5 CFR § 838.501 - Purpose and scope.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s838.501"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 838.501 - Purpose and scope."
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "838.501"
section_name: "Purpose and scope."
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"
---


# 838.501 Purpose and scope.

This subpart regulates the requirements that a court order directed at or barring a refund of employee contributions must meet to be a court order acceptable for processing.

(a) A court order is directed at a refund of employee contributions if it awards a former spouse a portion of a refund of employee contributions.

(b) A court order bars a refund of employee contributions if it prohibits payment of a refund of employee contributions to preserve a former spouse's court-awarded entitlement to a portion of an employee annuity or to a former spouse survivor annuity.