In my divorce I was awarded a portion (1/2) of my XH postal retirement benefits. It states it is more particulary defined in a Qualified Domestic Relations order signed by the court on the day of my final decree of divorce. When i went to get a certified copy of decree from court house there is no such order attached. anyone know anything about this type of order or government retirements? I asked XH if he notified postal service and he said yeah everythings taken care of,,,,,but i don't trust him. Just wondered if anyone elses decree had this.

Ohio attorney here. Don't know much abut the circumstances, but your attorney should have sent to QDRO to government pension folks,got approval for it, etc. I don't feel like looking up federal stuff right now because I've got to leave but for some federal plans, unlike a 401(k), for example, you don't always need a QDRO. Don't trust your husband on what he is supposed to do or says he did. Actually, I don't know if Postal Service employees fall under federal civil service. The Fed does have a publication and you should be able to find this on the Web. It used to be you could contact the United States Office of Personnel Management, Retirement and Insurance Group for a publication. If Postal is still federal there is model language, I believe, that has to be used in the court order. There are or were some dangers in the event of remarriage, but without researching it, I forget the rules on that. It had to do with reduction of benefits. Best thing to do is talk to your attorney and if you didn't have one, find one that does primarily domestic work. Might cost a little now, but the cost later if not done could be tremondous. Good luck to you. Lee<P>------------------<BR>

thanks lee for the help! i know my attorney didn't follow through with the QDRO. my divorce dragged on for too long (1 year) and i felt he was just in a hurry to get it over with, my X fought everything. i think i'll try to find another attorney here in texas to help me out or maybe try to find a QDRO form and do as much as possible myself.