Vesting Schedules
Employer contributions often vest over time. That means only part of the employer’s match may actually belong to the employee (and therefore be divisible) at the time of divorce. If your spouse isn’t fully vested, the QDRO can only award you a portion of the vested balance.
A good QDRO will make sure the alternate payee only receives a share of the vested portion at the right time. Some orders also include a clause allowing for post-divorce increases in value up to the date of distribution.

