes eligible and applies for a refund of employee 

contributions, [former spouse] is entitled to a prorata share of the 

refund of employee contributions. The marriage began on [insert 

date]. The United States Office of Personnel Management is directed 

to pay [former spouse]'s share directly to [former spouse]." 

Update 14 

August 15, 1995 CSRS and FERS Handbook