Employee vs. Employer Contributions
Most 401(k) plans involve both employee contributions (from the participant’s paycheck) and employer contributions. These may include matching contributions or discretionary profit-sharing deposits. In divorce, it’s essential to determine:
- If only employee contributions should be divided, or if employer contributions are on the table too.
- Whether the marital share includes contributions made before marriage or after separation.
- Whether any unvested employer contributions should be included or excluded.
The Ems Linq Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan likely has both employee and employer contributions. Typically, employer profit-sharing contributions are subject to a vesting schedule, which brings us to the next issue.

