Carmen Mays-Williams v. Asa Williams, Jr.

OPINION

O’SCANNLAIN, Circuit Judge:

We .must decide whether a decedent succeeded in his attempt to ensure that his son — and not his ex-wife — received the benefits to which his employer’s retirement plans entitled him.

I

A

When he retired in October 2004, Asa Williams, Sr., (“Asa, Senior”) had worked for the Xerox Corporation for over thirty years. He participated in various benefit programs that Xerox maintained for its employees, including the Xerox Retirement Income Guarantee Plan (the “RIGP”) and the Xerox Savings Plan (the “Savings Plan,” and, together with the RIGP, collectively, the “Xerox…