Employee and Employer Contributions
The participant’s deferrals into the 401(k) are almost always considered marital if made during the marriage, and thus divisible. However, employer contributions (such as matching or profit sharing) could still be unvested at the time of divorce. A QDRO must be very clear about:
- Whether the alternate payee (non-employee spouse) is entitled only to vested amounts or a share of all contributions
- What cutoff date is being used (e.g., date of separation, date of divorce, etc.)
If the employer match isn’t fully vested, that portion might be partially or fully forfeited, depending on the plan’s vesting schedule. The QDRO must address whether the alternate payee gets only what’s vested or a pro-rata share based on future vesting.

