Employee vs. Employer Contributions
Most 401(k) plans consist of two sources of money: what the employee puts in and what the employer contributes (often as a matching or discretionary amount). In a QDRO, it’s common for the alternate payee to receive a percentage of the account as of a specific date—often the date of separation or divorce judgment. However, it’s crucial that the QDRO clearly spells out whether employer contributions are included and, if so, how they are treated in light of the vesting schedule.

