Final Rule Relating to Time and Order of Issuance of Domestic Relations Orders, 32846-32852 [2010-13868]

Agencies

• Employee Benefits Security Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 111 (Thursday, June 10, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32846-32852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13868]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration

29 CFR Part 2530

RIN 1210-AB15


Final Rule Relating to Time and Order of Issuance of Domestic 
Relations Orders

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document finalizes an interim final rule published on 
March 7, 2007, which was adopted in response to the specific statutory 
directive contained in section 1001 of the Pension Protection Act of 
2006, Public Law No.

[[Page 32847]]

109-280 (PPA), requiring the Secretary of Labor to issue, not later 
than one year after the date of the enactment of the PPA, regulations 
clarifying certain issues relating to the timing and order of domestic 
relations orders under section 206(d)(3) of the Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). The rule provides 
guidance to plan administrators, service providers, participants, and 
alternate payees on the qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) 
requirements under ERISA. The rule is being adopted in response to the 
specific statutory directive contained in the PPA.

DATES: The final rule is effective on August 9, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison E. Wielobob, Office of 
Regulations and Interpretations, Employee Benefits Security 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 
693-8510. This is not a toll free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Qualified Domestic Relations Order Provisions

    Section 206(d)(3) of title I of ERISA, and the related provisions 
of section 414(p) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code), 
establish a limited exception to the prohibitions against assignment 
and alienation contained in ERISA section 206(d)(1) and Code section 
401(a)(13).\1\ Under this limited exception, a participant's benefits 
under a pension plan may be assigned to an alternate payee, defined as 
the participant's spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent, 
pursuant to an order that constitutes a qualified domestic relations 
order (QDRO) within the meaning of those provisions. Such QDROs, in 
addition, survive the federal preemption of State law imposed by ERISA 
section 514(a) by virtue of ERISA section 514(b)(7).
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    \1\ The QDRO provisions were added to ERISA and the Code by the 
Retirement Equity Act of 1984 (REA), Public Law No. 98-397, 98 Stat. 
1426 (1984). Except where no corresponding provision exists, all 
references to paragraphs of ERISA section 206(d)(3) should be read 
to refer to corresponding provisions of Code section 414(p). The 
Secretary of Labor has authority to interpret the QDRO provisions, 
section 206(d)(3), and its parallel provision at section 414(p) of 
the Code, and to issue QDRO regulations in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Treasury. 29 U.S.C. 1056(d)(3)(N) and 26 U.S.C. 
414(p)(13). The Secretary of the Treasury has authority to issue 
rules and regulations necessary to coordinate the requirements of 
section 414(p) (and the regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor 
thereunder) with the other provisions of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of 
the Code. 26 U.S.C. 401(n). The Secretary of the Treasury and the 
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation were consulted in connection 
with the final rule.
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    Pursuant to the QDRO provisions, a plan administrator must 
determine, in accordance with specified procedures, whether an order 
purporting to divide a participant's benefits under a plan meets the 
applicable requirements set forth in section 206(d)(3) of ERISA.\2\ If 
the plan administrator determines that the order meets these 
requirements and is, accordingly, a QDRO within the meaning of section 
206(d)(3), the plan administrator must distribute the assigned portion 
of the participant's benefits to the alternate payee or payees named in 
the order in accordance with the terms of the order.
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    \2\ For purposes of the Code, the requirements of section 
414(p)(2) and (3) (parallel to ERISA section 206(d)(3)(C) and (D)) 
do not apply to governmental plans, church plans, or eligible plans 
under Code section 457(b). See Code section 414(p)(9) and (11).
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    Subparagraphs (G) and (H) of ERISA section 206(d)(3) set forth 
provisions relating to the procedures that a plan must establish, and a 
plan administrator must observe, in determining whether an order is a 
QDRO and in administering the plan and the participant's benefits 
during the period in which the plan administrator is making such a 
determination. The plan's procedures must be reasonable, must be in 
writing, must require prompt notification and disclosure of the 
procedures to participants and alternate payees upon receipt of an 
order, and must permit alternate payees to designate representatives 
for notice purposes. In addition, the plan administrator must complete 
the determination process and notify participants and alternate payees 
of its determination within a reasonable period after receipt of the 
order.
    Subparagraph (H) of section 206(d)(3) provides specific procedural 
protection of a potential alternate payee's interest in a participant's 
benefits during the plan's determination process and for a period of up 
to 18 months (the 18-month period) during which the issue of the 
qualified status of a domestic relations order is being determined--
whether by the plan administrator, by a court of competent 
jurisdiction, or otherwise. During the 18-month period, a plan 
administrator must separately account for any amounts that would have 
been payable to the alternate payee if the order had been immediately 
treated as a QDRO and must pay these amounts (including any interest 
thereon) to the alternate payee if the order is determined to be a QDRO 
within such period. If the issue as to whether the order is a QDRO is 
not resolved within the 18-month period, the plan administrator is to 
pay such amounts to the person or persons who would have been entitled 
to the amounts if there had been no order. Any determination that an 
order is a QDRO that is made after the close of the 18-month period is 
to be applied prospectively only.
    If a plan fiduciary, acting in accordance with the fiduciary 
responsibility provisions of part 4 of title I of ERISA, treats an 
order as a QDRO (or determines that such an order is not a QDRO) and 
distributes benefits in accordance with that determination, paragraph 
(I) of section 206(d)(3) provides that the obligations of the plan and 
its fiduciaries to the affected participants and alternate payees with 
respect to the distribution shall be treated as discharged.
    The QDRO provisions detail specific requirements that an order must 
satisfy in order to constitute a QDRO. The order must be a ``domestic 
relations order,'' which is a judgment, decree, or order issued 
pursuant to a State domestic relations law (including a community 
property law) that relates to the provision of child support, alimony 
payments, or marital property rights to a spouse, former spouse, child, 
or other dependent of a participant. Section 206(d)(3)(B)(ii). It must 
create or recognize the existence of an alternate payee's right to 
receive all or a portion of the benefits payable with respect to a 
participant under a plan. Section 206(d)(3)(B)(i). Further, it must 
clearly specify the name and last known mailing address (if any) of the 
participant and the name and mailing address of each alternate payee 
covered by the order; the amount or percentage of the participant's 
benefits to be paid by the plan(s) to each such alternate payee, or the 
manner in which such amount or percentage is to be determined; the 
number of payments or period to which the order applies; and each plan 
to which the order applies. Section 206(d)(3)(C). An order will fail to 
be a QDRO, however, if it requires the plan: To provide any type or 
form of benefit, or any option, not otherwise provided under the plan; 
to provide increased benefits determined on the basis of actuarial 
value; or to pay benefits to an alternate payee that are required to be 
paid to another alternate payee under another order previously 
determined to be a QDRO. Section 206(d)(3)(D).

