A valid court order must certify that the service member's rights were observed under the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940. However, the member could change the designation to a new spouse upon remarriage. When the former spouse is designated as the SBP beneficiary and the agreement is incoporated in or ratified by a court order, the servicemember may NOT change beneficiaries without written concurrence from the former spouse. The request and copy of the court order must be filed with DFAS within one year of the date of the court order. The plan must be purchased quarterly and former spouses may retain the plan for 36 months after the loss of eligibility for military medical care.
Medical benefits cease upon remarriage and can never be reinstated.
The entitlement to these privileges ceases upon remarriage but can be reinstated if the remarriage ends because of death or divorce. Active duty servicemembers are reminded that they may seek information on the Former Spouse Protection Act from their installation's legal assistance office.