Introduction
Dividing retirement assets like the Gpi Savings Plan in a divorce can be overwhelming if you’re not familiar with how Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) work. If you’re divorcing someone with a 401(k) sponsored by Graphic packaging international, LLC, it’s important to understand how QDROs function, what documentation you’ll need, and how different elements within the plan—including employer contributions, vesting schedules, plan loans, and Roth accounts—can affect your settlement.
At PeacockQDROs, we’ve helped thousands of clients handle QDROs from start to finish. That means we don’t just prepare the paperwork—we make sure the order is approved, filed, submitted, and followed through until your benefits are divided correctly. This article explains the key considerations when dividing the Gpi Savings Plan and how to avoid costly mistakes during the QDRO process.
Plan-Specific Details for the Gpi Savings Plan
Here’s what we know about the Gpi Savings Plan based on available information:
- Plan Name: Gpi Savings Plan
- Plan Sponsor: Graphic packaging international, LLC
- Sponsor Address: 1500 Riveredge Pkwy. NW
- Plan Type: 401(k)
- Organization Type: Business Entity
- Industry: General Business
- Plan Status: Active
- Effective Date: Unknown
- Plan Year: Unknown
- EIN and Plan Number: These will be required for submission and must be obtained directly from the plan sponsor.
Because this is a 401(k) plan, dividing it properly in divorce takes careful attention to contribution types, vesting schedules, and account features.
How a QDRO Works for the Gpi Savings Plan
A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a court order that directs the plan administrator to divide a participant’s retirement plan—such as the Gpi Savings Plan—with an alternate payee, typically a former spouse. Without a QDRO, the plan cannot legally split assets, even if your divorce judgment says it should happen.
For plans like the Gpi Savings Plan, the QDRO process requires adhering to plan-specific guidelines and federal rules laid out under ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act). Each plan has its own procedures for reviewing and approving a QDRO, so getting it right is critical.
Dividing Employee and Employer Contributions
The Gpi Savings Plan likely includes both employee deferrals and employer matching or profit-sharing contributions. While employee contributions are always 100% vested (yours to keep), employer contributions may be subject to a vesting schedule.
Vesting Matters
Here’s the catch: for employer contributions, only the vested portion can be divided through a QDRO. Unvested funds cannot be transferred. A QDRO should specify whether to include only the vested balance as of the date of division or any additional vested balances that become available later.
Determining the Division Method
In the QDRO, you’ll need to define how the benefits are split. Common methods include:
- Percentage of account balance as of a specific date (e.g., 50% as of the date of separation)
- Fixed dollar amounts
- Share allocation (a proportion of the total shares held in various investments)
Loan Balances and QDROs
401(k) plans like the Gpi Savings Plan often allow participants to borrow from their own accounts. If a participant has an outstanding loan, it’s important to clarify how this affects the QDRO settlement.
Do Loans Reduce the Divisible Balance?
Usually, loan balances reduce the participant’s account value, meaning less is available to divide. However, some QDROs credit the alternate payee as if the loan did not exist to ensure equity.
Drafting Tips for Divorce Settlement
Always determine whether:
- The loan should be deducted from the participant’s share before division
- The alternate payee should get 50% of the value including or excluding the loan
This should be clearly spelled out in both the divorce judgment and the QDRO to prevent post-divorce disputes.
Addressing Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) Funds
The Gpi Savings Plan may include both traditional (pre-tax) and Roth (post-tax) subaccounts. This matters because Roth accounts grow tax-free, whereas traditional accounts are taxed during distribution.
Separate the Account Types
Your QDRO must address how to divide each type. Failing to do so could leave you with unintended tax consequences or mismatched account types. A well-prepared QDRO will either split each subaccount proportionally or specify exact shares of each.
Why It Matters
If you’re the alternate payee, receiving Roth funds could impact your retirement planning. Clarifying the type of funds and which ones you’ll receive helps avoid surprises down the road.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many people assume that once their divorce is final, the retirement plan will automatically be split. That’s not true for 401(k)s like the Gpi Savings Plan. Here are a few common QDRO pitfalls:
- Failing to obtain preapproval from the plan administrator before court signature
- Not accounting for outstanding loans
- Ignoring vesting restrictions
- Mistakenly combining Roth and traditional funds in the allocation
Visit our guide on common QDRO mistakes to learn more.
The QDRO Timeline
From drafting to final processing, a QDRO can take some time—especially for corporate plans like the Gpi Savings Plan. Each step, from preapproval to court filing to submission and plan approval, must be handled properly.
Read about the 5 factors that affect QDRO timing here.
Documentation You’ll Need
When submitting your QDRO for the Gpi Savings Plan, ensure you have:
- Plan participant’s full legal name and Social Security number
- Alternate payee’s full legal name and Social Security number
- Plan name (Gpi Savings Plan)
- Plan sponsor name (Graphic packaging international, LLC)
- Employer Identification Number (EIN) – must be obtained for submission
- Plan Number – also required and must be requested from the plan sponsor
Why Choose PeacockQDROs
At PeacockQDROs, we’ve completed thousands of QDROs from start to finish. That means we don’t just draft the order and leave you to figure out the rest. We handle the drafting, preapproval (if applicable), court filing, submission, and follow-up with the plan administrator. That’s what sets us apart from firms that only prepare the document and hand it off to you.
We maintain near-perfect reviews and pride ourselves on a track record of doing things the right way. You can learn more about our full-service QDRO support at PeacockQDROs QDRO Services.
Need Help with the Gpi Savings Plan QDRO?
Whether you’re a plan participant or an alternate payee, getting the QDRO right the first time is essential. The Gpi Savings Plan’s 401(k) structure—especially if it includes loans, Roth funds, and complex vesting—requires careful legal drafting and plan-specific knowledge.
We’re here to help. If your divorce was in California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, or North Dakota, and you have questions about qualified domestic relations orders or dividing retirement assets like the Gpi Savings Plan, contact PeacockQDROs. We specialize in QDROs and have successfully processed thousands of orders from start to finish.
Get the answers you need—explore our QDRO resources or reach out for personalized help if you’re in one of our service states.