B. Pension Protection Act of 2006

    Under section 1001 of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA), 
Public Law 109-280, section 1001, 120 Stat. 780 (2006), Congress 
instructed the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations, not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment, under section 206(d)(3) of 
ERISA and section 414(p) of the

[[Page 32848]]

Code, to clarify that--(1) a domestic relations order otherwise meeting 
the requirements to be a QDRO, including the requirements of section 
206(d)(3)(D) of ERISA and section 414(p)(3) of the Code, shall not fail 
to be treated as a QDRO solely because--(A) the order is issued after, 
or revises, another domestic relations order or QDRO; or (B) of the 
time at which it is issued. Section 1001 of the PPA also requires that 
the regulations clarify that such orders are subject to all of the same 
requirements and protections that apply to QDROs, including the 
provisions of section 206(d)(3)(H) of ERISA and section 414(p)(7) of 
the Code.

C. Interim Final Rule and Public Comments

    On March 7, 2007, the Department published an interim final rule 
(IFR) with a request for comments.\3\ The IFR closely tracks the 
statutory language of section 1001 of the PPA. The IFR also includes 
several illustrative examples of specific fact patterns that the 
Department understands to be relatively common situations faced by 
plans. The Department received 24 comments in response to the request 
for comments contained in the IFR. Overall, the comments were 
favorable.
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    \3\ 72 FR 10070.
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    A number of commenters asked the Department to add additional 
examples to illustrate the rules in the regulation. The suggested 
additions generally were slight variations on the existing examples. 
The Department was not persuaded that additional examples are necessary 
to illustrate or further clarify the general rules of the regulation. 
To the contrary, the Department is concerned that, by adding more 
examples, some might conclude that the examples themselves are the only 
circumstances to which the general principles, contained in paragraphs 
(b)(1), (c)(1), and (d)(1) of the final regulation, apply. Such a 
conclusion would be inconsistent with the intent of the Department.\4\ 
Accordingly, the Department, with one exception (discussed below), has 
decided against adding additional examples.
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    \4\ The examples in paragraphs (b)(2), (c)(2), and (d)(2) of the 
final regulation show how the rules in paragraphs (b)(1), (c)(1), 
and (d)(1), respectively, apply to specific facts. They do not 
represent the only circumstances for which these rules apply.
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    A number of commenters were concerned that Example (1), set forth 
in paragraph (c)(2) of the IFR, could be interpreted as requiring a 
plan fiduciary to reject a posthumous order if the plan fiduciary was 
not given notice of that order before the death of the participant. The 
Department does not agree with that interpretation of the example. 
Example (1) was intended to clarify that a domestic relations order 
will not fail to be a QDRO solely because it is issued after the death 
of a participant. The example dealt solely with the timing issue and 
its conclusion does not depend on the plan's receipt of pre-death 
notification of the domestic relations order. The facts of the example 
include pre-death notification merely because, as indicated above, the 
Department understands this to be a fairly frequent fact pattern 
confronted by plans. Nothing in the example should be construed as a 
requirement under section 206 of ERISA that an otherwise valid 
posthumous order fails to be a QDRO merely because the plan was not put 
on notice of the order while the participant was alive.\5\ This 
example, which is in paragraph (c)(2) of the final regulation, has been 
modified to address the concern raised by these commenters.
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    \5\ Example (1) in paragraph (d)(2) of the IFR regulation also 
dealt with a posthumous domestic relations order, but in this 
example no pre-death notice is given to the plan. This example dealt 
