Welcome to the ORS website for members of the Judge's Retirement System who are in the Defined Benefit plan.

We encourage you to and come back often for important information.

Our office will be closed on the following dates:

January 16 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 20  - President's Day
May 28 - Memorial Day

State office closings for holidays are regulated by the Michigan Department of Civil Service Regulation 5.08. Public Act 124 of 1865 is the Michigan law governing official state holidays.

Published January 13, 2012

Your pension payment may be subject to Michigan income tax beginning January 1, 2012. For the latest information, including details about the Michigan Supreme Court decision, read our Frequently Asked Questions.

Published December 8, 2011

Pensions are paid on the 25th of each month for the month they're due. If the 25th falls on a weekend or holiday, watch for your payment on the previous business day (December payments are issued about one week early). Below are the pay dates for the remainder of 2011, and 2012.

2011: December 16.
2012: January 25, February 24, March 23, April 25, May 25, June 25, July 25, August 24, September 25, October 25, November 21, and December 18.

Published December 6, 2011

The October 2011 issue of Connections, our semiannual retiree newsletter, is now available.

Articles in this issue include:

• New law affects pension taxation: What will happen. What you need to do.
• From the Director
• Welcome new retirees
• Plan your next Pure Michigan trip
• Now's the time to Go Direct
• Ask an expert
• When to contact ORS

If a member of a public pension gets divorced, the court may order that a portion of their pension be paid to an alternate payee such as a former spouse or dependent child. For active or deferred members, this order is known as an Eligible Domestic Relations Order (EDRO). For retired members, it is known as a Domestic Relations Order (DRO). To make things easier for you and your attorney, ORS has developed downloadable, fillable forms to allow our members to create accurate and complete EDROs or DROs that can be administered under the retirement statutes:

Eligible Domestic Relations Order (EDRO) (R0259B) 
Eligible Domestic Relations Order: Background and Instructions (R0911X)

Domestic Relations Order (DRO) (R0323X)
Domestic Relations Order to Void the Survivor Option Only (R0914CGB)
Domestic Relations Orders: Background and Instructions (R0912X)

These are the preferred documents to file with the Office of Retirement Services. They are the fastest, most efficient way to complete your filing. Complete it online, save it, print it, then take the printed copy to the court for the judge's signature.

Published October 7, 2011