5 CFR § 1651.4 - How to change a designation of beneficiary.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s1651.4"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 1651.4 - How to change a designation of beneficiary."
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "1651.4"
section_name: "How to change a designation of beneficiary."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RETIREMENT THRIFT INVESTMENT BOARD"
part_number: "1651"
part_name: "DEATH 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. 8424(d), 8432d, 8432(j), 8433(e), 8435(c)(2), 8474(b)(5) and 8474(c)(1)."
regulatory_source: "62 FR 32429, June 13, 1997, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1651"
---


# 1651.4 How to change a designation of beneficiary.

(a) *Change.* To change a designation of beneficiary, the participant must submit to the TSP record keeper a new TSP designation of beneficiary meeting the requirements of § 1651.3 to the TSP record keeper. If the TSP record keeper receives more than one valid designation of beneficiary, it will honor the designation with the latest date signed by the participant. A participant may change a TSP beneficiary at any time, without the knowledge or consent of any person, including his or her spouse.

(b) [Reserved]

(c) *Will.* A participant cannot use a will to change a TSP designation of beneficiary.

[87 FR 31686, May 24, 2022]