Code of Federal Regulations Title 5. Administrative Personnel § 5.838.101 Purpose 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.

(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.