Divorce After Retirement

If you divorce, your former spouse/registered domestic partner is no longer your “surviving spouse” and is not eligible to receive benefits upon your death. Therefore, when you divorce, your spousal designation is automatically cancelled and you must re-designate your beneficiary.

Domestic Relations Order (DRO)  

Although the retirement benefit option you chose at the time of your retirement cannot be changed, if your marriage is dissolved after you retire, your benefit may be reduced to provide retirement income to your former spouse/registered domestic partner.

A Domestic Relations Order (DRO) is a legal document and can structure the division of your retirement payment as needed or required by law. A DRO can also address how any applicable lump sum death benefits are to be divided.

Click the Dividing Community Property booklet for more information.