# 5 C.F.R. § 831.618 (2026): Waiver of spousal consent requirement

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_618

## Section

- **Citation:** 5 C.F.R. § 831.618 (2026)
- **Heading:** Waiver of spousal consent requirement
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Title 5 CFR: Administrative Personnel / Chapter I: OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT / Part 831: RETIREMENT / Subpart F: Survivor Annuities / § 831.618: § 831.618   Waiver of spousal consent requirement.

## Text

(a) The spousal consent requirement will be waived upon a showing that the spouse's whereabouts cannot be determined. A request for waiver on this basis must be accompanied by—
(1) A judicial determination that the spouse's whereabouts cannot be determined; or
(2) (i) Affidavits by the employee or Member and two other persons, at least one of whom is not related to the employee or Member, attesting to the inability to locate the current spouse and stating the efforts made to locate the spouse; and
(ii) Documentary corroboration such as tax returns filed separately or newspaper stories about the spouse's disappearance.
(b) The spousal consent requirement will be waived based on exceptional circumstances if the employee or Member presents a judicial determination finding that—
(1) The case before the court involves a Federal employee who is in the process of retiring from Federal employment and the spouse of that employee;
(2) The nonemployee spouse has been given notice and an opportunity to be heard concerning this order;
(3) The court has considered sections 8339(j)(1) of title 5, United States Code, and this section as they relate to waiver of the spousal consent requirement for a married Federal employee to elect an annuity without a reduction to provide a survivor benefit to a spouse at retirement; and
(4) The court finds that exceptional circumstances exist justifying waiver of the nonemployee spouse's consent.
[50 FR 20070, May 13, 1985, as amended at 51 FR 31932, Sept. 8, 1986; 55 FR 9100, Mar. 12, 1990. Redesignated at 58 FR 52882, Oct. 13, 1993]

## Nearby sections

- [5 C.F.R. § 831.601 (2026) § 831.601   Purpose and scope.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_601.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.602 (2026) § 831.602   Relation to other regulations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_602.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.603 (2026) § 831.603   Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_603.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.611 (2026) § 831.611   Election at time of retirement of fully reduced annuity to provide a current spouse annuity.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_611.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.612 (2026) § 831.612   Election at time of retirement of a fully reduced annuity or a partially reduced annuity to provide a former spouse annuity.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_612.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.613 (2026) § 831.613   Election of insurable interest annuity.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_613.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.614 (2026) § 831.614   Election of a self-only annuity or partially reduced annuity by married employees and Members.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_614.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.616 (2026) § 831.616   Elections by previously retired retiree with new title to an annuity.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_616.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.618 (2026) § 831.618   Waiver of spousal consent requirement.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_618.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.619 (2026) § 831.619   Marital status at time of retirement.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_619.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.621 (2026) § 831.621   Changes of election before final adjudication.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_621.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.622 (2026) § 831.622   Changes of election after final adjudication.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_622.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.631 (2026) § 831.631   Post-retirement election of fully reduced annuity or partially reduced annuity to provide a current spouse annuity.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_631.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 831.632 (2026) § 831.632   Post-retirement election of fully reduced annuity or partially reduced annuity to provide a former spouse annuity.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_632.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P831_S831_618. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.
