1. Employee vs. Employer Contributions
The plan may consist of:
- Employee contributions: If allowed (similar to 401(k) contributions), these typically vest immediately.
- Employer contributions: These may be subject to a vesting schedule, which determines how much the employee is entitled to keep at the time of divorce or QDRO submission.
If a portion of the plan is not yet vested, the alternate payee is generally not entitled to it. The QDRO must contain language addressing what happens with unvested funds, including whether the order covers only vested amounts as of the date of divorce or extends to future vesting.

