Court Ordered Division of Employer Sponsored Civilian Retirement Benefits:

Civilian Employer Sponsored Retirement Benefits primarily fall into two categories:

1. Defined Contribution Plan – An example of this would be a Retirement Savings Plan sponsored by the employer, such as a 401(k) plan or a 403(b) plan.
2. Defined Benefit Plan – An example of this would be a monthly benefit (sometimes referred to as an annuity) that is received upon retirement. The amount of the monthly benefit is usually based off of the amount of earnings, the length of employment and the age of the employee.

Civilian retirement benefits can be earned through civilian government employment and/or private employment. Like military retirement benefits, federal and state laws have specific provisions and requirements as to how they are to be treated in a divorce proceeding. The examples given are not exclusive. The laws that govern the award of civilian retirement benefits are very complicated. If a civilian retirement is involved, an attorney should be utilized.

Civil Service Retirement Benefits (FERS/CSRS) - OPM

U.S. Office of Personnel Management – A Handbook for Attorneys on Court-Ordered Retirement, Health Benefits, and Life Insurance Under the Civil Service Retirement System, Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)  This is not a link but the handbook is very informative about the mechanics of the division of Civil Service Retirement Benefits.

Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System

This link provides general information about retirement benefits for state employees in Oklahoma. The information found at this link is provided by the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS).

www.opers.ok.gov/forms

Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma

This link provides general information about the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System. The information found at this link is provided by the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma.

https://www.ok.gov/TRS/Forms/index.html

Oklahoma Police Pension & Retirement System

This link provides general information about the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System. The information found at this link is provided by the Oklahoma Police Pension & Retirement System.

https://www.ok.gov/OPPRS/Forms/index.html

Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System

This link provides general information about the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System. The information found at this link is provided by the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System.

https://www.ok.gov/fprs/Forms/index.html

Qualified Domestic Relations Order

https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-qdro-qualified-domestic-relations-order

This link provides general information about what a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is. The information found at this link is provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plan-participant-notices-domestic-relations-orders-that-affect-benefits

This link provides general information about the requirements for a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). The information found at this link is provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).