You should keep your beneficiary designation record up-to-date with DRS. The Beneficiary Designation form, which is available online, from your employer, and from DRS, must be mailed to DRS. If you fail to file the form, DRS pays your surviving spouse or, if none, your estate.
If you marry or divorce prior to retirement, file a new Beneficiary Designation form, even if your beneficiary remains the same. However, you should be aware that an ex-spouse may have a right to a portion of your benefits under certain circumstances. See “Taxation and assignment of benefits.”
At retirement, if you choose an Option 1 benefit payment, you may name a trust, your estate, an organization or a person as your beneficiary. However, if you choose Option 2, 3 or 4, you must select a person as your beneficiary.