DD Form 2656-5 RCSBP Spouse Concurrence: Notary & Signing Requirements

DD Form 2656-5 is the RCSBP Election Certificate. Reserve Component and National Guard members use it after receiving a Notice of Eligibility (often called the 20-year letter) to document Survivor Benefit Plan coverage elections under the reserve-component framework.

Use the current DD Form 2656-5 edition published on the Executive Services Directorate forms site. Always verify the live PDF and its Section IX / notary instructions before execution.

The election window is tied to the NOE period—commonly described as 90 days—not to a regular retirement pay start date used for DD Form 2656. Missing the window can produce default coverage outcomes described in DFAS and DoD materials; this guide does not advise which option to choose to avoid or accept a default.

DD Form 2656-5 and DFAS RCSBP materials describe three labeled options. This page names them only so you can read the form; it does not recommend Option A, B, or C for any member.

Spouse concurrence is tied to the election being made—not to marriage alone. Form Section IX and related DoD instructions describe concurrence for specified married elections that reduce or decline spouse coverage interests.

Concurrence is implicated when a married member selects Option A or Option B, elects child-only coverage, elects less than full spouse coverage, or declines coverage, as described on the form. Not every married member making every possible election will need concurrence; the boxes checked on the current form control.

If concurrence is missing when required, DoD / form materials describe establishing coverage for an immediate spouse annuity based on full retired pay. That outcome is a form/policy consequence—not a financial recommendation.

Do not copy DD Form 2656 retirement-date signing rules onto DD Form 2656-5. RCSBP timing uses the Notice of Eligibility clock.

On the form, the spouse signature date in item 20.b must not be before the member signature date in item 18. DoDI 1332.42 directs that, for non-regular retirees, the notarized spouse signature on DD Form 2656-5 occur on or after the member's signature and before the end of the 90-day NOE period.

The spouse's signature must be notarized when concurrence is required. The notary witnesses the spouse; form language provides that the witness must not be a beneficiary.

If any signature or date falls outside this sequence, stop and consult the servicing personnel office or SBP counselor before submitting. Do not alter dates after the fact.

When spouse concurrence is required, the notary performs the authorized notarial act for the spouse's signature. The notary does not select Option A, B, or C; explain RCSBP costs or annuities; or certify that a reduced election is advisable.

Keep the spouse concurrence unsigned until the notarial session unless applicable law and the notary expressly permit the requested act for a previously signed record. Do not backdate certificates to match an earlier member signature date.

Geographic separation of the member and spouse does not automatically waive concurrence or authorize any particular remote format. Ask the servicing office how a separated spouse should execute Section IX before choosing a notary method.

These forms serve different lifecycle points. Mixing their deadlines is a common packet error.

Recipient confirmation is required. DD Form 2656-5 and DoDI 1332.42 establish notarized spouse concurrence and personal-appearance style execution concepts for the spouse signature, but they do not establish a blanket DFAS or Service policy accepting remote online notarization for every RCSBP packet, electronic original, or geographically separated spouse workflow.

Remote online notarization is performed under the law of the online notary's commissioning state. That answers whether the notary may perform the act—not whether the servicing personnel office or DFAS will accept the electronic document, certificate, or delivery method for your case.

Do not schedule remote online notarization based only on the word “notarized.” First confirm with the servicing personnel office or SBP counselor that the planned format satisfies RCSBP packet requirements inside the 90-day NOE window.

This guide is educational. It does not determine which RCSBP option to elect, calculate annuity amounts, replace DoDI 1332.42 or form instructions, or provide military retirement or legal advice.

An online notary verifies identity and completes the authorized notarial act. The notary cannot choose Option A, B, or C; fix an out-of-sequence DD Form 2656-5; or promise DFAS or Service acceptance of a returned packet.

For DFAS third-party representation questions after retirement or annuity start, see DFAS retiree and annuitant power of attorney. Return to the retirement notary document center for OPM, TSP, and other forms.