Life Events & Contact Updates

Life changes—so should your SCERS records. Whether you move, change your name, get married, divorced, or need to update your beneficiary, it’s important to make sure your information stays current.

This page explains how to manage these life events and what SCERS needs to ensure your benefits and records remain accurate.

Updating Your Contact Information

If your mailing address, email, or phone number changes, active members must report the change to their employer, not directly to SCERS. Your employer will transmit the updated information to SCERS through payroll reporting. SCERS uses your contact details to send benefit communications and legal notices.

SCERS cannot guarantee timely delivery of materials if your employer does not report your updated address.

Changing Your Name

If your name changes due to marriage, divorce, or court order, notify your employer’s HR department. SCERS will update your record based on the information provided by your employer through standard personnel data feeds.

SCERS does not accept name changes directly from active members.

Marriage, Divorce, or Domestic Partnership

Major family events can impact your retirement account—particularly your beneficiary designation and community property rights.

Marriage or Domestic Partnership

  • Consider updating your beneficiary designation to include your new spouse or partner
  • A spouse or domestic partner has legal rights to benefits, which supersede any other designated beneficiary 

Divorce or Legal Dissolution

  • Retirement benefits earned during marriage may be treated as community property 
  • A court may issue a Domestic Relations Order (DRO) dividing the benefit
  • SCERS provides model DRO language to assist members and legal counsel 
  • Submit finalized court documents to SCERS for legal review 

If you do not update your beneficiary after a divorce, SCERS will rely on the most recent valid form on file until a new form is submitted. 

Updating Your Beneficiary

You may update your beneficiary at any time by submitting a new Member’s Affidavit (Form 6019) to SCERS. This form overrides any previous designations.

The Member’s Affidavit is available on the SCERS website and must be submitted directly to SCERS, not through your employer.