DivorceNet®

I work for the state. 20 yr. retirement plan, 401K and haz. duty pay. I have avoided filing for divorce because she claims she will wipe me out. Does anyone know if I have "maybe" some individual rights as a state employee. Has she researched this, can she really take half? It's been 10 years I worked for this she didn't. Please advise.

You really need to get in touch with the state and ask them specifically. I was once in a union and it required the name of spouse to precede any other beneficiaries. There was also some kind of of 10-year marriage rule that gave spouses the right to half of the annuity plan in the event of divorce, etc. (I think the same 10-year rule applies to SS benefits, also). I left the job and cashed in early. (Beware of tax penalties!). My ex was not aware of it and we both signed off the rights to each other's. But... he could have claimed rights to it, had he known. Too bad, I guess, that he wanted me to pay for the divorce.