Employee and Employer Contributions
In most 401(k) plans, the participant contributes a portion of their paycheck into the account. Many employers—including companies like Argent companies, Inc.. 401(k) plan —also make matching or discretionary contributions. When preparing a QDRO, it’s essential to:
- Specify whether the alternate payee should receive a portion of just the employee’s contributions or both employee and employer contributions
- Make sure you understand how the employer’s contributions vest over time—only vested portions can be divided
For example, if one spouse wants 50% of all contributions made during the marriage, unvested employer contributions at the time of separation may not be available unless the QDRO accounts for potential future vesting.

