Opinion ID: 2549122
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: documents needed to divide military retired pay.

Text: The USFSPA defines a court order dividing military retired pay enforceable under the Act as a final decree of divorce, dissolution, annulment, or legal separation issued by a court, or a court ordered, ratified, or approved property settlement incident to such a decree. [9] This also includes an order modifying a previously issued court order. Since military retired pay is a Federal entitlement, and not a qualified pension plan, there is no requirement that a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) be used. As long as the award is set forth in the divorce decree or other court order in an acceptable manner, that is sufficient. It is also not necessary to judicially join the member's plan as a part of the divorce proceeding. There is no Federal statutory authority for this. The award may also be set forth in a court ratified or approved separation agreement, or other court order issued incident to the divorce. In order to submit an application for payments under the USFSPA, a former spouse needs to submit a copy of the applicable court order certified by the clerk of court within 90 days immediately preceding its service on the designated agent, [10] along with a completed application form (DD Form 2293). [11] Instructions, including designated agent names and addresses, are on the back of the DD Form 2293. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is the designated agent for all uniformed military services. The Form and instructions can be downloaded from our DFAS website at www. dfas.mil. Click on Money Matters, then Garnishments.