Definitions.

(a) Definitions generally applicable to the Thrift Savings Plan are set forth at 5 CFR 1690.1. (b) As used in this subpart: Court means any court of any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands, and any Indian court as defined by 25 U.S.C. 1301(3). Effective date of a court order means the date it was entered by the clerk of the court or, if the order does not show a date entered, the date it was filed by the clerk of the court or, if the order does not contain a date entered or a date filed, the date it was signed by the judge. Entitlement date means the date determined in accordance with § 1653.4(b) and (c). Payment date refers to the date on which a temporary account is established for the payee in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Retirement benefits court order or order means a court decree of divorce, annulment or legal separation, or a court order or court-approved property settlement agreement incident to such a decree. Orders may be issued at any stage of a divorce, annulment, or legal separation proceeding. TSP investment earnings or earnings means both positive and negative fund performance attributable to differences in TSP core fund share prices. [68 FR 35510, June 13, 2003, as amended at 74 FR 63063, Dec. 2, 2009; 87 FR 31688, May 24, 2022; 90 FR 13408, Mar. 24, 2025]