---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 C.F.R. § 838.501"
title: "5"
number: "838.501"
heading: "Purpose and scope."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/5/838.501"
---

# §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.

## Notes

### Authority

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).

### Source

Source: 57 FR 33574, July 29, 1992, unless otherwise noted.