5 C.F.R. § 1651.5 Spouse of participant.
Title 5 - Administrative Personnel
(a) For purposes of payment under §1651.2(a)(2), the spouse of the participant is the person to whom the participant was married on the date of death. A person is considered to be married even if the parties are separated, unless a court decree of divorce or annulment has been entered. State law of the participant's domicile will be used to determine whether the participant was married at the time of death. (b) If a person claims to have a marriage at common law with a deceased participant, the TSP will pay benefits to the putative spouse under §1651.2(a)(2) in accordance with the marital status shown on the most recent Federal income tax return filed by the participant. Alternatively, the putative spouse may submit a court order or administrative adjudication determining that the common law marriage is valid. [71 FR 9897, Feb. 28, 2006]
Title 5: Administrative Personnel
PART 1651—DEATH BENEFITS
§ 1651.5 Spouse of participant.
