Employee and Employer Contributions
In 401(k) plans, participants typically contribute via payroll deductions, and employers may also contribute. These totals can significantly affect the account value. When dividing the plan, it’s important to specify:
- Whether the alternate payee receives a portion of just the employee contributions or both employee and employer contributions
- The cutoff date for contributions—e.g., date of separation or date of divorce
Some employer contributions are subject to a vesting schedule. This means only a portion of that money “belongs” to the employee at any given time.

