Educate Yourself

Life Changes

Should I notify TRS of major events occuring in my life?

Events, or life changes, occurring during the course of your TRS membership may necessitate you contacting our office to report beneficiary changes or name changes.  Events such as:

• Marriage,
• Birth of Children,
• Divorce, or
• Death of Spouse.

The Change of Beneficiary form should be completed to report beneficiary or name changes to TRS. It is important to keep beneficiary information on file with TRS up-to-date. In the event of your death, a monthly benefit, or a lump-sum payment, is due to your beneficiary(ies) or estate. See the links below for additional information.

Divorce

Should you divorce, your beneficiary information on file with TRS may need to be updated.  Please note:  Divorce decrees have no impact on your TRS account.  TRS is a state administered retirement plan and is not subject to Qualified Domestic Relation Orders (QDROs).  Funds from TRS are exempt from levy, garnishment, or attachment, and a TRS member cannot assign his or her benefits (Georgia Law - O.C.G.A. § 47-3-28).  Any division of funds to which a member may agree must be handled privately by that member after payment is made to him/her by TRS.

A member cannot make a partial withdrawal from his/her account.  Accounts can only be refunded in full, and only after the date a member has terminated his/her TRS covered employment. (O.C.G.A. § 47-3-128).   TRS will make payment only to the member.