Employee and Employer Contributions
Most 401(k) plans are comprised of two key components:
- Employee Contributions: These are fully vested from day one and are typically divided according to the divorce judgment.
- Employer Contributions: These usually follow a vesting schedule. If the employee is not fully vested, the non-vested portion will likely be forfeited if the participant leaves the company.
In the Dx Enterprises, Inc.. 401(k) Plan, we’ll want to determine how much of the employer contribution is vested at the time of divorce. A good QDRO will state that the alternate payee only receives the vested portion—and ideally mention what happens if that changes later due to continued employment.

