1. Employee and Employer Contribution Divisions
With 401(k) plans, participants make salary deferrals (employee contributions), and employers may offer matching or discretionary contributions. Most divorcing couples agree to divide the account as of a set date—either 50/50 or according to a different formula—but employer contributions often come with vesting rules.
It’s important to determine:
- What percentage of the employer’s contributions are vested
- Whether the QDRO should include only vested assets or future vesting
- If unvested funds are forfeited how the QDRO addresses that loss