solely with the type or form of benefit. Although the order in this 
example fails to be a QDRO, the conclusion is unrelated to the 
absence of pre-death notification to the plan. This example is 
unchanged and is in paragraph (d)(2) of the final regulation.
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    A number of commenters expressed concern that Example (3), set 
forth in paragraph (c)(2) of the interim final regulation, could be 
read to require plans to provide a type or form of benefit, or an 
option, not otherwise available under the plan contrary to section 
206(d)(3)(D)(i) of ERISA. Example (3) was intended to clarify that a 
domestic relations order will not fail to be a QDRO merely because it 
is issued after the annuity starting date. The example dealt solely 
with the timing issue and assumed that for all other purposes, 
including the requirements of paragraph (d)(3)(D)(i), the order met the 
requirements of section 206. In this regard, it is the view of the 
Department that a domestic relations order issued after the annuity 
starting date would not violate the requirements of section 
206(d)(3)(D)(i) merely because the order requires the allocation of 
some or all of the participant's determined benefit payment under the 
applicable optional form of benefit to an alternate payee. In such 
cases, the plan is merely required to pay a portion of the benefit 
otherwise due to the participant to another person. On the other hand, 
any domestic relations order received by a plan after the original 
annuity starting date of the participant that would require 
reannuitization with a new annuity starting date would violate section 
206(d)(3)(D)(i), unless the plan specifically provides for such an 
option. Examples of an order requiring a reannuitization with a new 
annuity starting date would include an order issued after the annuity 
starting date directing the plan to substitute one measuring life for 
another or directing the plan to change the form of benefit, such as 
from a single life annuity to a qualified joint and survivor annuity 
(QJSA) with a death benefit or from an annuity to a lump sum payment. 
In an effort to clarify the application of the principles in this 
paragraph, the Department has modified Example (3), set forth in 
paragraph (c)(2) of the final regulation, and has added Example (4) to 
paragraph (d)(2) of the final rule.
    With regard to the principle, expressed above, that a domestic 
relations order issued after the annuity starting date does not violate 
the requirements of section 206(d)(3)(D)(i) merely because the order 
requires the allocation of some or all of the participant's determined 
monthly benefit payment to an alternate payee, the Department, based on 
its review of sections 206 and 205 of ERISA, the case law, and other 
relevant guidance, is of the view that such principle does not apply to 
a domestic relations order that is received after the annuity starting 
date and that requires an allocation to an alternate payee of some or 
all of the death benefit that, under the form of benefit in effect, is 
payable to another beneficiary.\6\ An example of this is a plan's 
receipt of a domestic relations order after the annuity starting date 
of a QJSA that assigns to the participant's former spouse a shared 
payment of the participant's current spouse's survivor benefits under 
the QJSA.
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    \6\ See Boggs v. Boggs, 520 U.S. 833 (1997); Hopkins v. AT & T 
Global Info. Solutions Co., 105 F.3d 153 (4th Cir. 1997); Rivers v. 
Central & S.W. Corp., 186 F.3d 681 (5th Cir. 1999); Carmona v. 
Carmona, 548 F. 3d 988 (9th Cir. 2008); 26 CFR 1.401(a)-20 Q&A-
25(b)(3) (second sentence); and 29 CFR 4022.8(d).
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    A number of commenters asked the Department to undertake an 
education campaign on QDROs. The Department's Employee Benefits 
Security Administration (EBSA) already conducts various educational 
outreach programs aimed at increasing awareness of the requirements of 
ERISA and helping fiduciaries meet their legal obligations. In response 
to these specific comments, however, EBSA will update its educational 
handbook ``QDROs--The Division of Pensions Through Qualified Domestic 
Relations Orders'' that is available at https://www.dol.gov/EBSA/publications.

