Sandra Jean Dale Boggs v. Thomas F. Boggs, Harry M. Boggs and David B. Boggs

Decided June 2, 1997. Anthony McLeod Kennedy delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 96-79 · 520 U.S. 833 (1997) · Cited 491 times

Holding

ERISA pre-empts a state law allowing a nonparticipant spouse to transfer by testamentary instrument an interest in undistributed pension plan benefits.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 5–4.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement v. Dillingham Construction, N. A. · 519 U.S. 316 (1997)
• Hisquierdo v. Hisquierdo · 439 U.S. 572 (1979)
• Free v. Bland · 369 U.S. 663 (1962)
• Guidry v. Sheet Metal Workers National Pension Fund · 493 U.S. 365 (1990)
• Rose v. Rose · 481 U.S. 619 (1987)
• McCarty v. McCarty · 453 U.S. 210 (1981)
• Mansell v. Mansell · 490 U.S. 581 (1989)
• Malone v. White Motor Corp. · 435 U.S. 497 (1978)
• Massachusetts v. Morash · 490 U.S. 107 (1989)
• Wissner v. Wissner · 338 U.S. 655 (1950)
• Ridgway v. Ridgway · 454 U.S. 46 (1981)
• Edelman v. Jordan · 415 U.S. 651 (1974)
• Shaw v. Delta Air Lines, Inc. · 463 U.S. 85 (1983)
• San Diego Building Trades Council v. Garmon · 359 U.S. 236 (1959)
• Rice v. Santa Fe Elevator Corp. · 331 U.S. 218 (1947)
• Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance v. Russell · 473 U.S. 134 (1985)
• Ingersoll-Rand Co. v. McClendon · 498 U.S. 133 (1990)
• Fidelity Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. De La Cuesta · 458 U.S. 141 (1982)
• New York State Conference of Blue Cross & Blue Shield Plans v. Travelers Insurance · 514 U.S. 645 (1995)
• Fort Halifax Packing Co. v. Coyne · 482 U.S. 1 (1987)
• Hicks v. Miranda · 422 U.S. 332 (1975)
• Gade v. National Solid Wastes Management Assn. · 505 U.S. 88 (1992)
• Garner v. Teamsters, Chauffeurs & Helpers Local Union No. 776 · 346 U.S. 485 (1953)
• In Re Burrus · 136 U.S. 586 (1890)
• Lodge 76, International Ass'n of MacHinists & Aerospace Workers v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission · 427 U.S. 132 (1976)
• Zschernig v. Miller · 389 U.S. 429 (1968)
• Hodel v. Irving · 481 U.S. 704 (1987)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• Kennedy v. Plan Administrator for DuPont Savings & Investment Plan · 555 U.S. 285 (2009)
• Gobeille v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. · 577 U.S. 312 (2016)
• Egelhoff v. Egelhoff Ex Rel. Breiner · 532 U.S. 141 (2001)
• Rush Prudential HMO, Inc. v. Moran · 536 U.S. 355 (2002)
• Raygor v. Regents of the University of Minnesota · 534 U.S. 533 (2002)
• Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Assn. · 592 U.S. 80 (2020)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

Explore from here

Anthony McLeod Kennedy’s profile · All Supreme Court opinions · The Supreme Court

Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1997). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).