1. Employee vs. Employer Contributions
Many people are surprised to learn that not all funds in a 401(k) are automatically divisible. The Workforce Management Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan & Trust likely contains both employee salary deferrals and employer matching/profit-sharing contributions.
When drafting the QDRO, you must determine whether the former spouse will receive a portion of:
- Only employee contributions
- Both employee and vested employer contributions
It’s critical to specify this. Non-vested employer contributions generally cannot be divided. If your spouse hasn’t been with the company long, they may have unvested amounts that aren’t part of their marital estate.