[[Page 32849]]

    A number of commenters raised QDRO issues pertaining to matters 
that the Department considers to be beyond the scope of the directive 
contained in section 1001 of the PPA. This section of the PPA 
specifically directed the Department to clarify certain timing issues. 
These timing issues are addressed, with examples, in paragraphs (b) 
through (d) of the final regulation. QDRO issues beyond this specific 
directive may be addressed in future guidance by the Department in 
consultation with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and the 
Internal Revenue Service.

D. Overview of Final Rule

Scope of the Regulation

    Paragraph (a) of the regulation provides that the scope of the 
regulation is to implement the directive contained in section 1001 of 
the PPA to clarify certain timing issues with respect to domestic 
relations orders and qualified domestic relations orders under ERISA.

Subsequent Domestic Relations Orders

    Paragraph (b)(1) of the regulation provides that a domestic 
relations order otherwise meeting ERISA's requirements to be a QDRO 
shall not fail to be treated as a QDRO solely because the order is 
issued after, or revises, another domestic relations order or QDRO. 
Paragraph (b)(2) provides examples of this rule. Example 1 illustrates 
this rule as applied to a subsequent order revising an earlier QDRO 
involving the same parties. Example 2 illustrates this rule in the 
context of a subsequent order involving the same participant and a 
different alternate payee.

Timing of Domestic Relations Order

    Paragraph (c)(1) of the regulation provides that a domestic 
relations order otherwise meeting ERISA's requirements to be a QDRO 
shall not fail to be treated as a QDRO solely because of the time at 
which it is issued. Paragraph (c)(2) provides examples of this rule. 
Example 1 illustrates the principle that a domestic relation order will 
not fail to be a QDRO solely because it is issued after the death of 
the participant. Example 2 illustrates that a domestic relation order 
will not fail to be a QDRO solely because it is issued after the 
parties divorce. Example 3 illustrates that an order would not fail to 
be a QDRO solely because it is issued after the participant's annuity 
starting date.

Requirements and Protections

    Paragraph (d)(1) of the regulation provides that any domestic 
relations order described in paragraph (b) or (c) of the regulation 
shall be subject to the same requirements and protections that apply to 
all QDROs under section 206(d)(3) of ERISA. Paragraph (d)(2) provides 
examples of this rule. Example 1 illustrates that, although an order 
will not fail to be a QDRO solely because it is issued after the death 
of the participant, the order would fail to be a QDRO if it requires 
the plan to provide a type or form of benefit, or any option, not 
otherwise provided under the plan. Example 2 illustrates application of 
the protective rules regarding segregation of payable benefits to a 
second order involving the same participant and alternate payee. 
Example 3 illustrates that, although an order will not fail to be a 
QDRO solely because it is issued after another QDRO, the order will 
fail to be a QDRO if it assigns benefits already assigned to another 
alternate payee under another QDRO. Example 4 illustrates the principle 
that although an order will not fail to be a QDRO solely because it is 
issued after the annuity starting date, the order would fail to be a 
QDRO if it requires the plan to provide a type or form of benefit, or 
any option, not otherwise provided under the plan.

