# 22 C.F.R. § 19.6-2 (2026): Qualifying court order > Federal · Regulations · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_6_2 ## Section - **Citation:** 22 C.F.R. § 19.6-2 (2026) - **Heading:** Qualifying court order - **Jurisdiction:** Federal - **Kind:** Regulations - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Title 22 CFR: Foreign Relations / Chapter I: DEPARTMENT OF STATE / Part 19: BENEFITS FOR SPOUSES AND FORMER SPOUSES OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY SYSTEM / § 19.6-2: § 19.6-2 Qualifying court order. ## Text (a) To be valid for purposes of this section, a court order must be found to be “qualified” by PER/ER/RET acting for the Secretary of State. A qualifying court order must— (1) Be consistent with the terms of the Act and applicable regulations; (2) Not direct payment of an amount in excess of the maximum amount authorized to be paid by the relevant regulation; (3) Direct that payments be made to an eligible beneficiary from a principal's Foreign Service retirement benefit or survivor benefit. If a court directs or implies that a principal, rather than the Secretary of State or the Government, make the payments, the order will not be considered qualified unless the principal does not object during the 30-day notice period provided under § 19.6-6; (4) Define the amount to be paid to a beneficiary in way so that it can be readily calculated from information in the normal files of the Department; (5) Not make payment contingent upon events other than those on which other payments from the Fund are based such as age, marital status and school attendance; and (6) Not be in conflict with any previously issued court order which remains valid. (b) No apportionment of annuity to a beneficiary under § 19.6-1(a) (1) or (6) shall exceed the net annuity of the principal. The net annuity is computed by excluding from the gross annuity the amounts which are: (1) Owed by the individual to the United States; (2) Deducted for health benefits premiums pursuant to section 8906 of Title 5, United States Code; (3) Deducted for life insurance premiums under the Government Life Insurance Program; (4) Owed due to overpayment of annuity; (5) Properly withheld for Federal income tax purposes, if amounts withheld are not greater than they would be if the individual claimed all dependents to which he/she was entitled. [46 FR 12958, Feb. 19, 1981. Redesignated and amended at 46 FR 18970, Mar. 27, 1981] ## Nearby sections - [22 C.F.R. § 19.1 (2026) § 19.1 Authorities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_1.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.2 (2026) § 19.2 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_2.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.3 (2026) § 19.3 Participants.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_3.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.4 (2026) § 19.4 Special rules for computing creditable service for purposes of payments to former spouses.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_4.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.5-1 (2026) § 19.5-1 Notification from participant or annuitant.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_5_1.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.5-2 (2026) § 19.5-2 Notification to Department from former spouses.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_5_2.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.5-3 (2026) § 19.5-3 Residence of spouse during service at unhealthful post.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_5_3.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.6-1 (2026) § 19.6-1 Orders by a court.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_6_1.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.6-2 (2026) § 19.6-2 Qualifying court order.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_6_2.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.6-3 (2026) § 19.6-3 Application for payment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_6_3.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.6-4 (2026) § 19.6-4 Date of court orders.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_6_4.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.6-5 (2026) § 19.6-5 Preliminary review.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_6_5.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.6-6 (2026) § 19.6-6 Notification.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_6_6.md) - [22 C.F.R. § 19.6-7 (2026) § 19.6-7 Decision.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_6_7.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T22_P19_S19_6_2. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.