Loan Balances
Participants sometimes borrow from their 401(k) to cover big expenses. If there’s an outstanding loan against the Lewis Builders, LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, the QDRO must account for it. There are two approaches:
- Split the balance minus the loan: The alternate payee’s share is calculated on the net account value, subtracting the loan.
- Split the full balance: The loan remains the participant’s sole responsibility, and is not factored into the alternate payee’s share.
Which method you choose depends on negotiation or your jurisdiction’s rules, but the QDRO must be explicit either way.

