1. Dividing Employee vs. Employer Contributions
Employee contributions (the money the participant voluntarily put into the plan) are typically fully vested and can be divided without restriction. Employer contributions, on the other hand, might follow a vesting schedule. If the divorce occurs before full vesting, any unvested amounts may be forfeited and should not be included in the alternate payee’s share.
When proposing a division in the QDRO, be specific about WHAT is being divided: just the vested balance or the entire account. A well-drafted QDRO will address how to handle forfeitures, future vesting, or plan reallocation rules.

