[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 5, Volume 2] [Revised as of January 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 5CFR838.501] [Page 204] TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (Continued) PART 838--COURT ORDERS AFFECTING RETIREMENT BENEFITS--Table of Contents Subpart E--Requirements for Court Orders Affecting Refunds of Employee Contributions Sec. 838.501 Purpose and scope. This subpart regulates the requirements that a court order directed at or barring a refund of employee contributions must meet to be a court order acceptable for processing. (a) A court order is directed at a refund of employee contributions if it awards a former spouse a portion of a refund of employee contributions. (b) A court order bars a refund of employee contributions if it prohibits payment of a refund of employee contributions to preserve a former spouse's court-awarded entitlement to a portion of an employee annuity or to a former spouse survivor annuity.