1. Employee vs. Employer Contributions
Most 401(k) plans include both employee contributions (amounts the participant elected to defer from salary) and employer contributions (such as matching dollars). The QDRO can divide the total account value or be customized to include only marital contributions made during the marriage period.
Be aware that employer contributions may have a vesting schedule. That means a portion of the employer-funded account may not be fully owned by the participant yet—and could be forfeited if they leave the job too early.