E. Regulatory Impact Analysis

Executive Order 12866 Statement

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735), a regulatory action 
determined to be ``significant'' is subject to review by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). Section 3(f) of the Executive Order 
defines a ``significant regulatory action'' as an action that is likely 
to result in a rule (1) Having an annual effect on the economy of $100 
million or more, or adversely and materially affecting a sector of the 
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public 
health or safety, or State, local or tribal governments or communities 
(also referred to as ``economically significant''); (2) creating 
serious inconsistency or otherwise interfering with an action taken or 
planned by another agency; (3) materially altering the budgetary 
impacts of entitlement grants, user fees, or loan programs or the 
rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) raising novel 
legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's 
priorities, or the principles set forth in the Executive Order. This 
regulatory action is not economically significant within the meaning of 
section 3(f)(1) of the Executive Order. However, the Office of 
Management and Budget (OBM) has determined that the action is 
significant within the meaning of section 3(f)(4) of the Executive 
Order, and the Department accordingly provides the following assessment 
of its potential costs and benefits.
    This final rule is intended to clarify the statutory requirements 
for QDROs under section 206(d)(3) of ERISA and section 414(p) of the 
Code. The provisions of section 206(d)(3) generally assist State 
authorities in deciding permissible ways in which pension benefits may 
be divided in domestic relations matters. The rules and processes under 
section 206(d)(3) make it possible for plan administrators to determine 
whether a State order seeking to assign pension benefits to an 
alternate payee should be given effect under the plan; clear rules 
concerning what constitutes a QDRO have the effect of assisting plan 
administrators in reviewing orders received by the plan, as well as 
participants and alternate payees in planning how to take pension 
assets into account when significant events require making a division 
of marital assets.
    In directing the Department, in section 1001 of the Pension 
Protection Act, to clarify the application of the QDRO provisions, 
Congress recognized that existing uncertainty about the application of 
those provisions has caused difficulties meriting resolution through 
regulatory action. Such uncertainty can impose litigation and other 
costs on plans, participants, and alternate payees, as well as on State 
domestic relations authorities, that will be reduced through the 
promulgation of this rule. Consistent with the view of Congress, this 
rule clarifies, first, that the sequence in which multiple orders may 
be issued does not, in itself, affect whether the orders are QDROs, 
and, second, that the time at which an order is issued does not, in 
itself, determine whether an order is or is not a QDRO. The rule 
further reiterates that an order must meet the specific requirements of 
section 206(d)(3) of ERISA and section 414(p) of the Code.
    By reducing uncertainty over the application of the statutory 
requirements in specific circumstances, the rule is expected to reduce 
costs that might otherwise arise from the necessity of resolving 
uncertainty in such circumstances. By providing clearer rules for plan 
administrators, the rule is also expected to increase the efficiency of 
plan administration. In addition, the Department is issuing this rule 
in direct response to a Congressional directive. As described above, 
section 1001 of the PPA requires the Department to issue regulations 
clarifying that an order otherwise meeting the requirements for a QDRO 
under section 206(d)(3) of ERISA should not fail to be treated as

[[Page 32850]]

a QDRO solely because it was issued after or revised another order, or 
because of the time at which it was issued. In issuing this final rule, 
therefore, the Department is fulfilling objectives expressly endorsed 
by Congress. Because the rule applies only in certain specific 
circumstances and affects only a small subset of domestic relations 
orders, the Department believes that its economic impact will be small, 
overall, but positive.
    The rule is not anticipated to impose increased compliance costs, 
because it merely establishes the legal effect of certain sequences of 
events. Although it may cause some orders to be treated as QDROs that 
otherwise might be disputed (or fail to be treated as a QDRO), the rule 
provides certainty with respect to the circumstances it covers, which 
will aid State authorities seeking to divide pension benefits and 
assist plan administrators seeking to discharge their obligations under 
section 206(d)(3) of ERISA, without limiting the power of State 
authorities to determine the proper division of marital assets. The 
rule is expected generally to provide benefits to pension plans, plan 
participants and alternate payees, and State domestic relations 
authorities by increasing the clarity of the rules that apply to QDROs.
    Based on the foregoing assessment, the Department concludes that 
the benefits of this final rule justify its costs.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The final regulation being issued here is not subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.) because it does not contain an ``information collection'' as 
defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502 (11).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) (RFA) imposes 
certain requirements with respect to federal rules that are subject to 
the notice and comment requirements of section 553(b) of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.) and that are likely 
to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Unless an agency certifies that a final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, 
section 603 of the RFA requires that the agency present a regulatory 
flexibility analysis at the time of the publication of the notice of 
proposed rule-making describing the impact of the rule on small 
entities and seeking public comment on such impact. Because this rule 
was issued as an interim final rule, the RFA does not apply and the 
Department is not required to either certify that the rule will not 
have a significant impact on a substantial number of small businesses 
or conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis. Nevertheless, the 
Department has considered the likely impact of the rule on small 
entities in connection with its assessment under Executive Order 12866, 
described above, and believes this rule will not have a significant 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. For purposes of this 
discussion, the Department continues to consider a small entity to be 
an employee benefit plan with fewer than 100 participants. The basis of 
this definition is found in section 104(a)(2) of ERISA, which permits 
the Secretary of Labor to prescribe simplified annual reports for 
pension plans which cover fewer than 100 participants. The Department 
invited comments on the effect of the interim final rule on small 
entities, but no comments were received.

