401(k) Contribution Types
This plan may include multiple types of contributions:
- Employee Contributions: Money the employee (your spouse or you) contributed via payroll deductions. These funds are almost always 100% vested.
- Employer Contributions: Matching or discretionary amounts from the employer. These may be subject to a vesting schedule, meaning only part of the total may be accessible based on years of service.
- Roth Contributions: After-tax dollars that grow tax-free. These must be addressed separately in the QDRO.
It’s crucial to identify and distinguish these categories because the plan administrator won’t decide which funds go to which spouse—that must be described clearly in the QDRO itself.

