5 CFR 838.624 : Administrative Personnel (§ 1.1 To Parts 10003-10049) — (Parts 700-714 To Parts 1002-1199) — Office Of Personnel Management (Continued) (Parts 700-714 To Parts 1002-1199) — Civil Service Regulations (Continued) (Parts 700-714 To Part 990) — Court Orders Affecting Retirement Benefits (§ 838.101 To § 838.1121) — Terminology Used In Court Orders Affecting Employee Annuities Or Refunds Of Employee Contributions (§ 838.601 To Appendix A To Subpart F Of Part 838) — Computation Of Benefits (§ 838.621 To § 838.625) — Distinguishing between formulas and fixed amounts.

(a) A court order that contains both a formula or percentage instruction and a dollar amount is deemed to include the dollar amount only as the court's estimate of the initial amount of payment. The formula or percentage instruction controls.

(b) A court order that awards a portion of the “present value” of an employee annuity and specifically states the amount of either the “present value” of the employee annuity or of the award is deemed to give the former spouse “a specific dollar amount” that is payable from a monthly employee annuity and will be paid as a lump-sum award in accordance with § 838.235.