Congressional Review Act

    The final rule being issued here is subject to the provisions of 
the Congressional Review Act provisions of the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) and 
will be transmitted to Congress and the Comptroller General for review. 
The final rule is not a ``major rule'' as that term is defined in 5 
U.S.C. 804, because it does not result in (1) An annual effect on the 
economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or 
prices for consumers, individual industries, or Federal, State, or 
local government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant 
adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, 
innovation, or on the ability of United States-based enterprises to 
compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    For purposes of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 
104-4), the final rule does not include any Federal mandate that may 
result in expenditures by State, local, or tribal governments, or 
impose an annual burden exceeding $100 million on the private sector.

Federalism Statement

    Executive Order 13132 (August 4, 1999) outlines fundamental 
principles of federalism and requires federal agencies to adhere to 
specific criteria in the process of their formulation and 
implementation of policies that have substantial direct effects on the 
States, the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. This final rule does not have federalism 
implications because it has no substantial direct effect on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government. Section 514 of ERISA provides, with certain 
exceptions specifically enumerated, that the provisions of Titles I and 
IV of ERISA supersede any and all laws of the States as they relate to 
any employee benefit plan covered under ERISA. One exception described 
in section 514(b)(7) is for qualified domestic relations orders, as 
defined in section 206(d)(3) of ERISA. The rule does not alter the 
provisions of the statute; it merely clarifies the status of certain 
types of domestic relations orders under ERISA.

List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 2530

    Alternate payee, Divorce, Domestic relations orders, Employee 
benefit plans, Marital property, Spouse, Plan administrator, Pensions, 
Qualified domestic relations orders.

0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department amends 
Subchapter D, Part 2530 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D--MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR EMPLOYEE PENSION BENEFIT PLANS 
UNDER THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974

PART 2530--RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR EMPLOYEE 
PENSION BENEFIT PLANS

0
1. The authority citation for part 2530 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority:  Secs. 201, 202, 203, 204, 210, 505, 1011, 1012, 
1014, and 1015, Pub. L. 93-406, 88 Stat. 852-862, 866-867, 894, 898-
913, 924-929 (29 U.S.C. 1051-4, 1060, 1135, 26 U.S.C. 410, 411, 413, 
414); Secretary of Labor's Order No. 13-76. Section 2530.206 also 
issued under sec. 1001, Pub. L. 109-280, 120 Stat. 780.



0
2. Revise Sec.  2530.206 to read as follows:


Sec.  2530.206   Time and order of issuance of domestic relations 
orders.

    (a) Scope. This section implements section 1001 of the Pension 
Protection Act of 2006 by clarifying certain timing issues with respect 
to domestic relations orders and qualified domestic relations orders 
under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended 
(ERISA), 29 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.

