§ 831.642 Marriage duration requirements.

(a) The surviving spouse of a retiree who retired on or after May 7, 1985, or of a retiree who retired before May 7, 1985, but married that surviving spouse on or after November 8, 1984, or of an employee or Member who dies while serving in a position covered by CSRS on or after May 7, 1985, or of an employee or Member who died while serving in a position covered by CSRS before May 7, 1985, but married that surviving spouse on or after November 8, 1984, can qualify for a current spouse annuity only if— (1) The surviving spouse and the employee, Member, or retiree had been married for at least 9 months, as explained in paragraph (b) of this section; or (2) A child was born of the marriage, as explained in paragraph (c) of this section; or (3) The death of the employee, Member, or retiree was accidental as explained in paragraph (d) of this section. (b) For satisfying the 9-month marriage requirement of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the aggregate time of all marriages between the spouse applying for a current spouse annuity and the employee, Member, or retiree is included. (c) For satisfying the child-born-of-the-marriage requirement of paragraph (a)(2) of this section, any child, including a posthumous child, born to the spouse and the employee, Member, or retiree is included. This includes a child born out of wedlock or of a prior marriage between the same parties. (d)(1) A death is accidental if it results from homicide or from bodily injuries incurred solely through violent, external, and accidental means. The term “accidental” does not include a death— (i) Caused wholly or partially, directly or indirectly, by disease or bodily or mental infirmity, or by medical or surgical treatment or diagnosis thereof; or (ii) Caused wholly or partially, directly, or indirectly, by ptomaine, by bacterial infection, except only septic infection of and through a visible wound sustained solely through violent, external, and accidental means; or (iii) Caused wholly or partially, directly or indirectly, by hernia, no matter how or when sustained; or (iv) Caused by or the result of intentional self-destruction or intentionally self-inflicted injury, while sane or insane; or (v) Caused by or as a result of the self-administration or illegal or illegally obtained drugs. (2) A State judicial or administrative adjudication of the cause of death for criminal or insurance purposes is conclusive evidence of whether a death is accidental. (3) A death certificate showing the cause of death as accident or homicide is prima facie evidence that the death was accidental.