Employee and Retiree Service Center → Employees → Life Events → Divorce

Divorce

As a result of your divorce, there may be actions you will want to take to update your personal and financial records. To assist you, the staff of the Employee Service Center has compiled this list of actions you may want to consider. All items listed may not pertain to your individual situation, nor may all actions you should consider be included.

Please keep copies of all forms submitted for your personal records, and feel free to call us at 301-517-8100 if you have questions or require assistance.

Note: Forms need to be received by ERSC by the 20th of the month to be processed for the current month. If changes are received after the 20th, the change will be processed with an effective date of the following month.
Example:
Forms received by September 20 are processed with October 1 effective date
Forms received after September 20 but before October 20 are processed with November 1 effective date

Change of Name, Address, and Phone Number
Check box graphicComplete MCPS Form 445-1: Change in Personal Information.
Check box graphicIf you are changing your name, attach a copy of the legal document. (Divorce paper if returning to maiden name.)
Check box graphicSend the form and copy of the legal document to the Employee and Retiree Service Center.

Income Tax Withholding
Check box graphicComplete MCPS Form W4-MW-504: Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate.
Check box graphicSend the form to the Employee and Retiree Service Center.

Note: Changing an address does not change state and local jurisdictions for income tax withholding. You may also want to examine your dependents and filing status.

Update Direct Deposit Account
Check box graphicComplete MCPS Form 280-31: Direct Deposit Authorization.
Check box graphicSend the form to the Employee and Retiree Service Center.

Note: Changes to Direct Deposit typically take two pay periods to process.


Health Insurance
Check box graphicTo drop spouse and/or any dependent.
Check box graphicComplete MCPS Form 455-20: Employee Benefit Plan Enrollment.
Check box graphicSend the form with a copy of your marriage certificate and dependent children’s birth certificates to the Employee and Retiree Service Center.

Note: If dropping spouse due to divorce, spouse must be dropped as of the date of divorce. We recommend that spouse not be dropped until the divorce is final. Copy of divorce papers are not required.


Update Life Insurance Beneficiary
Check box graphicComplete MCPS Form 455-20: Employee Benefit Plan Enrollment, Section VI
Check box graphicSend the form to the Employee and Retiree Service Center.

Update Optional Dependent Life
Check box graphicComplete MCPS Form 450-2: Optional Dependent Life Enrollment Form.
Check box graphicSend the form to the Employee and Retiree Service Center.

Note: MUST BE DONE WITHIN 60 days of divorce, or during the next Open Enrollment period, subject of evidence of insurability.


Update Flexible Spending Account for Dependent Care or Medical Expenses
Check box graphicComplete MCPS Form 450-3: Flexible Spending Account Calendar Year 2011 Election. 
Check box graphicSend the form to the Employee and Retiree Service Center.

Note: Must provide a copy of divorce papers.

Retirement Benefits
Check box graphic Provide your attorney with the Model Qualified Domestic Relations Order (PDF). The purpose of this Model is to make it easier for parties in a divorce to ensure that a Domestic Relations Order (which addresses the plan benefits of a member or former member of the MCPS Employees’ Retirement and Pension System) will be eligible for processing by MCPS.

Update Retirement System Beneficiary: State/County
Check box graphicComplete MCPS Form 455-5: Designation of Beneficiary/Beneficiaries for the County and Form MSR004 for the State Retirement and Pension System of Maryland.
Check box graphicSend both forms to the Employee and Retiree Service Center.

Update TDA (Tax Deferred Annuity) Beneficiary
Check box graphicContact Carrier. Phone numbers and web addresses.

MCPS Identification Card
Check box graphicContact MCPS Security Office, CESC, Room 207, if changing your name.

Parking Registration
Check box graphicIf your work location requires parking stickers, contact your work location to provide change of personal information.

E-mail Name
Check box graphicContact Help Desk 301-517-5800.

Note: Name must be changed in the Shared Services Center records first. ID doesn’t change, just name as it appears on mail.


Others
Check box graphicChange name on personal accounts: bank, investment, credit cards, Social Security, driver’s license, etc.
Check box graphicKeep copies of all forms. Do not send originals of any personal documents (e.g., divorce papers)