[[Page 32851]]

The examples herein illustrate the application of this section in 
certain circumstances. This section also applies in circumstances not 
described in the examples.
    (b) Subsequent domestic relations orders. (1) Subject to paragraph 
(d)(1) of this section, a domestic relations order shall not fail to be 
treated as a qualified domestic relations order solely because the 
order is issued after, or revises, another domestic relations order or 
qualified domestic relations order.
    (2) The rule described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section is 
illustrated by the following examples:

    Example (1). Subsequent domestic relations order between the 
same parties. Participant and Spouse divorce, and the administrator 
of Participant's 401(k) plan receives a domestic relations order. 
The administrator determines that the order is a QDRO. The QDRO 
allocates a portion of Participant's benefits to Spouse as the 
alternate payee. Subsequently, before benefit payments have 
commenced, Participant and Spouse seek and receive a second domestic 
relations order. The second order reduces the portion of 
Participant's benefits that Spouse was to receive under the QDRO. 
The second order does not fail to be treated as a QDRO solely 
because the second order is issued after, and reduces the prior 
assignment contained in, the first order. The result would be the 
same if the order were instead to increase the prior assignment 
contained in the first order.

    Example (2). Subsequent domestic relations order between 
different parties. Participant and Spouse 1 divorce and the 
administrator of Participant's 401(k) plan receives a domestic 
relations order. The administrator determines that the order is a 
QDRO. The QDRO allocates a portion of Participant's benefits to 
Spouse 1 as the alternate payee. Participant marries Spouse 2, and 
then they divorce. Participant's 401(k) plan administrator 
subsequently receives a domestic relations order pertaining to 
Spouse 2. The order assigns to Spouse 2 a portion of Participant's 
401(k) benefits not already allocated to Spouse 1. The second order 
does not fail to be a QDRO solely because the second order is issued 
after the plan administrator has determined that an earlier order 
pertaining to Spouse 1 is a QDRO.

    (c) Timing. (1) Subject to paragraph (d)(1) of this section, a 
domestic relations order shall not fail to be treated as a qualified 
domestic relations order solely because of the time at which it is 
issued.
    (2) The rule described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section is 
illustrated by the following examples:

    Example (1). Orders issued after death. Participant and Spouse 
divorce, and the administrator of Participant's plan receives a 
domestic relations order, but the administrator finds the order 
deficient and determines that it is not a QDRO. Shortly thereafter, 
Participant dies while actively employed. A second domestic 
relations order correcting the defects in the first order is 
subsequently submitted to the plan. The second order does not fail 
to be treated as a QDRO solely because it is issued after the death 
of the Participant. The result would be the same even if no order 
had been issued before the Participant's death, in other words, the 
order issued after death were the only order.

    Example (2). Orders issued after divorce. Participant and Spouse 
divorce. As a result, Spouse no longer meets the definition of 
``surviving spouse'' under the terms of the plan. Subsequently, the 
plan administrator receives a domestic relations order requiring 
that Spouse be treated as the Participant's surviving spouse for 
purposes of receiving a death benefit payable under the terms of the 
plan only to a participant's surviving spouse. The order does not 
fail to be treated as a QDRO solely because, at the time it is 
issued, Spouse no longer meets the definition of a ``surviving 
spouse'' under the terms of the plan.

    Example (3). Orders issued after annuity starting date. 
Participant retires and begins receipt of benefits in the form of a 
straight life annuity, equal to $1,000 per month, and with respect 
to which Spouse has consented to the waiver of the surviving spousal 
rights provided under the plan and section 205 of ERISA. Subsequent 
to the commencement of benefits (in other words, subsequent to the 
annuity starting date as defined in section 205(h)(2) of ERISA and 
as further explained in 26 CFR 1.401(a)-20, Q&A-10(b)), Participant 
and Spouse divorce and present the plan with a domestic relations 
order requiring 50 percent ($500) of Participant's future monthly 
annuity payments under the plan to be paid instead to Spouse, as an 
alternate payee (so that monthly payments of $500 are to be made to 
Spouse during Participant's lifetime). Pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) 
of this section, the order does not fail to be a QDRO solely because 
it is issued after the annuity starting date. If the order instead 
had required payments to Spouse for the lifetime of Spouse, this 
would constitute a reannuitization with a new annuity starting date, 
rather than merely allocating to Spouse a part of the determined 
annuity payments due to Participant, so that the order, while not 
failing to be a QDRO because of the timing of the order, would fail 
to meet the requirements of section 206(d)(3)(D)(i) of ERISA (unless 
the plan otherwise permits such a change after the participant's 
annuity starting date). See 29 CFR 2530.206(d)(2), Example (4).

