Divorce and FERS- will you really not remarry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bad breakup, she cheated. I would never pay a dime to an ex who has another man to support her. That’s his job. If she wants both his company and my money, that says something bad about her. She should try to get what is due her up front, and make a clean break. I’d leave the country rather than pay monthly while some other guy sleeps where I used to. I’d mislead the government to prevent it from paying her my money. (Kids, that’s different.)

Bad breakup, addicted husband left 13 year marriage and three kids.

I’ll happily take his checks while I bed a man in the bed and home we used to share.

Thanks!

Doesn't work that way, she will send Divorce Decree/agreement to OPM and it will be on file when you retire.
Its a criminal offense to lie on you Federal retirement forms.

They rarely enforce it. My husband's ex lied and she got to keep the the money that should have been returned.

[Anonymous]

Huh, funny that this resurfaced. I’m the OP. I now have a finalized agreement. I didn’t realize that no matter what I get to keep my portion of his retirement. It’s only the survivor benefit and the healthcare annuity that get forfeited if you remarry. So that was a nice surprise. Nice to know I get a chunk of money every month now regardless of what I do. I did elect for the survivor benefits and I will pay for them. That said, I’m young, so who knows what will happen?

[Anonymous]

I was married for 10 years, then re-married to current husband. Recently the ex died. There was a small life annuity from his pension from when we were together. My name was still on it apparently. They've already sent me the info. I don't think his current wife is too happy, but wonder why she didn't get it. I thought anything pension related goes to the current spouse. Unless she isn't a legal wife...a little surprising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never remarry, regardless.

X2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh, funny that this resurfaced. I’m the OP. I now have a finalized agreement. I didn’t realize that no matter what I get to keep my portion of his retirement. It’s only the survivor benefit and the healthcare annuity that get forfeited if you remarry. So that was a nice surprise. Nice to know I get a chunk of money every month now regardless of what I do. I did elect for the survivor benefits and I will pay for them. That said, I’m young, so who knows what will happen?

It's grotesque and unjust that you get any of that money.

[Anonymous]

I am a Fed working at age 71. I’m never going to retire and give my cheating XW a portion of my retirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh, funny that this resurfaced. I’m the OP. I now have a finalized agreement. I didn’t realize that no matter what I get to keep my portion of his retirement. It’s only the survivor benefit and the healthcare annuity that get forfeited if you remarry. So that was a nice surprise. Nice to know I get a chunk of money every month now regardless of what I do. I did elect for the survivor benefits and I will pay for them. That said, I’m young, so who knows what will happen?

It's grotesque and unjust that you get any of that money.

Why? That's her portion of their joint assets like everything else. Of course she should take that monthly amount. Time goes quickly and OP will be glad she'll have that. We know too many people that didn't plan right for retirement, and are short.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was married for 10 years, then re-married to current husband. Recently the ex died. There was a small life annuity from his pension from when we were together. My name was still on it apparently. They've already sent me the info. I don't think his current wife is too happy, but wonder why she didn't get it. I thought anything pension related goes to the current spouse. Unless she isn't a legal wife...a little surprising.

My guess is that he never changed over the paperwork to his current wife or not married. A person has to be added to the benefit. My husband had to add me and when we had kids, each child. He pays the annuity for me and the kids. When he dies, his ex loses her portion. If you think they are married, my guess is he forgot to add her to the paperwork.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh, funny that this resurfaced. I’m the OP. I now have a finalized agreement. I didn’t realize that no matter what I get to keep my portion of his retirement. It’s only the survivor benefit and the healthcare annuity that get forfeited if you remarry. So that was a nice surprise. Nice to know I get a chunk of money every month now regardless of what I do. I did elect for the survivor benefits and I will pay for them. That said, I’m young, so who knows what will happen?

It's grotesque and unjust that you get any of that money.

Why? That's her portion of their joint assets like everything else. Of course she should take that monthly amount. Time goes quickly and OP will be glad she'll have that. We know too many people that didn't plan right for retirement, and are short.

It's bullshit. She's not even 40. She neither needs, nor deserves, a piece of his retirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh, funny that this resurfaced. I’m the OP. I now have a finalized agreement. I didn’t realize that no matter what I get to keep my portion of his retirement. It’s only the survivor benefit and the healthcare annuity that get forfeited if you remarry. So that was a nice surprise. Nice to know I get a chunk of money every month now regardless of what I do. I did elect for the survivor benefits and I will pay for them. That said, I’m young, so who knows what will happen?

It's grotesque and unjust that you get any of that money.

Why? That's her portion of their joint assets like everything else. Of course she should take that monthly amount. Time goes quickly and OP will be glad she'll have that. We know too many people that didn't plan right for retirement, and are short.

It's bullshit. She's not even 40. She neither needs, nor deserves, a piece of his retirement.

Correction, "their retirement".

[Anonymous]

OP here. Give me a break. I am actually the higher earning spouse so he is getting plenty from me. You take a wholistic look at the finances and split everything in half. Part of that package is that we were married for many years while he was a civil servant, so I get a part (a part of the marital share) of his FERS. The end. I’m not a bad person because of this. Give me a huuuuuge break.

[Anonymous]

My father died at 67. My mother can't collect his pension. No survivor benefits. She will have to go to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Give me a break. I am actually the higher earning spouse so he is getting plenty from me. You take a wholistic look at the finances and split everything in half. Part of that package is that we were married for many years while he was a civil servant, so I get a part (a part of the marital share) of his FERS. The end. I’m not a bad person because of this. Give me a huuuuuge break.

You aren't a bad person this forum gets some serious misogynistic comments from some bitter men.

I have to say this is the most wonky, Federal worker inside baseball thread I have ever read. Kinda fascinating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was married for 10 years, then re-married to current husband. Recently the ex died. There was a small life annuity from his pension from when we were together. My name was still on it apparently. They've already sent me the info. I don't think his current wife is too happy, but wonder why she didn't get it. I thought anything pension related goes to the current spouse. Unless she isn't a legal wife...a little surprising.

My guess is that he never changed over the paperwork to his current wife or not married. A person has to be added to the benefit. My husband had to add me and when we had kids, each child. He pays the annuity for me and the kids. When he dies, his ex loses her portion. If you think they are married, my guess is he forgot to add her to the paperwork.

Since my post it looks like it was part of the QDO in our divorce. And this is a private pension not state which probably has different laws. Still a nice surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Give me a break. I am actually the higher earning spouse so he is getting plenty from me. You take a wholistic look at the finances and split everything in half. Part of that package is that we were married for many years while he was a civil servant, so I get a part (a part of the marital share) of his FERS. The end. I’m not a bad person because of this. Give me a huuuuuge break.

You aren't a bad person this forum gets some serious misogynistic comments from some bitter men.

I have to say this is the most wonky, Federal worker inside baseball thread I have ever read. Kinda fascinating.

I agree, but how do they not know retirement accounts are joint!