Matthews v. Matthews

RAKER, Judge.

Under the Survivor Benefit Plan, 10 U.S.C. §§ 1447-55 (1988 & 1993 Supp.), certain members of the armed services are eligible to elect to provide their dependents with survivor benefits. The issue in this case is whether Maryland courts have the authority, pursuant to a divorce decree, to order a party to maintain a former spouse as the beneficiary of the Survivor Benefit Plan. The Circuit Court for St. Mary’s County held that it did not have the power to order Herbert Matthews to maintain his Survivor Benefit Plan for the benefit of his former spouse, Jacquelyn Matthews. We hold…