    (d) Requirements and protections. (1) Any domestic relations order 
described in this section shall be a qualified domestic relations order 
only if the order satisfies the same requirements and protections that 
apply under section 206(d)(3) of ERISA.
    (2) The rule described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section is 
illustrated by the following examples:

    Example (1). Type or form of benefit. Participant and Spouse 
divorce, and their divorce decree provides that the parties will 
prepare a domestic relations order assigning 50 percent of 
Participant's benefits under a 401(k) plan to Spouse to be paid in 
monthly installments over a 10-year period. Shortly thereafter, 
Participant dies while actively employed. A domestic relations order 
consistent with the divorce decree is subsequently submitted to the 
401(k) plan; however, the plan does not provide for 10-year 
installment payments of the type described in the order. Pursuant to 
paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the order does not fail to be 
treated as a QDRO solely because it is issued after the death of 
Participant, but the order would fail to be a QDRO under section 
206(d)(3)(D)(i) and paragraph (d)(1) of this section because the 
order requires the plan to provide a type or form of benefit, or any 
option, not otherwise provided under the plan.
    Example (2). Segregation of payable benefits. Participant and 
Spouse divorce, and the administrator of Participant's plan receives 
a domestic relations order under which Spouse would begin to receive 
benefits immediately if the order is determined to be a QDRO. The 
plan administrator separately accounts for the amounts covered by 
the domestic relations order as is required under section 
206(d)(3)(H)(v) of ERISA. The plan administrator finds the order 
deficient and determines that it is not a QDRO. Subsequently, after 
the expiration of the segregation period pertaining to that order, 
the plan administrator receives a second domestic relations order 
relating to the same parties under which Spouse would begin to 
receive benefits immediately if the second order is determined to be 
a QDRO. Notwithstanding the expiration of the first segregation 
period, the amounts covered by the second order must be separately 
accounted for by the plan administrator for an 18-month period, in 
accordance with section 206(d)(3)(H) of ERISA and paragraph (d)(1) 
of this section.
    Example (3). Previously assigned benefits. Participant and 
Spouse 1 divorce, and the administrator of Participant's 401(k) plan 
receives a domestic relations order. The administrator determines 
that the order is a QDRO. The QDRO assigns a portion of 
Participant's benefits to Spouse 1 as the alternate payee. 
Participant marries Spouse 2, and then they divorce. Participant's 
401(k) plan administrator subsequently receives a domestic relations 
order pertaining to Spouse 2. The order assigns to Spouse 2 a 
portion of Participant's 401(k) benefits already assigned to Spouse 
1. The second order does not fail to be treated as a QDRO solely 
because the second order is issued after the plan administrator has 
determined that an earlier order pertaining to Spouse 1 is a QDRO. 
The second order, however, would fail to be a QDRO under section 
206(d)(3)(D)(iii) and paragraph (d)(1) of this section because it 
assigns to Spouse 2 all or a portion of Participant's benefits that 
are already assigned to Spouse 1 by the prior QDRO.
    Example (4). Type or form of benefit. Participant retires and 
commences benefit payments in the form of a straight life annuity 
based on the life of Participant, with

[[Page 32852]]

respect to which Spouse consents to the waiver of the surviving 
spousal rights provided under the plan and section 205 of ERISA. 
Participant and Spouse divorce after the annuity starting date and 
present the plan with a domestic relations order that eliminates the 
straight life annuity based on Participant's life and provides for 
Spouse, as alternate payee, to receive all future benefits in the 
form of a straight life annuity based on the life of Spouse. The 
plan does not allow reannuitization with a new annuity starting 
date, as defined in section 205(h)(2) of ERISA (and as further 
explained in 26 CFR 1.401(a)-20, Q&A-10(b)). Pursuant to paragraph 
(c)(1) of this section, the order does not fail to be a QDRO solely 
because it is issued after the annuity starting date, but the order 
would fail to be a QDRO under section 206(d)(3)(D)(i) and paragraph 
(d)(1) of this section because the order requires the plan to 
provide a type or form of benefit, or any option, not otherwise 
provided under the plan. However, the order would not fail to be a 
QDRO under section 206(d)(3)(D)(i) and paragraph (d)(1) of this 
section if instead it were to require all of Participant's future 
payments under the plan to be paid instead to Spouse, as an 
alternate payee (so that payments that would otherwise be paid to 
the Participant during the Participant's lifetime are instead to be 
made to the Spouse during the Participant's lifetime).

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 3rd day of June 2010.
Phyllis C. Borzi,
Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-13868 Filed 6-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P