Employee vs. Employer Contributions
This plan likely includes both:
- Employee Deferrals: These are pre- or post-tax contributions made by the participant, and they are always 100% vested.
- Employer Contributions: Often subject to a vesting schedule. It’s common in profit-sharing plans for employees to earn vesting credit over time (e.g., 20% per year).
Only vested employer contributions can be divided by QDRO—unvested amounts generally remain with the plan participant. When drafting your QDRO, it’s critical to clarify whether the alternate payee is being awarded a share of only the vested balance or also future vesting, if permitted under plan rules.

