Does a divorce nullify a members designation of the former spouse as the beneficiary of his/her death benefit?
No. Even though a member has divorced his/her spouse, a member’s prior designation of the former spouse as his/her death benefit beneficiary remains valid and effective, unless and until changed by the member through the filing of a valid Beneficiary Designation or Change form (Form 60) with the Fund. The Fund has no power under law to pay a death benefit to any person other than the member’s last validly designated beneficiary or beneficiaries. Except as provided by the express terms of a governing instrument (i.e., a DRO on file with PPF), a divorce, annulment or judicial separation agreement will terminate a PPF member’s prior designation of a former spouse as a beneficiary. However, if the member wishes to maintain the former spouse as the beneficiary subsequent to the divorce, annulment, or judicial separation, the member must re-designate the former spouse as beneficiary on a beneficiary form submitted to the Fund after the date of the divorce, annulment or judicial separation. A
Related Questions
- If a member is eligible for pension and dies in service without an insured death benefit or widows pension, is his beneficiary entitled to a refund of his contributions?
- Can a domestic partner who is considered a spouse by common law marriage get the death benefit of a policy with no named beneficiary?
- Does a divorce nullify a members designation of the former spouse as the beneficiary of his/her death benefit?
