1. Vesting Schedules and Unvested Contributions
Most 401(k) plans, including the Hollister Brewing Company 401(k) Plan, have two main types of contributions:
- Employee contributions—always 100% vested
- Employer contributions—may be subject to a vesting schedule
If the employee only worked at the Hollister brewing company 401k plan for a short time, some employer contributions might be unvested. These cannot be divided by QDRO. Be sure the QDRO clearly specifies only the vested balance as of a certain valuation date—or you risk future complications or confusion during implementation.

