If you or your spouse has retirement savings in the Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program, dividing that account in divorce will likely require a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, or QDRO. As experienced QDRO attorneys at PeacockQDROs, we’re here to help you understand what’s required to properly divide this specific 401(k) plan and avoid the costly and time-consuming mistakes many divorcing couples encounter.
Plan-Specific Details for the Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program
Here are the critical identifying details for the plan you’ll need when preparing and submitting a QDRO:
- Plan Name: Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program
- Plan Sponsor: Huntington ingalls industries, Inc.
- Sponsor Address: 4101 Washington Avenue
- Plan Type: 401(k) defined contribution plan
- Industry: General Business
- Organization Type: Corporation
- Plan Number: Unknown (required information should be obtained directly from plan statements or the plan administrator)
- Employer Identification Number (EIN): Unknown (this must also be disclosed when you submit a QDRO and can be located via the participant’s plan disclosure forms or directly from the plan administrator)
- Status: Active
Even though some of these data points are currently unspecified, they’re critical for drafting a valid QDRO and ensuring the plan administrator accepts it. At PeacockQDROs, we help you obtain missing information and ensure compliance.
Why You Need a QDRO for the Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program
The Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program is a tax-deferred 401(k) retirement plan that allows for both employee and employer contributions. Since this type of retirement asset is subject to ERISA and IRS rules, a QDRO is the only legal way to divide the account without triggering taxes or penalties. Without a QDRO, a divorce decree alone is not sufficient for the plan administrator to release funds to a former spouse.
Key Issues to Address When Preparing a QDRO for a 401(k) Plan
Vested vs. Non-Vested Employer Contributions
401(k) plans like this typically include a mix of employee contributions (always 100% vested) and employer contributions that may be subject to a vesting schedule. This means your spouse’s employer contributions might not be fully owned by the employee at the time of separation or divorce.
It’s critical to determine:
- What portion of employer contributions are vested as of the date of division
- What contributions may be forfeited or remain unvested
- Whether your QDRO references only vested balances or includes unvested ones, depending on state law and settlement terms
Loan Balances
Another major consideration is outstanding 401(k) loans. If the participant has borrowed from their Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program account, the QDRO needs to clearly state whether the loan balance is included in the marital share being divided—or excluded entirely.
For example, a $120,000 account with a $20,000 loan may actually have only $100,000 available for division. Failing to address loans can cause serious delays or disputes during processing.
Roth vs. Traditional Contributions
Many 401(k) plans now offer both traditional (pre-tax) and Roth (post-tax) contribution accounts. It’s essential to identify and divide each type properly in your QDRO.
Why this matters:
- Traditional accounts are taxable to the alternate payee upon distribution
- Roth accounts grow and are distributed tax-free (subject to IRS rules)
- A QDRO must specify how much comes from each type of account to ensure proper tax treatment
Drafting a QDRO That Complies with the Plan’s Requirements
No two 401(k) plans are exactly the same—we see this every day across the thousands of QDROs we’ve handled. That means using a generic template can cost you time and money if the plan administrator rejects it. The QDRO for the Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program must follow both federal law and the plan’s internal rules.
Key elements your QDRO draft should include:
- Plan name and sponsor: Use the exact identifiers for the Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program and Huntington ingalls industries, Inc.
- Correct identification of both parties: The participant and alternate payee must be clearly named with full identifying details
- Clear method of division: For example, “50% of the participant’s vested account balance as of June 1, 2023”
- Direction for separate treatment of Roth and Traditional subaccounts, if applicable
- Language about tax responsibilities associated with future distributions
- Instructions on how the alternate payee will receive their share (via rollover, separate account, or other method)
At PeacockQDROs, we don’t just draft the document—we take care of everything, including plan preapproval (if available), court filing, submission to the plan administrator, and follow-up. This full-service approach is what sets us apart from firms that simply hand you a template.
Timing and Common Pitfalls When Dividing 401(k) Plans
One of the most common misconceptions is that QDROs can be completed overnight. In reality, depending on complexity and court wait times, they can take several weeks to several months. We break down the timing here: How Long Does It Take to Get a QDRO Done?
Other common mistakes we see when clients try to do it themselves or use cut-rate services:
- Using the wrong plan name (always use full title: Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program)
- Failing to address loan balances, resulting in inequality
- Not specifying how Roth accounts are to be treated
- Leaving out important tax disclaimers
- Incorrect vesting calculations that lead to rejected orders
We’ve seen it all—and that’s exactly why our clients count on us to handle the paperwork the right way the first time. Learn more about the top QDRO mistakes we help clients avoid: Common QDRO Mistakes.
What Happens After the QDRO is Signed?
Once your QDRO has been signed by the court and accepted by the Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program plan administrator, the alternate payee’s share is typically moved into a separate individual retirement account (IRA) or left in the plan under a different account, depending on the rules and preferences.
The alternate payee can usually:
- Leave the funds in the plan until a later date
- Roll them into an IRA with no penalties
- Request a cash distribution (which may be taxable)
How PeacockQDROs Can Help
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. Whether you need to divide traditional or Roth accounts, address old loan balances, or ensure compliance with a vesting schedule, our experience with the Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program makes all the difference.
To learn more about our QDRO services, visit: PeacockQDROs QDRO Services
Closing Advice
Dividing a 401(k) plan like the Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program during a divorce isn’t simple—but with the right help, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The key is getting it right the first time to avoid delays, tax liability, or rejections.
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 Huntington Ingalls Industries Financial Security and Savings Program, 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.