Employee vs. Employer Contributions
401(k) accounts often include employee contributions—money the employee elected to defer from their paycheck—as well as employer contributions. These employer contributions sometimes come with a vesting schedule.
If you are the alternate payee, you’re generally only entitled to:
- Employee contributions made during the marriage
- Employer contributions earned and vested during the marriage
Any unvested amounts at the time of divorce may be forfeited, so understanding the current vesting schedule is crucial before attempting to divide the account.

