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 a Beneficiary Designation 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 legal orders”.
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 one person as your beneficiary.