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My Coast Guard
Commentary | Feb. 17, 2021

Civilians: Don't let your ex get your checks

By MyCG Staff

You’ve asked your valentine “will you be mine?” and now it’s time to file the associated paperwork to make things official. The Coast Guard’s Retirement and Benefits Service Center encourages civilian employees to review and update your designation of beneficiary forms.   

Keeping complete and current designation of beneficiary forms on file is the best way to ensure that your benefits are disbursed correctly.    

If you are satisfied with the beneficiary designations you currently have on file, you do not need to file new designations.  

If your relationship or family status has changed – marriage, divorce, adoption, etc. – the original designation remains valid until the beneficiary has been updated. If beneficiary forms are not completed a standard order of precedence applies at the time of death. 

Forms to make sure you’ve updated include: