<p>Thumper, it was not a change of primary beneficiary, just a simple addition of someone contingent - in case we both perish in a plane crash or something like that. I remember seeing the verbiage about the need for consent from spouse when I was signing paperwork for my most recent 401(k) - if I was picking anyone other than Mr B. Ok, it is not a recent thing, apparently - it goes back to 1984 per my googling. You are right, you could name anyone, but the spouse has to give his/her consent in all cases, apparently. </p>
<p><a href=“Spouse’s Consent Is Required to Change Retirement Account Beneficiary - The New York Times”>http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/business/retirementspecial/spouses-consent-is-required-to-change-retirement-account-beneficiary.html</a></p>