Vesting Schedules
Employee contributions are always 100% vested, but employer contributions often are not. That means if the employee spouse hasn’t met required service terms, they may lose unvested employer contributions if they terminate employment.
In your QDRO, it’s important to distinguish between:
- Vested vs. unvested employer contributions
- What should happen if the participant becomes 100% vested after divorce
- Whether the alternate payee is entitled to appreciation on the unvested funds (if they later vest)

