Employee and Employer Contribution Divisions
In most 401(k) plans, contributions come from both the employee and the employer. This impacts how the plan should be divided. A QDRO should clearly lay out whether the alternate payee is receiving a portion of just the employee contributions, or both employee and employer contributions.
Make sure to also specify the valuation date. Do you want to divide the plan based on its balance on the date of separation, the date of divorce filing, or the date of distribution? Vague or missing instructions lead to delays and disputes.

