Dividing Employee and Employer Contributions
In most 401(k) plans, participants make contributions through payroll deductions. The employer may also offer matching contributions. The QDRO must specify whether the alternate payee (usually the non-employee spouse) is receiving a portion of only the participant’s employee contributions, or also a share of the employer’s matching or profit-sharing contributions.
One critical point: only vested employer contributions can be divided. So, if the employee is not fully vested at the time of divorce, unvested amounts will likely not be part of the alternate payee’s share.

