Employee vs. Employer Contributions
401(k) plans often include:
- Employee contributions: These are yours regardless of how long you’ve worked at the company
- Employer contributions: These are usually subject to vesting
If there’s a vesting schedule, only the vested portion of the employer contributions can be divided. If you’re the spouse receiving a portion of the account in the QDRO, this can be a huge factor in determining how much you actually receive.

