5 CFR § 838.231 - Commencing date of payments.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s838.231"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 838.231 - Commencing date of payments."
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "838.231"
section_name: "Commencing date of payments."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"
part_number: "838"
part_name: "COURT ORDERS AFFECTING RETIREMENT BENEFITS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 8347(a) and 8461(g). Subparts B, C, D, E, J, and K also issued under 5 U.S.C. 8345(j)(2) and 8467(b). Sections 838.221, 838.422, and 838.721 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 8347(b)."
regulatory_source: "57 FR 33574, July 29, 1992, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "838"
---


# 838.231 Commencing date of payments.

(a) A court order acceptable for processing is effective against employee annuity accruing beginning the first day of the second month after OPM receives the court order.

(b)(1) OPM will not begin payments to the former spouse until OPM receives all the documentation required by § 838.221 (b) and (c).

(2) If payments are delayed under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, after OPM receives all required documentation, it will authorize payment of the annuity that has accrued since the date determined under paragraph (a) of this section but the payment of which was delayed under paragraph (b)(1) of this section.