[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 5, Volume 3]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 5CFR1653.11]

[Page 283]
 
                    TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
 
         CHAPTER VI--FEDERAL RETIREMENT THRIFT INVESTMENT BOARD
 
PART 1653_COURT ORDERS AND LEGAL PROCESSES AFFECTING THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN 
 
  Subpart B_Legal Process for the Enforcement of a Participant's Legal 
          Obligations To Pay Child Support or Alimony Currently
 
Sec.  1653.11  Definitions.


    (a) Definitions generally applicable to the Thrift Savings Plan are 
set forth at 5 CFR 1600.1.
    (b) As used in this subpart:
    Alimony means the payment of funds for the support and maintenance 
of a spouse or former spouse. Alimony includes separate maintenance, 
alimony pendente lite, maintenance, and spousal support. Alimony can 
also include attorney fees, interest, and court costs, but only if these 
items are expressly made recoverable by qualifying legal process, as 
described in Sec.  1653.12.
    Child support means payment of funds for the support and maintenance 
of a child or children of the participant. Child support includes 
payments to provide for health care, education, recreation, clothing, or 
to meet other specific needs of a child or children. Child support can 
also include attorney fees, interest, and court costs, but only if these 
items are expressly made recoverable by qualifying legal process, as 
described in Sec.  1653.12.
    Competent authority means a court or an administrative agency of 
competent jurisdiction in any State, territory or possession of the 
United States; a court or administrative agency of competent 
jurisdiction in any foreign country with which the United States has 
entered into an agreement that requires the United States to honor the 
process; or an authorized official pursuant to an order of such a court 
or an administrative agency of competent jurisdiction pursuant to state 
or local law.
    Legal process means a writ, order, summons, or other similar process 
in the nature of a garnishment, which is brought to enforce a 
participant's legal obligations to pay child support or alimony 
currently.