Life
Questions and answers
Yes. Effective July 22, 1998, a new law changed the way the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) pays death benefits. OFEGLI must pay benefits in accordance with the terms of a valid court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation, or the terms of a court order or court-approved property settlement agreement relating to such a court decree, regardless of whether the insured individual actually completes a designation complying with the court order.
To be valid the court order must be a certified copy. The appropriate office must receive the certified copy before the insured's death and it must expressly provide for someone to receive your FEGLI benefits.
If a valid court order is in effect, the insured individual cannot change his/her designation, unless the person(s) named in the court order agrees in writing or unless the court order is later modified.