5 C.F.R. § 1651.4
How to change a designation of beneficiary
(a) Change. To change a designation of beneficiary, the participant must submit to the TSP record keeper a new TSP designation of beneficiary meeting the requirements of § 1651.3 to the TSP record keeper. If the TSP record keeper receives more than one valid designation of beneficiary, it will honor the designation with the latest date signed by the participant. A participant may change a TSP beneficiary at any time, without the knowledge or consent of any person, including his or her spouse.
(b) [Reserved]
(c) Will. A participant cannot use a will to change a TSP designation of beneficiary.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3
cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2022–2025 · leading case: In the Matter of Batchelor (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2024).
In the Matter of Batchelor (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2024). “” 5 C.F.R. § 1651.4 (a). “A participant cannot use a will to change a TSP designation of beneficiary.”
Est. of Michael Tarasevich v. Fed. Ret. Thrift Inv. Bd. (D.R.I. 2022). “” 5 C.F.R. § 1651.4 . The TSP form must be “received by the TSP record keeper on or before the date of the participant's death.”
In the Matter of Isely (Md. 2025). “5 C.F.R. § 1651.4 (a). Any such designation or change can be accomplished without the knowledge or consent of the beneficiary or the participant’s spouse.”
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