1. Dividing Employee and Employer Contributions
In a divorce, both employee and employer contributions are generally considered marital property if they were made during the marriage. However, there’s a difference between the account balance and the amount that’s actually “vested,” or fully owned by the employee. For the Trades Unlimited Employees Savings Trust, you’ll need to review the plan’s vesting schedule to determine what portion of the employer contributions can legally be divided via QDRO.
If the employee is not yet fully vested, the alternate payee (usually the ex-spouse) may only be entitled to a portion—or possibly none—of the employer match. This can have a significant impact on the fair division of assets and should be considered when negotiating the settlement agreement.

